Appearance
Mark Anderson
namehere
type: #person
organisation / role: Westridge (Dairy) Farm owner
place: #southisland
About
Mark Anderson, alongside his wife Madeline, operates Westridge Farm, a 600-hectare dairy enterprise in South Otago, New Zealand. Transitioning from conventional methods, they began adopting regenerative agriculture practices around 2017, aiming to enhance soil health, increase carbon sequestration, and improve overall ecosystem functionality. This shift was influenced by Mark’s personal health challenges and a growing awareness of the environmental impacts of traditional farming techniques.
Central to their regenerative approach is holistic grazing management. They have divided their herd of 750 dairy cows into two groups and reduced milking to once a day. Implementing longer grazing rotations, the cows are moved up to five times daily to maximise photosynthesis and pasture health. This strategy allows the cows to consume the nutrient-rich top third of plants, trample another third to nourish soil biology, and leave the remaining portion to facilitate rapid regrowth.
The Andersons also emphasise plant diversity by integrating a variety of species such as beans, vetch, kale, ryecorn, buckwheat, linseed, and oats into their pastures. This polyculture approach fosters a diverse root system, enhancing soil microorganism activity and natural nutrient cycles. The benefits of these practices are evident not only in the improved health of their land and livestock but also in Mark’s personal well-being.
Videos
[[mark-anderson-case-study-south-otago-dairy-farming]]
Books
https://www.quorumsense.org.nz/content/4-talking-dairy-with-mark-anderson
https://stories.ehf.org/regenerative-dairy-farming-with-mark-anderson-5e2baa119079 Same article ? on RBNZ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/416143/regenerative-agriculture-how-a-dairy-farmer-learned-to-trust-his-instincts
https://regendairy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Mark-Anderson-NZ.pdf
https://regendairy.org/case-studies/ - Review
https://www.healtheearthnz.com/farms/westridge-farm
https://www.healtheearthnz.com/about - Review My name is Camilla Rutherford, professional photographer and story teller. I am a farmers wife, I am a mother. This is the blog of my personal photography project into documenting regenerative agriculture, through the art of photography in New Zealand.