Twenty-two year 11 pupils visited an irrigation head pond, an arable farm, a dairy farm, and a sheep and beef farm to get an overview of the different farming systems.
The day was a collaboration between the school and the North Otago Sustainable Land Management group (Noslam).
North Otago Irrigation Company chief executive Andrew Rodwell explained how the district has flourished under irrigation and the principles of productivity, reliability, and environmental stewardship.
Operations manager Ben Stratford showed how the irrigation scheme worked and discussed the career opportunities the sector offered.
They asked how markets affected crop choices and discussed the economics of farming.
Otago Regional Council rural liaison officer Jason Evered said he was impressed by the pupils’ thinking and the knowledge they sought.
At Jason and Sheree Hayman’s dairy farm, the pupils were told how effluent was dealt with, saw the feed pad that let the Haymans make better use of feed and protect pastures, and heard how the farm’s topography influenced their decision-making.
At Ian and Dianne McNaughton’s sheep and beef property, Ian spoke about conserving soil through direct drilling rather than ploughing, gave the pupils lamb’s wool to handle, and discussed why and how shearing enhanced sheep health.
