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    "Values that are to be safeguarded" : meeting the challenge of improving the health of waterways on agricultural land : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Ecology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Prickett, Miriama Rebecca
    Aotearoa New Zealand’s waterways are valued for many reasons. However, nationally, their health has been declining. Animal agriculture is a significant contributor to this decline. The country’s largest farm, Molesworth Station, is managed to safeguard its cultural, conservation, recreation, historical and farming values. For this reason, managers of the station’s farming operation sought information on possible impacts of current animal agriculture on the habitat and water quality of Molesworth’s streams and rivers, and recommendations on monitoring and improving the health of its waterways over time. This thesis found the health of streams and rivers on Molesworth to be good. It provides recommendations on monitoring and management, including areas where action could be taken to address the likely impacts of fine deposited sediment on waterways. Given both the scale of Aotearoa New Zealand’s animal agriculture, and its impact on freshwater quality and habitat, improving the health of waterways will require an increase in pro-environmental behaviour from farmers and will need to be sustained. This thesis also looks beyond Molesworth Station to investigate the influence of basic human values on pro- environmental behaviour in Aotearoa New Zealand’s agricultural sector. It suggests that prioritisation and priming of certain basic human values are likely to suppress pro- environmental behaviour and posits that targeted values-sensitive communication could play a role in encouraging and increasing pro-environmental behaviour to meet the challenge of improving the health of waterways on agricultural land.
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    Organic livestock specifications : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Agribusiness at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Benson, Stephen H
    Globally the organic market now comprises approximately 2% of the total food market and is growing in the order of 20% - 30% pa (Meat NZ 2000). Pasture based agriculture in New Zealand is in an ideal position to take advantage of this growth. BioGro New Zealand and AgriQuality New Zealand are currently the two dominant organic livestock specifications that farmers must produce to. The AgriQuality standard is based on the new European Union standard recently released. This study will investigate the requirements, implications and issues pertinent to a group of New Zealand livestock growers contemplating conversion to organic livestock production for the European market. A detailed literature review, multiple case study analysis of three BioGro farms and focus group discussion was conducted. The major distinction between the two standards is in the animal welfare and conversion period requirements. The AgriQuality standard permits up to three medical treatments per year, per animal without loss of organic status and the conversion can be quicker. Motives for the case study farmers converting to organic included, environmental, market opportunities and a desire to bring the soils, pastures and animals into 'balance'. Best management practice of the soils, pastures, animals and water on the farms was about accepting and minimising where possible the production risks through timing and proactive management with a preventative focus. Sourcing information, developing new skills and a drive to find new and different ways of answering conventional problems is critical. A lot of thought and energy goes into off farm marketing and value adding projects for market control and personal satisfaction. These differences in the standards could provide opportunities to farmers keen on a more environmentally friendly farming system that don't want to go to the full BioGro standard and conversion process. There may also be the opportunity to attain organic premiums from moving to the EU standard. Opinion on the EU standards was mixed. Some saw the EU standards as an easier option that gave the 'organic brand' a bad name. They felt having more than one organic label would confuse the consumer and be of detrimental value long term to the New Zealand organic industry. None of the case farmers would revert back from their BioGro Standards. Financial performance measures were not defined in this research. It would be unwise for a conventional farmer to convert to an organic system for financial reasons. Non-financial drivers such as the environment and social indicators are important measures. For progressive farmers that are after a more sustainable farming system the EU standard offers an opportunity. For these farmers financial and non financial performance measures will be important and attainable. The EU standard has the potential to 'out perform' conventional and BioGro systems - proving the hypothesis.