The intensification of pastoral agriculture: some trends and implications

Abstract

In the 15 year period starting 1990 there has been a remarkable transformation of New Zealand’s pastoral agriculture. Dairy production measured as kilograms of milksolids has doubled. On sheep farms the number of ewes has decreased by one third yet tonnes of lamb meat production has increased by more than 10%. This article considers some of the factors that contributed to these outcomes and discusses the import of intensification and changing mix, economics, politics and environmental costs.