Story: Organic farming

Pasture, Massey organic dairy farm

Pasture, Massey organic dairy farm

Since 2001, Massey University has run a trial organic dairy farm beside a conventional dairy farm in the Manawatū. Each farm has an area of about 21 hectares and supports some 45 Holstein-Friesian cows. Their pastures are monitored twice a year for herbage production and species composition. Both are dominated by perennial ryegrass and white clover, and in the organic pasture, broad-leaved dock and bellis daisy are also common. Although less pasture and milk is produced on the organic farm, the high price paid for its milk makes it economic.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page:

Seager Mason, 'Organic farming - What is organic farming?', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/16945/pasture-massey-organic-dairy-farm (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Seager Mason, published 24 Nov 2008