4 | Irrigation central to farm development Angus Aitken, son George and wife Elise. Photo Jess McGhie Virginia Wright Angus Aitken grew up on Craigforth, his family’s hill country sheep and beef farm on Banks Peninsula. When, after seven years banking, Angus and his wife Elise came back to get involved with the business of running the farm in 2014 he was keenly aware of a need to diversify. “I’d funded a few irrigation developments and it was always my intention to be involved in one,” says Angus. “I felt we needed that to be part of our farming business to protect us against drought and provide diversification.” When an opportunity arose in 2017 Angus and Elise put an experienced manager in place on Craigforth while they took on a venture in North Canterbury. They bought two blocks of land and have since added a third, on the Inland Road 20 minutes north of Culverden. They’ve spent the last four years expanding the irrigation already in place with more pivots while at the same time working out how to make best use of the attributes offered by the land. When Angus talks about expanding the irrigation he’s not talking about simply increasing the volume of water being applied to the ground however. He’s talking about a carefully moderated and controlled system allowing for a fine-tuning of the water application to make the most of every drop. The Aitkens currently irrigate 190 hectares of their combined 550 total and run a mixed cropping and finishing farm. “The vision was always to get into irrigated flat land,” says Angus. “It’s good land, with heavy soil, with lots of potential waiting to be realized so we want to improve the infrastructure, the irrigation and fertility of the land. Basically taking what was a typical grazing property and adding value to it.” They’ve been trialling high-value crops such as sweet-corn as they work towards establishing a system that best suits the land and its soil types. “I wouldn’t say I was an experienced farmer so I’m learning a lot as I go,” says Angus. “It’s taken four or five years to get where we are and I wouldn’t say we’re at status quo yet.” They’ve been surprised by the difference in climate, with North Canterbury’s frequent temperatures in the 30’s being a lot higher than what they’re used to on Banks Peninsula. That heat plus careful application of their water resource can be put to good use growing crops like corn, peas and clover rather than pasture grasses. The Aitkens are continually trying to improve their cholce of crop, and crop rotation, in harmony with their weather patterns and the attributes of the area. “We’re trying to keep an open mind and work with the climate rather than trying to fight it and repeat the same thing year on year,” explains Angus. Their use of irrigation is an important part of their plans and the care they take with it has been RURAL PEOPLE » Angus Aitken recognized with this year’s Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Award. Angus’s own interest in technology means they’ve made it an integral part of their farming approach, using soil moisture metering, satellite imagery, weather forecasts and apps for controlling pivots, leaving as little as possible to chance as they make the most of their irrigation. “We’re being very specific about how much water we put on certain areas of the farm and using as much technology as we can,” says Angus. “Monitoring daily and using weather forecasting means we can plan ahead which is the sustainability part of it, rather than just applying a general rule of thumb without the monitoring, and it helps us reduce the costs in our business so it’s economic as well.” He believes the Award was at least in part because of their intention to go to the next level in fine-tuning their irrigation by mapping the soil in their paddocks and having the capacity to apply water at variable rates (variable rate irrigation), thus using their resources as sustainably as possible. “It’s a combination of working with the weather forecast, working with the soil types and soil moisture through our moisture probes, and altering our application rates through the week and the days accordingly. We’re very precise and we change our application rates daily if its merited” says Angus.” Conservation was ingrained into us by my parents. Growing up my father was and still is involved in the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and he’s always been big on Riparian planting. It’s an important part of who we are as a family to look after the waterways around us as we try and make a living off the land.” “I’d funded a few irrigation developments and it was always my intention to be involved in one. I felt we needed that to be part of our farming business to protect us against drought and provide diversification.” Sewage and wastewater treatment systems specifically designed for New Zealand conditions. NaturalFlow • BioRock • Graf • Rainwater Harvesting www.activeflow.co.nz 03 323 8541 hello@activeflow.co.nz
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