Size of the prize: the value of closing pasture yield gaps on heterogeneous soil types in a dairy farm in Canterbury, New Zealand

Identifying opportunities to further improve pasture production on high producing, irrigated Canterbury dairy farms is complex. An innovation systems approach was used identify the factors contributing variation in a case study farm such as: soil characteristics, irrigation management, and grass grub populations. This paper focuses value proposition of managing zones optimise production. Using EM38 mapping, area under single centre pivot irrigator were characterised into ‘low’, ‘medium’ ‘high’. Actual measurements application characteristics modelled APSIM estimate ‘low’ constant regime, giving an annual difference 2900 kg DM/ha between zones. In ‘typical System 4 farm’ FARMAX, with 20% 80% zones, increasing growth zone that gave increase 580 DM/ha. produced 51 kg/ha milk solids increased stocking rate by 0.2 cow/ha, which resulted profit $298/ha/year. The this 255 ha would be $75,000 per annum, while at regional scale, productivity 52,900 soils add around $14 M profit. Taking data-driven spatial management understanding drivers variability has potential their even high-performing systems.