Business Rural North Autumn 2021

| 15 RURAL PEOPLE » Andy & Jan Tatham Honey a ‘wonderful new enterprise’ Sue Russell A ndy and Jan Tatham proudly farm land that has been in the family since 1876 and as fifth generation farmers, they have worked diligently to leave the land in better condition than when they started. To that end, they have certainly achieved that objective on their 2455ha (1680ha effective) farm on the Wairarapa Coast, near Masterton. Planting trees and taking care of waterways has been a focus for decades now with 10km of water- ways planted, 10km of flax shelter belts and 8000 willows. In the last five years 30,000 natives have been planted. There is also 90ha in Pine and 650ha of regenerating native bush. There’s a close-knit team working on the farm, with Infrastructure Manager Aaron Tomlin and his wife Nicola collaborating in a joint venture project involving bee-keeping and honey production. Much of what has been achieved environmentally has been through utilising the resources of the Greater Wellington Regional Council to establish a ‘Land Use Capability Plan’, as Andy explains. “We wanted to really achieve long-term sustain- able outcomes in terms of improvements to the farm’s environment and the resources of GWRC really helped us establish a 40-year planting pro- gramme to achieve a carbon positive state.” Other benefits to flow from the plan included minimising erosion, retiring non-productive land, planting alongside water-ways and providing shade and shelter for stock. This hard work, and endeavour toward environ- mental stewardship was recognised last year in the regional Ballance Farm Environment Awards where the Tathams received four awards; Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management, Beef and Lamb NZ Livestock Farm, Hill Laboratory Agri-Science and the Predator Free Farm Awards. Helping to achieve the predator free goal is a retired DOC ranger Joe Hansen on the couple’s boundary who has trapped strategic areas. Over the years Andy says the farm has shifted from purely breeding to a breeding/finishing opera- tion. They purchase their bulls from Dandaloo Angus Stud and have had success with them for more than 10 years. Jan says the bulls are consistent year on year. “They have a lovely quiet tempera- ment and are well-fleshed bulls.” Changing to a breeding/finishing operation has provided the business with a great deal more flexibility when dealing with seasonal differences. Weather patterns can throw up their fair share of challenges in an area prone to drought but Andy says the farm is pretty well drought proof, with a 16-tonne silo, very good reticulated water systems and water storage dams, 20ha of lucerne alongside forage crops of kale, turnips, rape and herb crops of plantain and chicory. While Andy concentrates on the management of the 5500 breeding ewes, 1750 hoggets, a terminal stud flock Pole Dorset/Texels, a specialist hogget lambing stud flock (Cheviot and Cheviot/South- down), a couple of hundred breeding cows and 500 steers and bulls brought on to the farm – Aaron takes care of all the cropping, water systems, fer- tiliser and general machinery. “He is very environ- mentally aware which fits in really well with our whole philosophy about caring for this land,” says Andy. Describing himself as the most un-mechan- ical farmer in New Zealand Andy says the skills Aaron brings in terms of maintaining infrastructure and machinery has been significant in determining the success of the farm. “We have got great staff with skills and knowl- edge that complement each other to create an effective team and who very much feel a strong connection to the land, as we do.” Finding a way to help Aaron and Nicola build equity within the operation has been achieved in a novel way, as Jan explains. “We wanted to help them move forward so we decided to start a joint venture (Homewood Honey) together. Both Aaron and Nicola are now qualified apiarists and they have built the 100 hives that are spread around the property in locations in accordance with the manuka and kanuka flowering season. It’s a perfect little business within our bigger business with a bright future.” Homewood Honey produces Manuka honey which is currently sold wholesale to other commercial honey businesses and this year they extracted their Kanuka honey for bottling and selling within New Zealand from their commercial kitchen on the property. They are currently progressing through compliance to store and grow out their bulk Manuka honey to enable them to have more control over the timing of its sale. “It’s been a wonderful new enterprise for us to create on the farm. We control the whole produc- tion process. Prior to this we had honey businesses placing their hives on our farm for minimal times when the manuka was flowering. We decided there were many more benefits to be had from having the bees permanently on the farm.” Kaiwhata Farm is an excellent example of what can be achieved by committing to a long-term well- devised environmental plan. Andy says it feels very satisfying to have built on the hard-work of earlier generations of the family. “I think this is what every-one who has been fortunate enough to take part in multi-generational ownership want to achieve; marking their own stamp and improving outcomes for all.” sellar.co.nz 0800 SELLAR 06 377 3199 81 Queen St Masterton Here when you need us with professional and reliable financial advice SHEAR EXPERTISE LIMITED - Masterton - Paddy Mason - 06 377 0368 - 027 443 3106 Simon Dennes - 06 377 0334 - 027 443 3320 Angus & Trish Thomson 06 372 7065 DANDALOOSTUD.CO.NZ 60 years of consistent quality breeding Dandaloo prides itself with easy doing bulls, that have thickness and do well in diverse conditions Proud to be associated with Andy & Jan Tatham On farm Bull Sale Auction 12pm, 9 th June Andy and Jan Tatham’s 2455ha Wairarapa farm is an award-winning example of what can be achieved by committing to a long-term, well thought out environmental plan.