New research has found feeding cows a special plant could reduce nitrogen leeching into our waterways by up to 60 percent.
Tim Mackle, Dairy NZ's chief executive, believes it will be a game-changer for dairy farmers.
Since 2019, researchers have been studying the impacts of feeding cows ecotain plantain - a grazing herb developed from a common weed - which they have proved could have a significant impact.
"The groundbreaking part is we know we can now decrease nitrogen leaching from dairy farms or dairy paddocks by having plantain in the pasture," Professor of pasture science Peter Kemp said.
Nitrates from cows' urine drains into soil and ends up polluting our waterways, but this plant is designed to help dilute the urine, reducing the amount of nitrogen in it and retaining it in the soil.
Animal Nutritionist Glenn Judson said it's a 'powerful tool' in reducing one of the biggest problems in our livestock farming from an environmental point of view.
There are two farm trials ongoing at the moment at Massey University and Lincoln, with both trials showing that plantain can reduce nitrogen leaching by 20 to 60 percent.
"A 60 percent decrease is a huge decrease and 20 percent is also good," Prof Kemp said.
Tararua farmer Thomas Read has been using plantain for a number of years already. He wants to see it adopted nationally.
"We've had radical ideas of implementation, where we jump in a plane and let the seed out across the country because we want to see everyone use it," Read said.
And so does Dairy NZ, the leading organisation behind the project.
"For the science to be really useful it has to be out there being used and have an impact, allowing us to enjoy the economic impacts of dairy, but at the same time address those challenges we've got," Mackle said.
A little plant, with powerful potential to ensure a greener future for farming.
