1. The role of a farm consultant in facilitating change on farms James Allen, AgFirst NZARM 2015

2. Outline What is a farm consultant What do we do? Our role in the environmental space How we do this Challenges and Opportunities

3. What is a farm consultant? “A farm consultant works with farmers, and the entire range of organisations that interact with farmers, to achieve the farmer’s short and long term goals.”

4. Not all consultants are created equal… Am I a GP or a specialist?

5. Not all consultants are created equal… Consultant or Supervisor?? Member of professional body (NZIPIM)? –Accredited? –Farm Systems (NZIPIM) –Nutrient Management (NMACP)

6. Where does a consultant ‘fit’ with regards to driving behavior change? Mass Extension Targeted extension One-to- One

7. A consultant’s role in the environmental space Profitable sustainable farming Environmental feasibility Financial Feasibility Biological feasibility

8. A consultant’s role in the environmental space… Raises awareness Filters information Sounding board for new ideas Challenging misconceptions Provides technical advice Encourages/Motivates change

9. AgFirst’s role in the environmental space Nutrient budgeting Farm system design Sustainable Milk Plans LEPs Farm mapping Effluent system design and build Industry analysis Policy design

10. AgFirst’s role in the farm system change Concept What is the farmer looking to achieve How does this fit with their long term goals Feasibility Model impact of farm system change using Farmax Model nutrient management impact on Overseer Cost-benefit analysis, including cost of infrastructure Design Design of infrastructure Budgets, Planning, timeframes Build Execution of the build through to sign-off

11. Farm System Design.. Understanding the farmers goals Farmax – a biological and financial modelling system Overseer – understanding the impacts on nutrient management

12. Farm System Design….Farmax

13. 13 Business Planning Business as Usual Environment Model Environment Model Environmental feasibility Farmax Cash Manager Minda DairyBase FarmIQ AgHub Farmax Cash Manager Minda DairyBase FarmIQ AgHub Monitoring Measuring YES OK ? Revise Plan NO OK ? Revise Plan NO Farm System model Farm System model Biological feasibility Economic feasibility START HERE Farm System Design..

14. Challenges and Opportunities Adviser (guidance) vs Supervisor (control) Duplication of information and resources Conflicting messages to the farmer Keeping up to date Ensuring the farm business remains viable TAKING THE FARMER ON THE JOURNEY

15. QUESTIONS…

16. www.agfirst.co.nz