A method for improving farm practice: a case study of pugging

Abstract

Historically farmers made little distinction between farming for product or farming to maintain the physical resources for future generations but now have to demonstrate the latter. With this challenge, Federated Farmers, AgResearch, Livestock Improvement Corporation and Environment Waikato initiated study groups in the Waikato, linking farmers, scientists and policy agents. A case study of pugging (stock treading) management is used to demonstrate the group participatory process. The key stages in the group's development over time are explained. Throughout these stages, exchange of principles, experiences, ideas and data about pugging were aligned to the group's needs. Management guidelines to minimise pugging damage in both winter and spring were identified. The economic impact of pugging damage to paddocks was analysed at the farm level using UDDER. A comparative discussion of the group process compares the experiences of participants with published claims about study groups. Discussion of the group process calls for the need to develop methods for analysing group process. Keywords: decision-making, farm system, monitoring, participatory process, pugging, resource management, study groups