Business Rural North Autumn 2021

| 31 RURAL PEOPLE » John, Carol, Stephanie Wingate We have a crew to meet your needs. When you want it, How you want it. Pleased to be supplying shearing services to John, Carol & Stephanie Wingate 06 375 8488 / 027 4407 021 tararuashearing@xtra.co.nz 415 BLUFF RANGITUMAU ROAD, MASTERTON ROB & LUCY THORNEYCROFT: 027 203 5921 or 06 372 5701 | robandlucy@tapiriangus.co.nz 60 YEARS OF BREEDING 2021 SALE BULLS BY: Braveheart of Stern Kaharau 589 (son of Braveheart of Stern) Matauri Reality 839 Tapiri Angus is proud to be associated with John and Carol and Stephanie Wingate ON FARM SALE WEDNESDAY, 9 JUNE 2021 AT 9.30AM A farm that has been in the Wingate family for five generations will continue to adapt to the changing regulatory environment, says Stephanie (Steph) Wingate. “We’ll look at our grazing policy and if we need to reduce stock numbers,” she says. “The fact that Dad has done a lot of riparian planting and fencing off of waterways and gullies over the years has given us a good head start.” Scotsman John Wingate sailed for New Zealand in 1861 and purchased the block of land that today makes up the Wingate farm in 1880. He named it Meldrum, after a farm he left behind in Stirling, Scotland. Located on Castle Hill Road at Alfredton, east of Eketahuna, 537ha total/460ha effective Meldrum is rolling to steep hill country running 2400 ewes, 900 of which are SIL recorded. The farm is today owned by Steph’s parents, John and Carol. Steph returned to the farm in 2008 after complet- ing a degree in microbiology at Otago University and working in a dairy research institute for a number of years. John and Steph run the farm day to day, each taking an equal share in the jobs required, although Steph does take the lead on the family’s Romney stud, with her science and research background coming into good use with regards to stud record- ing and tagging. Climate change is one of the main challenges with summers getting increasingly dry and winters generally wet, cold and windy. Meldrum copes by using split lambing dates from early to mid Septem- ber to minimise the risk of a storm doing too much damage. They aim to finish approximately 2000 Photos: John and Stephanie Wingate; Meldrum romney rams; John moving a mob by horseback at Meldrum Farm. Generational farm continues to adapt Karen Phelps lambs each season through the Atkins Ranch GAP programme supplying lambs to Whole Foods Market in America. The family has been supplying Atkins Ranch since its inception in 1989. They also sell around 150-180 rams each year by private treaty starting in November. Meldrum Romneys started recording in 1970 when John and his father (also called John) started the stud with the aim to produce good commercial Romney sheep that shift well and give a good balance of production in growth rate, fertility, wool quality and wool weight. The breeding programme also places a big emphasis on mothering ability and weight of lambs weaned. Always seeking to produce better sheep Meldrum Romneys has been part of the Wairarapa Romney Improvement group since it began in 1970. Meldrum uses eye muscle scanning to select the appropriate sires with the right genetics to help them achieve their aims with growth being the main goal. A medium micron fleece is targeted and Steph acknowledges this has been a challenging wool to get a good price for but says the climate they farm in also has to be kept in mind. “It can get wet here in winter so we need a fleece that will blow. So it’s a balance between what will work in this environment, animal health and what will sell,” she says. Meldrum also includes a beef operation com- prising 100 Angus cows plus replacements. The Wingates sell yearling steers and finish any surplus heifers depending on the season. Steph, one of five daughters, says she is pleased to have made the decision to return to Meldrum and carry on the family legacy started by her forebears many generations ago.