29 November 2018

Marlborough District Council is encouraging landowners, stock farmers and even viticulturists to purchase dung beetles, the humble critters that dramatically improve soil fertility and water quality by tunneling through soil and burying livestock dung.

At a briefing in Blenheim yesterday Shaun Forgie, the director of Dung Beetle Innovations, and Peter Buckley, dairy farmer and former Waikato Federated Farmers president, explained the environmental and economic benefits of introducing dung beetles to a group of farmers and landowners.

Alan Johnson, Council’s Environmental Science and Monitoring Manager, said Marlborough District Council is the first South Island council and only the second in the country to offer a financial incentive to landowners to invest in the beetles.

“Farmers can purchase beetles from Dung Beetle Innovations and Marlborough District Council will provide a 15 per cent rebate to the first 10 landowners who get on board.”

“The environmental benefits of these creatures is very considerable, particularly for at-risk catchments in our region.”

“Of additional interest today was the fact that wine growers who run sheep through their vineyards can also benefit from dung beetles.”

Landowners who are interested can get in touch with Mr Johnson on 03 520 7400 or email ESM@marlborough.govt.nz

Landowners can find out more and purchase beetles via https://dungbeetles.co.nz/

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