The Muster- Rob Bird: Environment Southland

Rob Bird of Environment Southland looks at the on-farm recovery after the recent weather events.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
This is the master on Haka Noi Rob Bird of
Environments South and joins us. Next he has Land Sustainability
Officer in the spot which is sponsored by Environments South
and Rob. Good afternoon, Good afternoon Andy.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Have you going well right?

Speaker 1 (00:22):
So the recovery from the winds, as we just talked
about then about the situation, what's the latest from a MES.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Perspective, Yeah, it's great. More and more farmers are getting
their power reconnected, especially to their dairy shes, those in
the dairy sector, and it seems that many more people
are slowly getting back to a bit of normality and
or moving fairly closer to it. We're still working with

(00:48):
those who haven't got power or dealing with on farm
infrastructure issues, especially things like vncing and stuff that I've
been speaking to people. The damage caused last night was
a wide range of issues really, firstly for farmers and
their families, workers being cut off at home, animal health

(01:09):
issues that they've had to also manage, and also the
environmental issues and logistic issues that are having trees an
object thrown around all over the farm. I've seen many
shed roofs lifted off, brand new fences that have had
trees come over them.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
So what is environment South then doing to help farmers
that are in need of support.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
We're here to support farmers in the best way we can.
It doesn't need to be strictly in our work areas,
but all sorts of things. I'll say, the EMS is running,
so we've got welfare and logistics issues. We're certainly welcoming
any questions around land manager and environmental side of things.

(01:56):
We can help with managing effluent pond s on dairy farms.
I know a lot of guys have a high pond
and they possibly need to irrigate, so we welcome any
contact that people might have questions around that. Hopefully the
weather is turned. Yes, there was one out of the
basket yesterday, but there has been a lot of rain

(02:19):
and we certainly realize that some of the effluent ponds
are quite high. So if you're think about giving us
a call to manage that, that'll be a great first step.
And yeah, we're looking here first and foremost to help people.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Now around cultivation, everybody you're seriously behind as far as
getting the iron horses up and running out on the paddocks,
there'll be a priority at the moment no.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
Doubt, yes, as I say, as hopefully the weather's turned
and obviously cultivation has been put on the back burner
in dealing with a recovery from an event like this
we saw last month. The wet weather follow didn't help either.
The bit of sun around, farmers will be itching to
get out there and cultivate, with a window for getting

(03:05):
seeds into the ground only getting narrower now as we're
getting sort of closer to Christmas. A few things to
remember around cultivation, and I won't go into large amounts,
but particularly with grass to crop, particularly no cultivation in
critical source areas. Making sure you have your five meter

(03:29):
buffers and ten meter buffers on slopes ten to twenty
and anything zero to mine is the five meter buffers.
And also remembering particularly around winter grazing, that you double
that so it's a ten meter buffer for zero to
nine degrees slope and a twenty meter buffer for ten

(03:51):
to twenty. But if you guys can get onto the website,
we've got some excellent information on the ES website. If
you just type in cultivation into the search bar, it
will take you hopefully to a page on some of
those cultivation rules that will help people. But we're always

(04:11):
here to help people and if people can easily call
into the land Sustainability team or our compliance team for
further information.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
So that's the key messaging today, Rob, get in touch
regarding cultivation.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Have you got any concerns, Get in touch, get in
touch if you've got any queries about it. It can
be a little bit of mindfield for some people. But
as to say again, first port of call if you
if you can just have a look at that web page.
We've got some excellent videos there on YouTube. But again
if you want to speak to a person, there's always

(04:44):
something to speak on to the end of the line,
and we're quite happy to come out to the property.

Speaker 1 (04:49):
So what's the number to get in touch with the
Land Sustainability Team ROP.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
The Land Sustainability number here is eight hundred seven six
eight four five. One hundred seven six eight four five.

Speaker 1 (05:03):
Good on your rob, always good to chat on the muster.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
Wonderful Andy, Always great to talk to you and as
I say again, please keep in contact with the Yes.

Speaker 1 (05:15):
Rob byrd Land Sustainability Officer at Environment Southland. This is
the muster before we rap up. Taylor Painter from Balfy
Young farmers,