Farming 2030 harnesses the vision and knowledge of the Golden Bay community, working with the skill and expertise of farm owners Wayne and Tyler Langford, to develop practical sustainable farming practices. It promotes a shared understanding of how farming and environmental practices can sit side-by-side for the benefit of all. In the process it fosters a community that is better informed and unified.

The project was initiated after a chance conversation on sustainable farming between Wayne Langford and Debbie Pearson. It is based around their farm, a traditional dairy farm of 120 hectares, 90 of which is grazed by their herd of 250 cows.

Wayne and Tyler are young dairy farmers who are leaders in the community. Wayne is the National Dairy Chair for Federated Farmers, as well as Golden Bay President and DairyNZ Climate Champion. Tyler is heavily involved in social good in the community through school groups, Tasman District Council working groups and numerous charities.

Wayne and Tyler have opened their farm as a practical pilot, where selected sustainable farming practices are applied and closely monitored. Community input is generated through an “environmental panel”.

The panel consists of community members with a diverse range of ages, skills and experience. Individuals come to the table with an open mind, a keen eye for solutions that may not have been tried before, and a willingness to listen and work with new ideas.

Subject matter experts are engaged to present to the environmental panel, and where applicable, to the wider farming community through workshops or farm field days.

Through the panel the community sees up-close the workings of a commercial farm, gaining a greater understanding of the realities and challenges of farming.

The project keeps detailed records and measurements so that successes can be replicated elsewhere in NZ.