Ashley Dene Dry
The Ashley Dene (Dry) farm primary purpose is to facilitate quality sheep research, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Farm details
About this farm
Ashley Dene Dry is used for dryland sheep research.
Location
Ashley Dene Dry is located between Springston and Burnham, 12km west of the Lincoln University Campus.
Area
165 ha (155 dry, 10 irrigated)
Soils
Lismore very stony silt loam
Current land use summary
- Lucerne 17 ha
- Permanent Pasture 128 ha
- Winter feed 20 ha
Approximate livestock numbers
Total stock: 1,000 ewes plus replacements (150 hoggets)
- Lambing percentage: 200 - 220 scanned in lamb
- Coopworth Stud (No.1 on the register in New Zealand)
- Winter 230 MA cows on crop for approx 2 months (12 ha crop grown - Kale)
- Annual stud ram sales
Staffing
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 Ashley Dene Dry 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
Pasture Persistence Trial
Photo credit: Tom Maxwell
Led by Dr. Tom Maxwell at Lincoln University, this long-term trial is testing how well different pasture grasses survive and perform over time. Each year since 2015, new grass varieties are planted and monitored to see which ones grow best and last the longest under real farm conditions. The results are helping farmers choose the most reliable grasses for their land.
“The aspirational goal, the ultimate aim, is to provide strategy for pasture managers, to allow them to manage for persistence based on the evidence from this long-term trial.” says Dr Maxwell.
The trial is a joint programme between Lincoln University and AgResearch, and received funding from the T.R. Ellett Agricultural Research Trust.
Read the journal article on this research
Further information about the project can be found on the Ellett Agricultural Research Trust website
Dr Tom Maxwell – Researcher profile