Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF)
LUDF is a demonstration farm focused on sustainable success.
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A 186 hectare irrigated property, with 160 hectares of milking platform, Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) attracts hundreds of visitors every year.
LUDF is managed by the South Island Dairying Demonstration Centre (SIDDC), an industry funded partnership of 7 leading dairy sector organisations, these partners work to promote sustainable dairying through collaborative research and extension for farmers.
Farm details
About the farm
LUDF is a season supply dairy farm.
Location
LUDF is located at 1504 Shands Road (Corner of Shands and Ellesmere Junction Roads) - 2 km west of the Lincoln University campus.
Area
160 ha milking platform and 27 ha support block owned by Lincoln University.
Soils
- Eyre (light, stony soil)
- Paparua (free draining sandy soil)
- Templeton (free draining sandy soil)
- Templeton slow (sandy soil with slower drainage)
- Wakanui (heavy soil, slow draining)
- Temuka (very heavy soil, very poor draining)
Current land use
- 160 ha permanent irrigated pasture
- 14 ha irrigated support land
- 13 ha leased dairy support (Jackie’s Block)
Approximate livestock numbers
Peak milk cows: 560
Infrastructure
- 50 bale rotary
- DeLaval (Delpro) software system
Staffing/management structure
- Farm Manager
- 1 x 2IC (full-time)
- 2 x Dairy Assistant (full-time)
- plus casuals when required.
The Farm Manager runs the farm operations with input from the Farm Consultant when needed.
In addition, there is a Management Advisory Group (MAG) which meets quarterly. Members include:
- leading farmers
- farm consultants
- farm vet
- Farm Manager
- Farm Finance Manager
The overall strategy of the farm is set by the SIDDC partners; DairyNZ, AgResearch, LIC, Ravensdown, Lincoln University, Fonterra and SIDE (South Island Dairy Event).
Sustainability
Toitū Envirocare's Farm Emissions Carbon Reduce Programme
Lincoln University is proud to be Toitū carbonreduce certified, demonstrating its commitment to measuring, managing, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with ISO 14064-1 and Toitū requirements.
This certification reflects Lincoln University's ongoing efforts to create a sustainable future.
Visit the Toitū Environcare website
Farm Environment Plans (FEP)
The LUDF farm achieved an A Grade status for Farm Environment Plans Land Use Activity issued by ECan. This is the highest rating for an FEP audit.
Research
EcoPond effluent treatment system
Photo: Lincoln University measuring methane emissions on LUDF effluent pond
This project led and funded by Lincoln University, Ravensdown and MPI, marks the next step towards providing farmers with a cost-effective tool to reduce methane emissions from effluent storage ponds.
The EcoPond system achieves its highly significant reductions in methane emissions by adding treatment agents, iron sulphate (a safe additive used in the treatment of drinking water) and sulphuric acid (an approved food additive), to effluent ponds. Both Professors Keith Cameron and Hong Di hope that the greenhouse gas mitigation delivered by EcoPond will be a gamechanger for dairy farmers.
“Our development and demonstration of the new system, undertaken at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm, has proven that the new system is enormously effective at neutralising the methane-producing process in effluent ponds, resulting in a 7 to 9% reduction in an average dairy farm’s overall methane emissions."
“This is hugely significant for the industry, as it provides farmers with a new tool in their toolbox to help reduce methane emissions on farm.”
“We hope that EcoPond technology will also help farmers to meet the expectations of premier customers like Nestlé, Danone and Mars who have set challenging targets to reduce carbon emissions of dairy products."
More information
Read the scientific paper: Discovery of a new method to reduce methane emissions from farm dairy effluent
Emeritus Professor Keith Cameron — Researcher profile
Professor Hong Di — Researcher profile
Farm visits and data
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Take a farm walk
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Farm data
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Focus days
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