| 13 There has been a strong environmental focus on the farm over several decades which now includes being part of the Paraiti Catchment Care Group. RURAL PEOPLE » Emerald Hills : Rick and Rose Powdrell this country there has to be a lot more unity and I think alongside that the world is waking up to plastic and its negative effects, especially in the environment.” Like the current red meat schedules, Rick is pleased to see a gradual increase in wool prices and hopes this trend will be sustainable. Rick is the third generation, with his wife Rose, on their 446/362 hectare effective dry-stock Te Puke property, Emerald Hills. Previously carrying 2000 breeding ewes, Emerald Hills Romney flock has been reduced to 1100 which are mated to South Suffolks, while two-tooths are bought in from Alexander Genetics instead of buying rams and breeding replacements. “The plan is we’ll end of with about 850 ewes and we’ll just buy enough two-tooths each year to sustain the flock.” Cattle comprise 305 weaner steer calves and 305 18 month steers, plus 63 2.5 year old steers. Dairy grazing has been decreased to carrying 61 in-calf heifers and 53 heifer calves. “We’ve been looking at how we can set it up so I can get more time off-farm, and also it’s easier for staff to run and giving our senior assistant more responsibility so we’ve made some fairly major stocking policy changes.” There has been a strong environmental focus on the farm over several decades which now includes being part of the Paraiti Catchment Care Group which, in addition to caring for waterways, has developed a wide biodiversity focus. The catchment group’s farms border land under the Kaharoa Kokako Trust which was established in 1997 to save the local kokako population from extinction. “It’s got to the extent now that [the trust land] is pretty full of kokako and so the birds have been starting to migrate to within our catchment group.” Consequently the catchment group has doubled down on pest control for deer, goats, mustelids, rats and possums, with deer and goat numbers especially greatly reduced. The group’s members were proud to run for the first time last March a trail run ‘The Flight of the Kokako’, raising $18,000 with all profits dedicated to enhancing and expanding its trapping network, as well as planting native trees throughout the catchment. 1428 Salisbury Road, Kereru
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