Plan with the future in mind

In association with Iplex Pipelines

Discussion groups are a great way of relating information, understanding common issues and seeing how other farmers have tackled them. Case in point was an on-farm day at Parengarenga Station, organised by Chris Baker, Technical Field Sales (TFS) at Farmlands Kaitaia.

Parengarenga Station – a Māori Incorporation – is a 6,000ha sheep, beef and forestry operation, located just 50km south of Cape Reinga, stretching between both coasts. Like most large rural properties, intensifying production centres around subdivision of large blocks and developing stock water reticulation systems to service these smaller paddocks.

Moving away from stock accessing open water sources, or small localised water systems, to providing water storage and pipe infrastructure that delivers the correct volume of water to the troughs is key to delivering these solutions. Chris invited Craig Paterson from Iplex Pipelines and Cam Walker from The Water Centre to discuss all things water on the day. Around 25 farm managers and workers turned up on the day, which included a trip around a new development on farm and a presentation at the shed. 

Cam covered off solar pumping systems, a growing and increasing affordable solution to the common issue of operating pumps in remote locations on large properties. Craig talked about the process of delivering effective reticulation systems, with a large focus on thinking about the end game, which is, designing the system for what the system eventually needs to deliver, rather than just addressing today’s need. “Understanding the process and difference in pipe and fittings options is important”, says Craig.

“First, we establish the amount of water required, where this is sourced from, and can it deliver the volume required each day or is storage required. Then we survey the property, assess any current pipe infrastructure for inclusion suitability and the most advantageous pipeline route. “We use this information to design a system that delivers the optimum volume of water for best production outcomes. This is then presented to the asset owners or farm manager, the go head agreed upon, with Farmlands then sorting out the supply logistics.”

Was the on-farm discussion group a success? “Yes”, says Chris, “We’ve asked Craig back to design four other stock water systems since, all for farmers who attended on the day.” The message remains the same: plan for the future even if your reticulation system construction is a multi-year project.