Massey University researchers who set up New Zealand's first organic dairy research farm three years ago say the organic half of the farm is producing 10 per cent less milk than the conventional operation, while its costs are 10 per cent higher.
The organic farm's science team manager, Terry Kelly, said
the comparisons were on the basis of milksolids production.
But university scientists say it is too soon to draw conclusions from the comparative production figures, because the organic half of the property is just finishing its first season of full organic certification.
The farm near Palmerston North will hold a field day on Friday to explain the results for the past season.
Research groups involved in the comparative trial - vets, dairy production experts, farm managers and soil scientists - will present their initial findings.
Massey split its dairy cattle research operation into two units in 2001, with two identical herds and the same carrying capacity.
Dr Kelly said a key problem in the past season - a drought year in the Manawatu - was that the organic operation did not have enough feed for the stock. "It's difficult to source organic supplements."
Massey wanted to keep the trial going for at least three more years, to provide dairy farmers with information for when they were trying to make informed decisions about the costs or effects of changing to organics.
The unit was planned to identify everyday problems farmers might face, find solutions, help set guidelines and potentially offer conventional dairy farmers alternatives to antibiotics, sprays and animal health products.
A predecessor to Fonterra, the Dairy Board, predicted that organic dairy exports from New Zealand would need at least a million litres of milk at the peak of the season to be cost-effective, which would require at least 260 farms in a relatively concentrated area.
- NZPA
