50 | A great win for first time entrants Scott and Ana Gudsell with family. Randall Johnston Scott Gudsell of Ngahau Trust and his wife Ana are thrilled at winning the Norwood Farming Efficiency Award for the Greater Wellington region at the Ballance Farm Environmental Awards 2024. “It has given us a good indication of what we are doing right and other things that we need to work on ticking off as well,” Scott says of the overall process. “We’ve just finished off another Riparian fence this year, but we need farming to become profitable again before we can invest too much more.” The judges were impressed at just how much the Pirinoa-based couple have achieved in the last five years on the 1163ha (512ha effective) farm. “When I started managing this place, we took over 87 ewes and 320 cows and now we’re running 2,170 ewes and 200 cows.” The ewes are mostly Wairere Rams genetics (via Derek Daniell of Masterton) and they also take on trade lambs and grazing hoggets. Coming onto the land in 2019, their initial was focus on enhancing the farm through subdivision, improving water reticulation and developing pastures. “We were just busy getting on with the work that we thought needed doing but it hasn’t been easy, so it was nice to have the judges acknowledge how far we have actually come and how much we’ve been able to develop it over that time.” Running at a ratio of about 60 percent sheep and 40 percent cows; they power feed bulls and kill at a relatively early 14 months. “We stock at 3.5 bulls to the hectare, knowing that we’ve got ewes that will come in under that and we need them fed before it gets dry. We shift them every two days and adlib lucerne baleage until it gets too wet ( to help avoid pasture damage ).” About 60 percent of their income is derived from sheep, 30 percent from beef and the balance from grazing and grain. About 10 percent ( 15-23ha ) of their land gets turned over into barley and red clover each year ( something that really impressed the judges ), which is creating highly efficient feed systems-‘working our way around the property in a 10-year-plan’. They have good soil and the installation of a water reticulation system, including two solar-powered pumps, has also helped. “That leads to us having high weaning weights and sets the whole system up for success really. It goes into barley in spring and then autumn is red clover, then that runs through two springs and then we drill grass seed into it,” Scott explains of his BALLANCE AWARDS » Ngahau Trust Congratulations to Scott, Ana, Zak & Indy for their NZFETAwin! We are experienced digger operators specialising in farmwork. Services include tracks, dams, drainage, farm maintenance, horse arenas and site preparation. For all your excavation needs, contact Dr. Dig on 027 3720099 Congratulations to Scott and Ana! Dandaloo prides itself with easy doing bulls, that have thickness and do well in diverse conditions. cropping and pasture management. “We then run the bulls on that new grass and that eliminates the worm burden that comes from having had sheep on it (the clover) for the last two years.” With financial support from Greater Wellington Regional Council, they have fenced and excluded animals from just over 1km of waterways – and plan to fence another 1.4km. Ana and Scott have been retiring native bush areas and protecting waterways, including an ongoing programme to fence off the main creek systems – which will continue beyond 2024 - as resources allow. 01 BFEA Compact Brand Guidelines V1.0 FEB 2022
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