A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to address two groups of switched-on Southlanders. One was a group of concerned and responsible businesspeople, and the other was composed largely of professionals.

My story is very straightforward these days, as you will know if you read my columns – simply that we now have the tools and the opportunity to ratchet up the health of our farming businesses and at the same time improve the health of our soils, plants, animals and food products.

It may be simple, but to me it is pretty exciting. I am constantly reminded that it is challenging the status quo to say that the way we have been producing food for the past 30 years is not OK. My passion for sustainability and profit in farm practices sometimes gets me into hot water with the establishment because what I am advocating is way out of their comfort zone.

Yet I have to admit that even 20 years ago if someone had said to me that we should be actively “growing” our soils and reducing soluble fertiliser inputs I would have felt pretty uncomfortable too. Times have changed and we have to adapt to the changes if we are to thrive rather than just survive.

And so what did I learn from my excursion to the deep south? Well, I was greatly encouraged by the range of responses from people, their depth of thinking and level of concern. I learned that they understood the need to readdress the basics – the quality of life, food, and the atmosphere – and follow a healthier pathway in farming to achieve healthier profits.

I also learned to my great relief that they realised forestry was not the only way or even a superior way of locking up carbon. Thank goodness for that!

There was some resistance from people who found it hard to accept that we should learn from overseas experience and adapt some of their methods to suit our farming systems using the Six Laws of Best Farm Business Practice.

I think I also disappointed some who wanted me to tell them everything that I have discovered over the past decade or so of research, trial, error, and learning along with some highly motivated farmer members. Sorry, but that is valuable intellectual property that has cost me a mint in terms of cash and grey hair and I’m not about to give it away. Members of eCOGENT are the beneficiaries.

However, those of you who have followed my recent columns will know what I am on about. On our website you may have seen that I have defined the components of farming for healthier profits and healthier food. There have already been some positive responses and some robust dialogue around how best to put them into practice using the Six Laws. Most people like the idea of healthier profits but not everyone is as convinced as I am that healthier farming gives greater opportunities for profit.

Some people see obstacles in the pathway, like the confusion surrounding climate change, the Emissions Trading Scheme, carbon credits and the role of soil carbon. Unfortunately there is a lack of clarity from the NZ science community, and procrastination on the part of Government because of the coming election.

However, for eCOGENT members the issues are very clear. There is enough research and experience in carbon farming, particularly in Australia, for us to draw on to establish practical procedures for measuring carbon in pastoral soils and to set about actively sequestering atmospheric CO2 . By the end of September we expect to have documented and registered the carbon status of all of eCOGENT members’ farms. This is a strategic step on the way to carbon farming and trading in carbon credits.

However, bear in mind that the most important objectives of carbon-positive farming are achieving healthier profits growing better soils, feeding healthier stock and producing healthier food all at a profit. Healthier farming opportunities have got to be driven by the Six Laws and assessed using daily profit indicators. If we do that, carbon credits will fall into place and carbon trading will be the icing on the cake.