24 | ‘Make a plan and know your costs’ Kim Newth Nearly 18 months on from Cyclone Gabrielle, many Hawke’s Bay farmers are still in the midst of rebuilding and recovering from that devastating event. For the region’s sheep and beef farmers, such as Patrick and Isabelle Crawshaw and their family, ongoing costs associated with getting farm infrastructure back up must also be managed alongside various other pressures such as high farm input prices and high interest rates. “We all take some comfort from the fact that just about every farmer here is in the same boat, battling similar challenges, but at the same time we have to push ourselves to get re-established,” says Patrick. “My personal perspective is that you have got to have a plan: you need to know what you’re working with, what your costs are, what ability you have to fund that plan and then go about executing what you can over a period of time. “Along the way, there are opportunities to find efficiencies in your business. It can really help to bring in a consultant, coach or mentor, or even get together with your farming mates for a discussion. Sometimes just talking through your ideas can give you the confidence you need to act on them, or you will come away with a fresh perspective.” The couple’s 285ha beef and lamb hill country farm, Te Hau Station in Patoka west of Hastings, produces up to 2500 lambs annually and between 300 to 400 heads of beef. Since the cyclone, external contractors have been used to help reinstate damaged fencing infrastructure. “We have also resourced ourselves inhouse to give us the ability to chip away at it in our spare time. Even just getting a couple of extra stock proof paddocks is a boost to morale. It shows that you’re making progress and will get there eventually. The smaller milestones all add up and help give you that feeling of control as you tick things off.” Along with cyclone recovery, the region’s farmers are feeling the impacts of a dry autumn that slowed pasture growth and has reduced pasture covers into winter. Patrick and Isabelle certainly noticed the dry autumn conditions this year. “While we have got some flex in our system, it has put pressure on our feed budget. We’re just trying to get ourselves in a position to have the feed level right to protect next year’s crop of lambs and next year’s income as well.” Patrick remains strongly committed to the future of New Zealand’s sheep and beef industry and last May was elected to the Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Board as the Eastern North Island farmer director. He says it has been “really exciting” to RURAL PEOPLE » Patrick and Isabelle Crawshaw see the Government get behind the Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts (EFEI) programme this year with a $8.3 million funding commitment through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. B+LNZ has also committed $9 million to the programme. “Climate change is pushing facial eczema further around the country so having some robust tools to work around that is definitely worth it. Currently, we’re also going through the process of refreshing our strategy with a focus on having a stronger presence behind the farm gate.” Thursday 5th December, 2024 Waihau Terminal Sires BEN DAWSON 021 081 61057 waihaurams@gmail.com PROUD SUPPLIER OF TERMINAL SIRE RAMS TO CRAWSHAW FARMING The couple’s 285ha beef and lamb hill country farm, Te Hau Station in Patoka west of Hastings, produces up to 2500 lambs annually and between 300 to 400 heads of beef. CONTRACTING Servicing the Puketapu, Patoka & Puketitiri area for baling, silage, cultivation, drilling, maize / beet planting & earthmoving requirements Supporting Patrick and Isabelle from the ground up
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