Stolte Farm, Wairarapa

Clarence and Elise Stolte built their West Taratahi dairy farm in the Wairarapa up from sharemilking into a family equity partnership, with a 170-hectare milking platform and a support block. In this case study the Stoltes set out their low-cost, long-term approach, with a feed pad and a newer compost barn that manage supplement feeding and reduce pasture damage.

Clarence and Elise track how nitrogen fertiliser use has fallen by half over recent years, and expect the compost barn to further cut nitrogen loss to water. They measure and review their system every season rather than making one-off changes.