26 | RURAL PEOPLE » Kotu Station • Export Stock • Store Stock • Wholesale Stock • Valuations • Clearing Sales • Advice Proud to be supporting Kotu Station in all livestock transactions For a prompt and reliable service Contact Craig Nelson Ph: 06 378 8566 • Mobile 021 457 127 • Office 06 377 7105 Email craig@crnelso.co.nz • www.crnelson.co.nz Dry summer a real godsend for Kotu Station Tracey Edwardes A year on from Cyclone Gabrielle, Farm Manager Simon Stevens says the destruction, a wet winter and low commodity prices, mean’t life on Kotu Station had reached bedrock. But he remains positive. “I feel we are now turning a corner, and things are looking better on the property” he says. The ground work has been arduous due to a wet June and July. However after a cool September and a drizzly November, things have now settled. “The dry summer has been our Godsend and we have been able to make a lot of progress.” I did say last winter that I would never complain about a dry season again. The loss of land was worse than the initial estimate of 20-25% of the 1420ha. But he says, the decision to sew grass seed and fertilise immediately after the cyclone has done wonders. “Most of the slips are still covering, mainly in rye and clover. The grass seed has helped to keep a lot of the weeds down on the slips. On the flats and creek banks there’s been every weed imaginable coming through the silt, a real bugbear. We are going to re-grass some of the flats. Fortuitous timing, Kotu Station’s 30-year-old forest plantation has matured and been logged over the last year, with another 13 hectares of pine to go. A much needed financial injection with the plummet in lamb and meat prices - Kotu Station’s staple income. “Everyday we find something more to fix. We’ve just been busy repairing a broken water system. The bridge at the entrance to the farm has been under water five times since the storm. And some of the tracks have had to be cleared three times over. Bill Laing our Digger Driver has put in 800-900 hours of work over ten months - he’s been just gold. “He’s been digging slips out the dams while the water level is low. It’s going to be few years before they are back to normal. Thankfully 80% of the farm is now stock proof. There is still a lot of netting out there. Had a good scanning - 167% so the decision was made to sell 300 ewes as we couldn’t carry them. Had excellent survival through September -145% survival rate. Ewes were light after docking. I under estimated how much country we actually lost. Shearing - twice a year for sheep welfare but wool prices are still in the doldrums. Simon is positive there will be new markets for meat and wool on the horizon, with the country’s growth and innovation. 2023 has not been easy for the staff here at Kotu – they have done well! Our land owner Rob has been extremely supportive.
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