Wet, boggy corners of the farm are often seen as a problem — but what if they could become one of your farm’s smartest investments? In this episode, we talk about why wetlands are becoming an important part of Southland’s farming future, from improving water quality to helping manage flood and drought risk.

Sarah Thorne is joined by DairyNZ Environment Manager Justin Kitto to break down what wetlands actually do, why protecting existing wetlands matters, and how farmers can start small without turning their whole farm into a wetland project. Justin shares practical lessons from projects across Southland, including the mistakes, surprises, and simple steps farmers can take right now.

Key Takeaways

• Why small wetlands spread across farms can have a big impact on water quality, biodiversity, and flood management
• How to identify low-performing or boggy areas on your farm that could become simple wetland projects
• Practical advice on starting small, avoiding common mistakes, and working with the landscape instead of against it

Justin Kitto is the Environment Manager at DairyNZ and has worked alongside Southland catchment groups and farmers on wetland restoration and constructed wetland projects across the region.

If you’ve been curious about wetlands but weren’t sure where to start, this episode will give you practical ideas, real examples, and the confidence to take the first step on your own farm.

#catchmentgroups #southlandfarming #ThrivingSouthland #Wetlands #DairyNZ #Waterquality

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