The value of scholarly advice

AgFirst consultant Stacey Belton still does DairyNZ courses to stay at the top of her field.

Waikato farm consultant Stacey Belton has some valuable skills for farmers facing tighter timelines around increasingly strict nutrient constraints.

The former DairyNZ scholarship recipient anticipates becoming increasingly busy in her role as an agricultural consultant with AgFirst in Hamilton.

Nearly three years into her role since graduating from Lincoln University with a bachelor of agricultural science, Ms Belton says the demands on consultants in Waikato are growing as farmers start to digest the full implications of the Healthy Rivers Plan.

"There are about 5000 farms in the catchment, each requiring a Farm Environment Plan, and that brings a lot of demands on consultants to work with them, often when farmers feel in the dark about what it's going to mean," she says.

Ms Belton has already been working with farmers adopting DairyNZ's Sustainable Milk Plan and, while not as comprehensive as what the farm environment plans will be, they are providing a good starting point for many clients.

A natural fit

Being an agricultural consultant fits well for Ms Belton, a Matamata farm girl who quickly realised she loved dairying, being outdoors and keeping in touch with the farming community.

After leaving St Peter's School in Cambridge, she planned to study at Lincoln and become a research scientist but found she enjoyed being on-farm.

"I took some farm management papers and really enjoyed the practical, applied nature of the work. It was from there I decided I wanted to be a consultant."

Receiving the DairyNZ scholarship in 2010 helped Ms Belton take her goal of being a farm consultant a step further.

"When I told Bill Barwood, who was the DairyNZ scholarship facilitator at the time, that I was keen to be a farm consultant he put me in touch with James Allen of AgFirst. James arranged for me to go on a few visits with consultants to see clients, and that is basically how I got my job here."

She says the scholarship has proved invaluable in helping her build credibility more quickly within both farmer and agri-professional circles.

"And of course, financially, the scholarship meant I could come out of university with no student loan, which is a big plus!"

Giving back

In turn, Ms Belton has given back by speaking at her old school about the opportunities in dairying and continuing to attend career days for students.

Despite leaving the intensity of university and taking up her new career, Ms Belton has continued to develop her skill set.

DairyNZ Foundation courses have helped develop her basic understanding of farm systems.

"There are around eight courses a year, including pasture management and DairyBase training, so it's very comprehensive and broad-ranging."

She is now focusing on completing a Sustainable Nutrient Management course, a base competency requirement for consultants advising farmers operating under the Healthy Rivers Plan.

Development around nutrient management will be a must-have for consultants in the Waikato catchment, but she's also keen to build her 'cows and grass' skills.

"I find this particularly challenging and it requires a lot of 'whole systems' thinking, particularly as more farmers are starting to look harder at their farm systems and how to make them lower cost and more efficient."

She says more and more farmers are recognising the benefits of stepping back and taking a wider view of their business with a consultant.

"The return for good consultancy has been proven to be high - about $10 for every $1 spent - often achieved with some very simple changes."

Ms Belton's long-term goals include remaining with AgFirst and continuing to enjoy the professional support provided in a large consulting firm and the challenges it offers.

"You get the chance to work with some very intelligent, experienced people, and participate in some big projects you might not get elsewhere."