Nicola grew up on a high country merino station in the Mackenzie Country.  A passion for farming, science and the outdoors led Nicola to complete a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University, with specialist areas including soil science and wool science.  She has practical work experience in dairy, sheep, beef, deer and small seed production, including organic production systems.  During her studies she also completed an internship for the New Zealand Merino Company investigating the feasibility of organic merino wool production in New Zealand.  After university Nicola travelled to Australia, where she worked on a renowned merino sheep stud, expanding her knowledge of breeding and genetics, sheep and wool classing.  Nicola joined AgFirst as an Agribusiness Consultant in 2010.  

Nicola works primarily with the sheep and beef sector on a range of projects supporting, farming groups, industry, and government.  She has extensive experience in extension, including running field days and workshops for farmers and rural professionals on a range of subjects including farm systems, farm environment planning, greenhouse gas mitigation and climate change adaptation.  

Nicola also works individually with farmers and growers, utilising skills in farm systems analysis to identify solutions that both improve both profitability and sustainability.  She is also a Certified Nutrient Management Advisor and enjoys assisting farmers with understanding nutrient requirements, greenhouse gas emissions and flows within their farm system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Agricultural Science (First Class Honours) – Lincoln University.  Leading Graduate in Agriculture and Horticulture, 2008.

• NZIPIM Registered Consultant.
• Certified Nutrient Management Advisor.
• Certificate in Intermediate and Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management – Massey University.
• Certificate in Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Accounting – Massey University.
• RMPP Action Network Facilitator.
• Fonterra-approved DDT soil testing services.

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Key Projects

• B+LNZ Farming for Profit Programme – Central Otago.
• B+LNZ Farm Environment Plan workshops.

• B+LNZ Greenhouse Gas workshops.
• Ministry for Primary Industries Policy Agent for Central Otago.
• Climate change workshops for rural professionals and farmers.
• Catchment group support.
• Support with resource consent applications and audit.

• Horticulture research projects.
• Farm systems workshops.
• Farm systems modelling and analysis.