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We’re working with partners to look at ways farmers can improve land stabilisation and restoration following large flood events. This will provide future generations with information and resources to help build resilience in a changing climate.
After severe flooding in the North Island from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, scientists from AgResearch and partners worked with farmers and rural professionals to support land resilience and mitigate future events.
Incorporating farmers knowledge and experiences from previous events on pasture damage and regrassing flooded paddocks, we developed a decision-making tree to help give advice on managing sediment deposits.
A decision tree developed from the experiences from the 2004 Manawatū flood impact on pastures gave growers some outlines on how to manage sediment deposits
After flooding in the southern North Island in 2004, scientists from AgResearch and partners worked with farmers and rural professionals to compile information into a decision tree to help those affected make the best choices for their farms.
Find out moreOur timeline highlights the different approaches to rebuild soil and increase resilience following extreme adverse weather based on farm terrain. The recovery and adaptation timeline begins with the immediate aftermath of an event like Cyclone Garbrielle to the medium- and longer-term research, being split into hill country and highly productive flood plains.
Flood Plains |
Hill Country |
Support for decision makingOnce the immediate danger to life and safety has passed, using a decision tree model can help farmers and growers identify their next steps to begin recovering their operation.
This includes working with sediment deposits and rebuilding flooded soils to recover fertility, rebuild structure and recreate lost organic matter.
Past weather events have helped inform decision trees and other tools being used now by farmers and growers. Monitoring and analysis underway now will in turn help farmers and growers into the future. |
Identifying impacts on feed supplyImmediately after an adverse weather event, there is a high possibility that the supply of feed for stock will have been compromised, either by being swept away with topsoil or becoming waterlogged, meaning existing pastures can no longer be utilised effectively.
In addition, importing feed to make up for the shortfall may be difficult due to compromised transport routes and property access.
AgResearch scientists have recommended using satellite imagery in these times to identify areas with compromised or missing feed, allowing farmers to make plans to move stock or make other arrangements. |
Flood Plains |
Hill Country |
Adaptive practices for more resilient pastures
Deferred grazing (resting pastures from late spring to early autumn) aids crops in all extreme weather conditions. The resulting increased root mass ensures less loss of soil under flooding and greater drought resilience.
It’s a flexible practice in unpredictable conditions providing protection from both too much moisture and not enough.
A further investigation by AgResearch scientists into the benefits of deferred grazing over longer periods has been awarded funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund of close to $1 million over four years. |
Remediating slip scars
While the scars left by slips can be challenging, current data shows that there is often no economic benefit to oversowing or fertilising these areas, however there can be other benefits to revegetating.
It may be necessary to reprioritise what remediation work is done based on other factors, such as people or stock being on or near the area and/or the visual impact on mental health.
Our scientists are currently researching the erosion prevention benefits of planting poplars and willow, which also provide a coppicing option for drought-affected areas, alongside forage species like Tagasaste. |
As we move into a more uncertain future, we are are using our expertise to research areas that can help build resilience in pastoral farming across Aotearoa New Zealand:
Flood Plains |
Hill Country |
Highly productive flood plains
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Hill country farming
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After flooding in the southern North Island in 2004, scientists from AgResearch and partners worked with farmers and rural professionals…
Methodology and results from deferred grazing trials on farms in the Kaimai Ranges (Bay of Plenty) and Waingaro ( (north-western Waikato).
Send an email to one of our team or check out our facilities located across Aotearoa New Zealand.
