Introducing David Birkett and Nigel Greenwood

Canterbury arable farmers David Birkett and Nigel Greenwood are increasing the health, resilience and profitability of their farm systems as a result of many years of building soil health, adapting farm machinery and growing their knowledge and experience of working with biological systems.

Video description: Nigel has transitioned to a no-till system, with significantly reduced chemical inputs thanks to improved soil and crop health.

Video description: David has developed a low input system that includes using living roots in the soil as much as possible to accelerate soil health gains.

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More on the farmers featured in this case study

David and Nigel are examples of what is possible when farmers commit to long term systems change focused on building soil health, but the transition requires patience and commitment.

Nigel Greenwood

Nigel Greenwood farms near Southbridge, Canterbury on Templeton Silt Loam soils. He grows malting barley, milling wheat, ryegrass seed, clover seed, and peas. Cattle, ewes and lambs graze his cover crops and seed crops before and after harvest.

Over the past 8 seasons Nigel has been transitioning to a no-till system, with significantly reduced chemical inputs. Due to the condition of his soil when he took over the farm, he did not go ‘cold turkey’ on either tilling or pesticides but spent multiple seasons getting the soil and crops to a condition where they were no longer required.

David Birkett

David Birkett farms near Leeston, Canterbury on Temuka Silt Loam and Paparoa Sandy Loam soils. The whole farm is in crop over summer and livestock are integrated over the winter period. He grows cereals, ryegrass seed, legumes and vegetables, both for fresh harvest.

David has focused on developing a low input system and improving soil quality for 25 years. However in the last few years he has learnt how keeping living roots in the soil as much as possible can accelerate his soil health gains.

“Where we've probably changed that approach just in the last couple of years is using the biologicals as more of a preventative, and only using the chemicals if a problem does develop. In the last three years we've been able to cut between 25 and 30% out of our pesticide program costs.”

David Birkett, Canterbury arable farmer

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