24 | Marking 130 years in the family this year The farm’s history dates back to when J.G. Woodhouse, first purchased 200 acres at Rakaunui. Karen Phelps Rakaunui Farm, a 900-hectare sheep and beef property south of Pongaroa, managed by Alex and Katie Renner, is marking 130 years in the family this year and by their reckoning it has never looked better. Katie is the fifth generation to farm the land and reaching the milestone is no small feat in a district where the elements take no prisoners. “It’s pretty impressive. A lot of farms are in forestry here so it takes a lot of resilience to be able to survive and battle the wind,” says Katie with a laugh. “We’re renowned for our wind here. You have days that you know it’s a no-go zone as it can flip a bike but all our trees are braced for the nor’wester so they can handle a lot of wind and we have shelter belts and good planting.” The farm’s history dates back to when Katie’s great-great-grandfather, J.G. Woodhouse, first purchased 200 acres at Rakaunui. It’s now ten times the size. Over the years there have been plenty of challenges including Cyclone Gabrielle. “We’ve just hired a fencer-general so we can get our fences fixed. Our infrastructure has been pretty stuffed,” says Katie. “We had a drought straight after Gabrielle then poor product prices so we have patched fences rather than fixed,” explains Alex. Mustering sheep through damaged fencing has been a constant frustration. “When you put them in one paddock you come back and have to muster five paddocks. The sheep know where the holes are and know how to push through them,” says Katie. A drone, bought after the cyclone, has transformed the farming system and been a silver lining. “It probably saves me half a labour unit for mustering,” says Alex. RURAL PEOPLE » Rakaunui Farm “The cattle also come in more calmly with a drone than with dogs.” Stock policy has shifted significantly. Ewe numbers have dropped from 5000 to 3900 over three years ago and the cattle herd has grown from 70 to 120 cows plus young stock. It’s a big change from a decade ago when the farm ran close to 7000 ewes and no cattle at all. Now the business has a more diverse range of income streams. This year produced the farm’s first crop of Charolais calves, aimed at increasing weaning weights and strong muscling. “We sold the bulls in May and they were really good calves. They averaged 314kg,” says Katie. “It was fantastic to also get $2000 for a weaner calf.” With their sheep the Renners have moved to Pahiwi and Turanganui Romney genetics. “We are targeting more resilient, healthy sheep including dag scores and more worm resistance, so we don’t have to drench as often, and increasing fertility,” says Katie. “The first drop are less daggy, nice and open in the points and grew really well.” The couple are also considering collars on cows to protect poplar and willow plantings from grazing stock along with a new cattle yard and improved reticulated water systems. “With the meat and wool prices it’s got to be the best year in farming for a very long time and certainly the best for us,” says Katie. “It’s a very exciting time to be farming.” “We are targeting more resilient, healthy sheep including dag scores and more worm resistance, so we don’t have to drench as often, and increasing fertility.” 06 374 7701 27 High St, Dannevirke YAMAHA VIKING 3 $22,599 B.B.S., C.A. We’ll help you Wh tever your business nd ccounting needs, get in touch tod y. Julenne Nguyen B.B.S. Associ te In tune with your business
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