The Dairy Futures Living Lab is working with partners in the DairyNZ led Low N farm systems program which aims to design a farm system with substantially lower N loss, whilst maintaining or improving profit and green house gases.  Pre-experimental modelling predicted nitrate leaching reductions of over 50% by combining N loss mitigations.  In the prototype farmlet the modelled parameters are being implemented at LURDF.  The Dairy Future farmlet represents the Stacked (N loss mitigations) farmlet while the Dairy Now farmlet represents the Control (current best practise).  We have been collecting soil, plant and animal related data to compare outcomes, including using suction cups in over 50% of the paddocks to measure nitrate leaching.  Links to published results will be made available on our Research Page.  

Throughout the season the Living Lab team will meet regularly to track progress and present regular updates on the production and performance of the two farms.