FarmRight rollout of freshwater farm plans across 11,000ha Southland dairy portfolio
FarmRight has begun rolling out freshwater farm plans across 27 of its managed Southland dairy farms, covering more than 11,000 hectares. The plans have helped the investment and management company prioritise riparian planting alongside more than 200km of fenced waterways, as well as on-farm water quality improvements.
Developed with the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Farm Sustainability team, the plans combine on-farm risk assessment with practical actions, including the use of Ecotain plantain in new grass mixes and SpreadWise digital mapping to support more precise nutrient application.
FarmRight Environmental Sustainability Manager Allie Morris says completing them ahead of Environment Southland certified farm plan deadlines has given the team a clearer view of where it’s performing well and where it can make further gains.
“When the deadline to submit farm plans was moved from May 2026 to November 2027, we made it a priority to keep going, as we could see the benefit in future-proofing our portfolio and giving our farm teams a clearer roadmap for lifting environmental performance over time,” she says.
Allie adds that at their core, freshwater farm plans focus on identifying and addressing on-farm risks to water quality, such as overland flow and runoff, critical source areas and intensive winter grazing. The plans have supported better alignment with regional water quality priorities as well as helping focus their effort where it will have the most meaningful impact.
“This process has helped us step back, confirm what’s already working well, and how we can establish native flora and fauna to contribute to overall farm resilience, biodiversity, and water health to support more informed thinking about farm activities,” she says.
Ballance Farm Sustainability National Manager Peter Thomas says the project used the QCONZ digital farm planning platform, which helped make plans visible and accessible.
“By utilising Ballance’s variable rate fertiliser spreading tools like SpreadWise, FarmRight has reduced the effective fertiliser application area by an average of six per cent, enabling more efficient fertiliser use,” he says.
“The plans also confirmed current practices were delivering the outcomes the team expected and created a structured pathway for continuous improvement over time. It’s been an incredibly valuable and worthwhile project for everyone involved.”
For more information about developing freshwater farm plans, visit ballance.co.nz/farmsustainabilityservices.
Ballance Farm Sustainability National Manager Peter Thomas