| 47 CENTURY FARMS » Sisam & Sons Ltd The Sisam & Sons farm now totals 4,500ha comprising four dairy units on 823ha. The team generally target about 750,000 kilograms of milk solids per season. FARMit Accountants are proud to support Sisam & Sons Ltd (07) 307 7245 team@farmit.net.nz www.farmit.net.nz GOLD PARTNER Company Restructures Succession Planning Financial Accounts Tax Planning Equity Partnerships Budgeting and Forecas�ng FARM MACHINERY AND ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS PROUD TO SUPPORT SISAM & SONS LTD M 027 263 3322 25 Tuhoe Street, Taneatua 3123 P 07 312 9248 W wjdippie.co.nz E admin@wjdippie.co.nz History Alfred Sisam and two of his sons, Len and Walter began farming in the Owhakatoro Valley in 1917. The property, situated on the western side of the Whakatane River, is now farmed by the fifth generation. Len purchased the first four blocks in the Whakatoro Valley in 1917, totaling 2,276ha and a further three blocks in 1918. Additional land purchases were made by Walter and Alfred. The early farming operations consisted of beef production concentrating on fattening cattle, a Clydesdale stud and increasing sheep numbers as the hill country was brought into production. Dairying began in 1931 and by the start of the 1932 season; there were four sheds in operation. During the 1970s the sheds were upgraded to whole milk supply and the land reallocated into three dairy units with a fourth unit added in 2007. Through to the 1960s, land development was a major focus using Clydesdales to break in area for cattle, sheep and lambs at a rate of 80 hectares / year. An Arab stud was developed alongside the Clydesdales, but both were discontinued by the late 1980s. Small forestry plantings were carried out during the depression to control erosion and establish woodlots that could meet the farm’s future infrastructure needs. Planting for commercial exotic forests began in earnest in 1969 using the assistance of the government’s Forestry Encouragement Grants Scheme and continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Feral deer were captured on the property and farmed between 1980 and 2001. Today the farm is operated as a limited liability company wholly owned by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Len and Walter. Production is now focused on dairy, sheep and beef, and forestry.
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