50 | Farm, contracting ‘best of both worlds’ Another fine day on the job. Chris and Jamie Pemberton. Richard Loader www.agpac.co.nz | Ph. 03 338 2400 | Proud to support Pemberton Farming SUPPLIERS OF WORLD CLASS CROP BALING PRODUCTS 03 489 3489 | 4 Stack St, Allanton Power Farming Otago Enjoying the best of both worlds is how Chris Pemberton describes the farming and agricultural contracting businesses he and his wife Jamie have established over the last three years. Pemberton Farming and Contracting was born November 2018 after the family run-off in Millers Flat that Chris was managing in partnership with his parents was sold. Chris and Jamie had been looking around Central Otago in the Manuherikia and Ida Valleys for suitable farmland to buy but hadn’t been able to find anything. “I had quite a bit of agricultural gear left over from the run-off sale and knew we would need some source of off-farm income for the size of farm we would eventually end up buying,” says Chris. “We started doing a bit of contracting work around the local area. There was quite a bit of grass growth and we managed to pick up work from farmers who were being left behind, just because the season had been so busy.” In that first season Chris did 2000 bales of balage, as well as providing casual stock work, driving tractors and farm sitting for farmers, building solid relationships and repeat customers along the way. “Over the peak season in November/December/ January we now employ two full time staff and do upwards of 10,000 bales, offering cultivation and drilling services on the season’s shoulders.” Chris says while the contracting business has the capability to grow a bit more, he and Jamie want to focus on their existing clients, providing them with a high level of service and quality product. “That was the opportunity we saw back in 2018, especially in a busy ‘growthy’ season like we have now where there’s the risk of farmers getting left MEAT & WOOL » Monymusk Herefords/Pemberton Farming & Contracting Many thrills for breeders • from page 49 been many highlights. In their first foray to the Led National Bull Sale in 1994 Chris and his wife Jayne, achieved top price of $34k with Monymusk Discovery and also the 2nd top price of $18k. “That was a real buzz for young breeders,” says Chris. “Monymusk Eiffel Tower got top price at the 2011 National Bull Sale at Feilding and Monymusk Jock was champion bull in 2016. “Probably the biggest thrill was getting $71k for Monymusk Gallant at our first sale in the new shed in 2013. Gallant continues to breed the house down throughout the country and for three years in a row Grassmere Gallant’s sons have achieved top price nationally for Hereford bull sales. Gallant still holds the New Zealand record for highest price bull sold at an on farm auction.” Two-year-old Monymusk Outback was retained in the Douglas’s herd in 2021 and used as a yearling over heifers, leaving great calves. “He’s a bull that ticks all the boxes in the flesh and on paper. Very rarely do you see a back end on a bull like Outback has – he just has tremendous length. A very exciting prospect.” While still heavily involved in the stud, Chris and Jayne have stepped back from the farm’s management, with increasing responsibility shifting to his son and daughter-in-law Henry and Alison, and their youngest daughter Amanda. Eldest son Ben owns an accountancy business in Nelson and maintains a close involvement in the farm. “The farm is a real family operation, which is so satisfying,” says Chris. behind simply because of the volume of contracting work. You know, it has rained almost every weekend this season so you only get four to five days of balage in a week by the time you get a bit of drying done. Around here if you get rain in November/December everything goes berserk.” Communication with clients, keeping them in the loop and letting them know when they will be on their farm has been a major factor in Chris and Jamie’s successful venture into contracting. “Having that farming background, I know how frustrating it can be for the farmer when they want to know when the contractor is going to be on farm. I also try to balance things so that the job is cost effective to the farmer but we still make money. For many farmers the quality of the balage job and what they feed out is more important than what it might cost.” In July 2020 Chris and Jamie realised their dream of farm ownership, entering into equity partnership on a 160-hectare farm in Becks, near Omakau. “We do dairy support and bull finishing. At the moment our farm is a winter based system where we’re shifting breaks every day and in the summer I just have to keep the water going, shift stock every couple of days, put crops in and do our own balage, which we work into the contracting season.” Jamie works off farm as an agronomist for PGG Wrightson Seeds and is equally passionate about the business she shares with her husband, ensuring the accounts are paid and everything ticks over smoothly.
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