
Owl Farm case study - Environment plan
Follow how Owl Farm's environment plan guides its land, water and effluent management.

This page from Owl Farm, a demonstration dairy farm in the Waikato, covers the makeup of its soils and the testing programme it runs to keep them healthy. It describes the farm's soil types and land use capability classification, and the physical, chemical and biological tests it relies on, including Visual Soil Assessments carried out with Ballance Agri-Nutrients.
It also sets out the on-farm practices used to protect soil, such as direct drilling, planted river buffers, retiring steep land and avoiding pugging damage in wet weather.

Track the native species and planting programme behind Owl Farm's biodiversity.

Research insights on soil-based land management on Waikato dairy farms.

Learn how Owl Farm cut biological greenhouse gas emissions over a ten year period.

See how Owl Farm's constructed wetland strips nitrogen and sediment from farm runoff.

Track how a Waikato demonstration farm lifts its 6-week in-calf rate each season.

Learn how feed budgets keep pasture cover and cow condition on target.

Discover which paddocks grow the most feed and why some fall short.

Compare season milksolids results against Owl Farm's production targets.

Read how genetic selection keeps Owl Farm's herd among the nation's best.

Explore how replacement calves are reared and grown out to entry weight.

Explore how Owl Farm scores body condition through the season to guide feeding.

Check how imported feed is used strategically to lift milk from pasture.