Business Rural Autumn 2021

20 | MEAT & WOOL » Andrew Morrison Photos: Technology on farm with direct drilling. Clinton farm manager Tim Williams; Andrew and Lisa Morrison with son Bryn (snowboard instructor) and daughter Kelly, who is studying environmental sciences. Proud to support Andrew Morrison • Grassland Aerator • Soil Aerator/Cultivator • Auto Reset Aerator • Turf Aerator • Mole Plough • Dual Mole Plough • Pre-ripper • Super Ripper • Subsoilers • Super Subsoilers Tipper • Dual • Pipe Laying • Baleage Tow Hitch We Specialise in Phone/Fax: 03 207 1837 www.james-engineering.co.nz BUILDING BUSINESS CONFIDENCE now in their 80s, are still living. Andrew spent his earlier years working in mines in Western Australia and shearing sheep/working in cattle studs in Canada before returning to Southland. “My wife,Lisa, is Canadian and we considered making a life there. While home for Christmas one year a close family friend fell ill. We were asked if we could help him out for six months and enjoyed it so much that we decided to have a crack at farming here.” The couple went into partnership with Andrew’s parents and elder brother and together they devel- oped and grew the holdings over 20 years, before finalising the family succession plan. Today, Andrew and Lisa farm 150ha on their home property in Gore and have 890ha in South Otago for breeding and finishing. “Farming in a partnership, you learn how to value other people and lever their different skillsets. This acknowledgement of skills is what enables my off farm roles with great people like Lisa, Tim and Laura Williams (who manage our Clinton property) and the mainstay of the support from my parents George and Marg. It is through working with them over many years that I have come to appreciate the value of teams and what other people can do. “I take that into my work with Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the other boards I’m involved with. I really do believe that the role of a good leader is to empower the people you work with by recognising their skills and using them appropriately.” Looking back at the past year, Andrew says the global impact of COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of food and the essential role of primary producers. He notes the sector will be a key factor in New Zealand’s post COVID-19 economic • from page 19 recovery. It has also highlighted the resilience and innovation of the sector. “Our farmers are the best in the world at suc- cessfully adapting to change.” He accepts the current government taking a proactive stance on tackling water quality, climate change and biodiversity issues, but says there has to be confidence around appropriate policy settings – and workable rules – being able to deliver the right outcomes. “Beef + Lamb New Zealand is passionate about supporting farmers every step of the way. A lot of farmers are already doing fantastic stuff – we just need to continually convey that to the public, consumers and the government. Our family has been farming in this district since 1875 so, of course, we’re committed to protecting this special environment. “Technology will be a key part of farmers adapt- ing to change. It has been exciting for me to see, through the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, the research going on into methane mitigation solutions, and through the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), the great work going on around technologies to deliver significant price changes for strong wool. “There’s a lot of work to do but I’m hugely opti- mistic about the future of our industry.” ‘Technology a key part of farmers adopting to change’ “I really do believe that the role of a good leader is to empower the people you work with by recognising their skills and using them appropriately.”