Mt Oliver Dairy Farm Field Day
In their journey to upgrade the dairy farm’s environmental compliance, farm owners Murray and Tanya Frost went well beyond the standard requirements. Stand out features included effluent treatment, fenced waterways, regular soil testing, low-volume irrigation, and reuse of grape posts and mussel shells.
In contrast, when the Frosts purchased the property ten years ago, the 200ha dairy farm had minimal fencing, pastures dominated by brown top and weeds, a leaking effluent pond and cows drinking from streams.
The Frosts say, “we love the Sounds where we farm and live, and that motivates us to run the business in an environmentally responsible way.”
At the field day we heard from representatives from Federated Farmers and Fronterra. The visit included a walking tour of the milking shed, solids collection, effluent pond, fencing, irrigation, and pasture.
Read the full judges report here.
The next Field Day celebrates Supreme Winners, the Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust.