Use less fertiliser, make more money, and have healthier animals
12/12/23 • 67 min
In this episode farm nutrient advisor Melinda Turner and Barrie Riddler talk about their theory that using less fertiliser on New Zealand farms will mean more profit for farmers and better animal health.
They talk about their deep frustrations with the idea that maximum production means maximum profit.
Some of what they say might be triggering to anyone who does not understand the curve of diminishing returns.
Barrie talks extensively about the software model, E2M, that he wrote.
He voices his frustration with how averaging is used to make decisions on farms.
Melinda talks about the connection between soil and animal health.
She talks about a need for plant system modelling in Overseer, and how soil optimal ranges are based on averages that are useless for individual farms, and how she believes farms have to be treated as individuals.
She talks about how there is little understanding of how what happens in soils has an impact on livestock health.
She says she doesn’t use the term regen as it is basically just good farm practice.
Barrie says if a greenhouse gas tax kicks in and software uses averages to calculate future fertiliser use on farms, then the best and most efficient farmers will be penalised the most.
They voice opinions on sale reps.
Some useful information.
A E2M intro and demo
John King explaining diminishing returns https://youtu.be/F9ytTwU_TUQ
E2M-technical-foreword.pdf (landcare.org.nz)
This is a full and at times complex overview of E2M
Sarahs Country discussion on E2M
E2M Detailed Overview
Annette Litherland, Takaka Study
Takaka-Case-Study-3.pdf (landcare.org.nz)
https://landcare.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/E2M-technical-foreword.pdf
And last but not least a explanation by ChatGPT that Barrie provided on E2M:
"E2M (Enviro-Economic Model) is a unique farm-planning tool that can identify how to achieve a particular outcome on a farm within the many constraints that farm operates within—whether it be maximising economic performance or minimising external inputs, nutrient losses, or emissions. It is a full farm systems model, summarising farm operations in fortnightly increments including pasture growth, grazing, fertiliser use, economics, nutrient outputs, and greenhouse gas emissions. E2M works differently to other farm systems models available in Aotearoa New Zealand (and the world)—and this makes it much more efficient and effective than those models.
E2M is based on a linear-programming platform and can model whole farm systems including greenhouse gas emissions. It differs from other farm systems models worldwide as it avoids the restrictions that linear programming exhibits when integrating multiple complex systems."
In this episode farm nutrient advisor Melinda Turner and Barrie Riddler talk about their theory that using less fertiliser on New Zealand farms will mean more profit for farmers and better animal health.
They talk about their deep frustrations with the idea that maximum production means maximum profit.
Some of what they say might be triggering to anyone who does not understand the curve of diminishing returns.
Barrie talks extensively about the software model, E2M, that he wrote.
He voices his frustration with how averaging is used to make decisions on farms.
Melinda talks about the connection between soil and animal health.
She talks about a need for plant system modelling in Overseer, and how soil optimal ranges are based on averages that are useless for individual farms, and how she believes farms have to be treated as individuals.
She talks about how there is little understanding of how what happens in soils has an impact on livestock health.
She says she doesn’t use the term regen as it is basically just good farm practice.
Barrie says if a greenhouse gas tax kicks in and software uses averages to calculate future fertiliser use on farms, then the best and most efficient farmers will be penalised the most.
They voice opinions on sale reps.
Some useful information.
A E2M intro and demo
John King explaining diminishing returns https://youtu.be/F9ytTwU_TUQ
E2M-technical-foreword.pdf (landcare.org.nz)
This is a full and at times complex overview of E2M
Sarahs Country discussion on E2M
E2M Detailed Overview
Annette Litherland, Takaka Study
Takaka-Case-Study-3.pdf (landcare.org.nz)
https://landcare.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/E2M-technical-foreword.pdf
And last but not least a explanation by ChatGPT that Barrie provided on E2M:
"E2M (Enviro-Economic Model) is a unique farm-planning tool that can identify how to achieve a particular outcome on a farm within the many constraints that farm operates within—whether it be maximising economic performance or minimising external inputs, nutrient losses, or emissions. It is a full farm systems model, summarising farm operations in fortnightly increments including pasture growth, grazing, fertiliser use, economics, nutrient outputs, and greenhouse gas emissions. E2M works differently to other farm systems models available in Aotearoa New Zealand (and the world)—and this makes it much more efficient and effective than those models.
E2M is based on a linear-programming platform and can model whole farm systems including greenhouse gas emissions. It differs from other farm systems models worldwide as it avoids the restrictions that linear programming exhibits when integrating multiple complex systems."
Previous Episode
The sheep rustler who became a legend - James Mackenzie
In the 1800's New Zealand sheep thief James Mackenzie became a legend for stealing large flocks of sheep with just the help of his dog, he took them over 100's of kilometres of mountains to a piece of land he wanted to stake a claim on.
He later had a whole area of the country named after him: Mackenzie Country.
In this episode I speak to curator Sean Brosnahan and exhibition developer William McKee from the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.
Below are links to stories of pioneers from New Zealand history, a project Sean and Will are working on.
Journey to New Edinburgh documentary: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeriCkBw8zMgqxdPz1XlkILIAlugr3JD_&si=JAoO6JENAJIovQJv
100 Pioneers Stories: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeriCkBw8zMjEtYJjSuU_HPqF3GZf9EVj&si=JP-paYudjG9iXqbp
Definition of Pakeha: A Maori term for the white inhabitants of New Zealand.
All music by Jacques van Wyk
Next Episode
Hunting with The Weekend Mish
What is better than a weekend hunting mission with mates?
So, in this episode I speak to Riley Meason and Gabe Ross from The Weekend Mish.
They talk about how they started hunting, building a YouTube channel brand, their participation in the reality TV show Tracked, how they handle criticism, their recent hunt in the USA and why it rocked, big missions and taking risks, what a trophy is, the future and more.
Gabe cuts out a few times and Riley and I just keep talking.
We laugh at our own jokes.
Good times!
Check them out on https://www.youtube.com/@TheWeekendMish
All music by Jacques van Wyk
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/lets-hope-the-weather-holds-450297/use-less-fertiliser-make-more-money-and-have-healthier-animals-61378391"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to use less fertiliser, make more money, and have healthier animals on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy