Landcorp has significantly reduced nitrogen leaching, improved soil structure and biomass and achieved greater pasture resilience on its Wairakei Pastoral Estate dairy farm which is due to receive full organic certification. Earnslaw is one of two Landcorp farms receiving the organic tag after a three-year transition from conventional dairying, with one farm still in the process and three others are beginning the conversion this season. Landcorp expects Earnslaw to get a $2/kg MS premium on Fonterra’s standard farmgate price for its organic milk this season. A smaller but still significant premium was received by Earnslaw and the Tasman farm in Manawatu in years one and two of the transition, according to the Government-owned farming company. The transitions have raised the overall sustainability of the Earnslaw operation compared to that of a conventional unit, according to the company’s annual report.

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