Business Rural North Summer 2021

6 | RURAL PEOPLE » Rukumoana Farms: Brown family Grazing system works in with family’s Rukumoana Farms was the Regional Supreme Winner at the 2020 Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards. (From left): Melissa Sutton, Sam Brown, William Brown, Seb & Nick Brown, Sophie Brown, Robert Brown, Jane Brown. Friesian bulls on Mohaka Perennial Ryegrass. Lambs on Hunter Brassica (below). Karen Phelps R ukumoana Farms has set up a bull Tech- noGrazing system on its Toko unit, which farm owners Robert and Jane Brown say is helping them to make the most efficient use of their land to farm productively and sustainably. Designed by Palmerston North company AgDe- sign, the system enables small subdivisions with efficient logistics and a low labour input. Now in its second year the system has proved so successful the Browns are in the process of converting land in their Rukumoana unit to the system. “People mistake TechnoGrazing for intensifica- tion,” says Robert. “But small areas are grazed for two days then not grazed for 30-40 days. It enables you to grow more grass by not over grazing and the result is a grazing system that is effective at converting grass into meat and fibre.” “The bulls have done very well in the Techno Grazing system putting on two to two and a half kilograms of weight per day at peak,” says Jane. “We can add in steers to take up the slack when there is extra grass. The best part – this whole process is scalable.” The other big policy change has been the removal of dairy grazing to simplify the stock class operation. The farms previously carried two mobs of 60 dairy grazers but replacing these with bulls allows maximum flexibility for stock trading by not having the 12 month commitment of dairy grazers that took the best feed on the farm. Rukumoana Farms is run by the Brown family – Robert and Jane, son Nick and wife Sophie, son Will and wife Kate and son Sam. The beef and lamb finishing operation includes two farms and a run off block totalling 1263ha - 1159ha effective. Another big change is that Nick and Sophie are leasing the Toko farm and Will and Kate are leasing Rukumoana as part of the family’s farm succession plans. Robert is working for Will and, although it sounds like a big change, in reality the family have been working in this leadership style for some time. Robert and Jane take charge of the 85ha run off block at Rawhitiroa. “This is really the start of our family succession with selling stock and leasing the land of Toko and Rukumoana. The last 12 months we have been making a plan with family and banks to manage a viable business for everyone going forward, which has taken a lot of coordination,” says Jane. The TechnoGrazing system works in well with the family’s succession plans and long-term commit- Rukumoana Farm Peter Laurence 027 252 2174 William Moynihan 027 279 7099 Proud to support Rukumoana Farm Any Terrain, Any Season, whether it’s working the forestry or farm, CAN-AM is there to make your life easier. From the toughness of our engines and all-terrain traction, to our steadfast, classleading payload and towing capabilities. We have the vehicle to suit your needs. So put your trust into your local NZ no 1 CAN-AM dealer. Call us to book your free onsite demo today. Servicing the whole Wanganui, Taranaki, Ruapehu, Taihape and Hunterville Areas with pick-up and delivery service available. ®TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier recreational Products Inc. or its af liates.