A well-dressed group of secondary school students were getting more than just a farm tour when they come to Lincoln last week.
The Year 13 and Year 12/13 scholarship pupils from St Andrew’s were able to contribute to their studies on their visit to one of the University’s dairy farms.
They discussed requirements for their achievement standard “Analyse the impact that policies have on a sustainable future” for their agriculture and agribusiness school subjects.
Farms Education Facilitator at Lincoln, Lauren Roberts, covered how the University’s demonstration dairy farm, had the goal of optimising productivity for profitability without increasing the farm's total environmental footprint.
This was in response to policies such as nutrient management zones and rules from Environment Canterbury and the need by 2023 for all dairy farms in Selwyn Nutrient Management Zone to have a 30% reduction in nitrogen leaching.
The dairy farm addressed this through stock management (having fewer cows) riparian planting, nitrogen management and the use of Lincoln developed Aquaflex for more efficient irrigation.
Lauren said the students were all engaged and asked questions which revealed a good knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Hopefully we will see them back here in 2020 and beyond after such a great start to their possible careers in the land-based sectors.