Ben and Julia’s Taranaki sheep and beef unit and the start of their Manuka Honey enterprise has their operation well diversified - Page 14 Manuka venture a sweet success Summer 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz North
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Rural North accepts no responsibility for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businessruralnorth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz OUR PARTNERS: Ahiaruhe Farm............................................................................ 03 Akitio Limited.............................................................................. 04 Alastair Neville............................................................................ 06 Rangiputa Station ...................................................................... 08 James Donaldson ....................................................................... 09 Castlepoint Station...................................................................... 10 Glenross Station ......................................................................... 11 Ben Anderson - Puketotara Farm ................................................ 12 Collier Farm................................................................................ 14 Conquest Texels.......................................................................... 16 Te Kupe Station........................................................................... 18 James Wallace............................................................................ 19 Iwinui Titirangi Stations............................................................... 20 Kelso Ram Stud .......................................................................... 22 Kirikau Coopworths .................................................................... 25 Komako Angus ........................................................................... 26 Link Livestock ............................................................................ 27 Bounty Dairy Unit ....................................................................... 28 Limestone Downs Station .......................................................... 29 Mark and Rose Candy................................................................. 30 Meringa Station .......................................................................... 31 Michael and Lindy Bennett.......................................................... 32 Mike Ferrier Deer ....................................................................... 33 Neville Cathcart .......................................................................... 34 Rakaunui Farm ........................................................................... 35 Ohorea Station............................................................................ 36 Otiwhiti Station Land Based Training ........................................... 38 Parengarenga Incorporation ............................................................ 40 Puketoi Estates ............................................................................... 42 Ravensdown................................................................................... 44 Rewa Rewa Station......................................................................... 46 Rollett Farm Ltd .............................................................................. 48 Te Karoa Farms .............................................................................. 49 Rolling Heights Farm ...................................................................... 50 Te Kupe Station............................................................................... 18 Tohunga Station.............................................................................. 51 Te Aratipi Station............................................................................. 52 Tuatahi Farming Partnership ........................................................... 54 Turihaua Angus ............................................................................... 56 Wairarapa Texel Developments ....................................................... 58 Waipari Station ............................................................................... 59 Waldheim Wiltshires ....................................................................... 60 Woodleigh Belgian Blues................................................................. 61 Westview Farming Partnership........................................................ 62 Plimmer & Co Farms....................................................................... 64 Makokomiko Station ...................................................................... 66 JCL Contracting Ltd ....................................................................... 67 Reymer Ag Contracting ................................................................... 69 Mike Kettle Contracting Ltd............................................................. 70 Rodney Co-Op Lime........................................................................ 73 Goodin Ag Ltd ................................................................................. 74 Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre ................................................... 77 Brown & Shanley Bulk Spreading Ltd.............................................. 78 Christchurch Office 112 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone 03-983 5500 PO Box 37 346 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Queenstown Office 70 Glenda Drive, Queenstown 9300 PO Box 2581, Wakatipu MANAGING DIRECTOR James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Randall Johnston randall@waterfordpress.co.nz Paul Mein paulmein@waterfordpress.co.nz Journalists Ange Davidson, Kelly Deeks, Tracey Edwardes, Russell Fredric, Rachel Graham, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Karen Phelps, Sue Russell, Virginia Wright. 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OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz 32 | Dairy farm ownership has come with excitement tinged with a touch of trepidation for Michael and Lindy Bennett. 48 | Ravindra Maddage Don has been named last year’s Dairy NZ Northland Dairy Manager of the Year. 69 | Mike and Chris of Reymer Ag Contracting invest heavily in technology to stay at the forefront of the industry. 16 | Conquest Texels owner Jock Bieliski is as delighted about the performance of his flock as he is deeply disturbed about the potential decimation of the industry he loves. North
| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Ahiaruhe Farm: Karen & Mick Williams Farm wellbeing – ‘Just get started’ Ange Davidson Winners of the 2022 New Zealand Arable Awards, Karen and Mick Williams, put their success down to an ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, a journey that dates back to 1997 with the adoption of no-tillage cropping on Mick’s family farm, Otahuao. The award acknowledges Ahiaruhe Farm’s entire operation from the soil up and celebrates the couple’s dedication to finding the balance between a healthy environment, a healthy bank balance and their community. “Wellbeing on the farm is like a three-legged stool requiring good economic returns, an ongoing investment in the environment, and caring for our people and local community. Each is integral to the other and if one area is underperforming, the other areas can fall over,” says Karen. Farming 450 hectares of largely flat, alluvial river silt soils along the Ruamahanga River near Gladstone in the Wairarapa, Karen joined Mick at Ahiaruhe in 2001, armed with a Resource Management degree and local authority experience to create an environmental dream team. The couple made an early start on willow removal in creeks and streams and establishing native plantings. They safeguarded two hectares as a QEII block and are working their way around the farm planting riparian strips and under planting remnant forest. “We’re not only enhancing biodiversity on the farm but creating a beautiful landscape while sequestering carbon. We are attracting beneficial insects and even predatory birds that are helping drive away introduced species. We have Tui’s chasing away sparrows,” says Karen. “We’re really fortunate to be in a valley across from a nature reserve and to have great neighbours with a similar vision.” Years of no-tillage cropping means Ahiaruhe’s soils are more forgiving and better at retaining moisture which reduces the amount of irrigation needed at key growth stages for crops. “There’s a direct economic benefit with reducing the amount of irrigation needed and also by applying fertiliser and insecticide on a ‘needs basis’ through constant measuring and monitoring of the crop,” comments Mick. The farm has three gun irrigators for greater flexibility in accessing a variety of crop locations plus working around new native plantings. This year the farm cropped milling, feed and durum wheat, malting and feed barley, and harvested seed from peas, ryegrasss, red clover and pak choy. This summer will see greater cereal production to take advantage of the current high prices. Karen and Mick finish 7000 lambs and are a major supplier to Cabernet Foods, a processing plant 15 minutes down the road. The proximity to the farm means animals are less stressed by lengthy transportation, the carbon footprint is significantly reduced, and the abattoir is an enthusiastic supporter of the local school and community. It’s a circular economy in action. The farm also supports 200 head of cattle behind a significant buffer between river and pasture. The couple’s three children, Tom, Ollie and India are all products of the local school and are now either working or at high school. The children contribute to the farm, taking part in plantings and weeding, and other farm work. “It’s sometimes hard getting everyone out there but once we’re out and about, it’s really enjoyable and great for wellbeing,” laughs Karen. Along with family input, the farm employs one highly valued full-time team member, Daniel Giddens, and a summer student. It works closely with local contractors and is always keen to support school fundraisers and community initiatives in nearby Gladstone. This latest award joins an impressive line-up in the family’s trophy cabinet, including the Supreme Winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for the Wellington Region and Federated Farmers Biosecurity Farmer of the Year. Ahiaruhe Farm is successfully embracing environmental practises to enhance farming outcomes, and as the immediate past Vice President of Federated Farmers, Karen walks the talk. She is aware that there needs to be more dialogue between those that are legislating environmental changes and the people implementing those changes on farm, but that everyone can make incremental environmental changes. “There’s lots of support out there now from regional council and MPI funds, through to community catchment groups. My message is just get started!” Ahiaruhe Farm Proud to support : info@lala.co.nz Guilt-freewholesale meat direct from the farm ETHICALLY FARMED AND 100% NEW ZEALAND Proudly supporting Ahiaruhe Farm o ce@cabernet.co.nz 06 372 7882 www.cabernet.co.nz Contact Shane P: 06 379 5504 • M: 027 453 3505 E: grayscontractingltd@yahoo.co.nz - Large reduction in artificial fertiliser requirements - Eliminate effluent separating equipment - Minimise laneway & paddock damage - High flow rate for fast & efficient effluent discharge - Highly cost effective for emptying large ponds - Significantly less nitrogen loss to the atmosphere SOLVE EFFLUENT COMPLIANCE ISSUES ALL AGRICULTURAL SERVICES AVAILABLE Services · Driveways · Septic tanks · Farm excavations - drainage, tracks, metaling · House sites · Metal/Lime cartage · Drainage And More.... EXPERIENCED EARTHMOVING AND CARTAGE OPERATOR Contact us, We can handle any job large or small Photos: Karen and Mick Williams with sons Ollie (left) and Tom and daughter India. Daniel Giddens, Ahiaruhe Farm’s only permanent employee, working in in the yards. Mick and Karen assessing a cereal crop.
4 | Forestry, trucking part of diverse business Ed Kight is the fifth generation of his family to work the land at Akitio, and he sees his role as taking care of the land for future generations. Akitio Station, which was originally bought by Ed’s family in 1876, sits along a long coastal ridge on the east coast in Tararua. Ed and wife Jenny have 3600 hectares at Akitio Station, along with around another 1400 at other nearby sites, which they use for sheep, cattle, forestry, carbon, and some tourism. Ed made his first steps into forestry back in the 1980s, and he says the decision has been pivotal for the financial well-being of the business. He says the decision to plant forestry was in part spurred by an experience in 1983. In the decade or so prior there had been a major nationwide push encouraging farmers to clear bush and turn it into pasture for sheep and cattle production. He says they followed that advice and cleared around 1500 hectares. The last block they developed was in 1983, which they cleared of scrub, heavily fertilised, regrassed and fenced it up. He put a mob of sheep on the land, but beforehand he weighed a sample of them. “A month later, I weighed them again, and they’d lost weight on this newly developed and highly inputted area of land. I could see immediately that it was unsustainable, there was no point in us actually grazing in this way.” He says that was one of the catalysts for accelerating the forestry development in land that wasn’t ideal for sheep and cattle. The forestry interests also led to the Kight’s setting up Akitio Trucking after being regularly frustrated at logging trucks not showing up when expected. Initially the trucks were intended just to use on the Kight’s forestry land to cart logs to Napier, but they quickly saw the services were in demand further afield. RURAL PEOPLE » Akitio Limited: Ed & Jenny Kight Rachel Graham Akitio Trucking now operates over 30 logging trucks with its main hubs in Napier and Masterton, and it operates throughout Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Wairarapa. The Kights supply lamb to Coastal Lamb, and Ed says it’s one of the many organisations with an eye on how to ensure the product is produced as sustainably as possible. In keeping with that Ed has taken steps to ensure that on paddocks near the Akitio River the river is fenced off from the stock, and they have planted up gullies and creeks to provide a biological filter. Ed says for him one of his frustrations with the Government’s recently released on-farm emissions levy is that it ignores the positive steps being taken by many farmers. “They are just introducing an industry wide broad-brush approach without taking any recognition of those that are actually doing an extraordinarily good job.” He says he’s very proud of all they have achieved at Akitio and want it to continue to be sustainable for many years to come. “We are only stewards of the land for a period of time, and you want to try and leave the land and the asset, in a better state than when we took it over.” Akitio Station sits along a long coastal ridge on the east coast in Tararua. Please call us for a free, no obliga�on assessment of your trees. We will maximise the return on your Forest Office: 06 327 5263 | John Turkington: 0274 458 410 | Email: john.turkington@xtra.co.nz John Turkington Forestry | 252-254 Broadway | P.O Box 98 | Marton • Harvesting • Log Marketing • Forest Management • Carbon Forestry • Forest Valuation • Establishment • Silviculture • Earthworks • Resource Consents Matt Chapman Dannevirke Tyres 2021 LTD Bridgestone Tyre Centre | 166 High Street Dannevirke | 063747431 Director 24/7 CALL-OUT SERVICE We service all tyres, from pushchairs to loaders, trucks, tractors and everything in between. Largest range of Stock in the Tararua. The last block they developed was in 1983, which they cleared of scrub, heavily fertilised, regrassed and fenced it up. with soil enhancing biology to improve farm production, 0800 4 DICKIE (0800 43 42 54) www.dickiedirect.co.nz Get In Touch To Find Out More
Stepping into their own contracting business around the time of the first Covid lockdown in 2020 was challenging for Taumarunui shearer Chris Brown and his partner Ash, but their focus on providing a good service for farmers means King Brown Shearing has come through the pandemic well and is in good shape heading into the busy summer season. Chris and Ash took over McSkimming Shearing from Willie McSkimming two years ago before renaming the business as King Brown Shearing. “I worked for Willie when I first started shearing as a 17-year-old – he was the first one to give me a stand,” says Chris, who adds that his experience in sheds began five years before that, as a wool presser. “I grew up on a farm and my family has always shorn sheep. My uncles Dick and George were shearing contractors when I was a kid, so it’s definitely in our DNA.” King Brown Shearing services two-stand farms right through to larger sheep farms with up to nine-stands, covering a big area including Taumarunui, Taihape, Otorohanga, Ōhura and Mangakino. “We feel for our farmers who are under pressure and try to keep our prices down as much as we can. Our goal is to have good working relationships with farmers and to be making a positive contribution to the wool industry.” In this family business, Ash manages office administration and looks after health and safety requirements, ensuring the whole team is safe while working in the woolshed. Chris’ sister looks after accounts. Chris’ mother has provided financial advice and support, while his father and brother have both lent a hand as shearers. Chris and Ash work hard to recruit, train and retain staff. First timers generally start as wool pressers. Most new recruits do that for a year or so before progressing to shearing. “It does come down to the person and how keen they are.” Before the main shear gets underway, they run a shearing school to prepare learners and refresh the more experienced hands. “It’s a great day for everyone involved. We raise funds from the sheep we shear for the Taumarunui Speed Shear event and have three of our best shearers there helping out with training.” As well as sponsoring the Taumarunui Speed Shear, King Brown Shearing sponsors Taumarunui Junior Rugby. Chris chairs both the speed shear event and the Taumarunui Shearing Show. Recently, Chris and Ash sent a group for training through WOMOlife, launched last year in response to a shortage of shearers in the country. “We do a lot ourselves but it can be hard to get people to train at the right time, so it’s good to have this option as well.” King Brown Shearing is in a growth phase after having taken over another run six months ago. They need at least 50 people over the peak summer season but are well-placed to have the staff needed. “While we may need a couple more wool handlers, we’re looking pretty good with the shearers. Most have been with us since we started.” Having stocked up well in advance on essential shearing gear such as handpieces, cutters and combs, Chris and Ash have every confidence that their team is well-prepared. King Brown Shearing fosters good working relationships 027 896 7614 kingbrownshearing@outlook.co.nz Proudly providing shearing services to farmers in the Central Plateau
6 | RURAL PEOPLE » Mount View Farm: Alastair Neville Farming brings community together Alastair Neville on the farm. Photo: Amanda Fitzgerald. Richard Loader The small rural community of Reporoa has been built around agriculture, says 50/50 sharemilker Alastair Neville, who is the third generation to farm the land in the Golden Springs locality, which sits between Rotorua and Taupo. “We have a Fonterra factory here and we have Fiber Fresh Horse Feeds here, and there a good number of other agriculture related businesses that have arisen as a result of Reporoa’s farming families. Farming also gives the younger generation the ability to grow up and appreciate the outdoors, animals and livestock and even the social side of life.” Alastair says, at some point, farming families and the people who work on the farms need to get together and have a cohesive, welcoming community. “It’s farming and the wider industry as a whole that brings the community together. The risk is that farmers work in isolation, and that stigma still exists. But I look at communities like Reporoa and there’s no reason to be isolated. There’s plenty of opportunity to join a local group. There’s something out there for everyone. We have good strong sports clubs.” Alastair points to the local rugby club which featured in a doco/movie made by the New Zealand Film Commission a few years ago, studying manhood through the rites and rituals of rural New Zealand rugby clubs. “The local squash club is quite strong, but I also recognise that not everyone plays sport. I was involved in New Zealand Young Farmers when I was at Massey University. When I came home, I gave the local club here a bit of a push and was the Chairperson of that club for a few years. “Getting the local Young Farmers Club up and running brought different people from all sorts of backgrounds together. We had teachers, engineers, rural professionals and your grass roots farmer. It was a good way to connect people to the farming community. You don’t have to be a farmer to join.” Alastair studied Agri-Science at Massey University from 2008 to the end of 2011. His intention was to become a rural professional for a few years before returning to the family farm in his 30s. Having taken the opportunity to buy his parents’ herd midway through his studies Alastair found the draw of farming too great and returned home at the start of 2012, easing himself into the running of the business. “The great thing about farming is the flexibility,” says Alastair. “There are hours that you spend behind a desk but you also have the ability to go out on the farm and have some variety to your day. You work with the livestock, and work out in the open amongst the environment. No two days are the same that is what I enjoy the most. There are just so many opportunities with farming. It’s a profession that you can see payback with the decisions you make on a day-to-day basis.” With prominent views of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Tauhara and Mount Tarawea, the aptly named Mount View Farm is home to 320 cows, milked off 150 hectares. “We’re a full autumn calving operation, and supply Fonterra with a winter milk contract,” says Alastair. “The risk is that farmers work in isolation, and that stigma still exists. But I look at communities like Reporoa and there’s no reason to be isolated.” AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Miers Contractors(1995) Ltd • Harvesting • Cultivation • Supplements for sale & supply • Undersowing (all pastures & crops) • Earth moving • Truck cartage • Balage & Hay • Effluent Management 198 Butcher Road, RD2, Reporoa P 07 333 8259 | Gordy 021 593 163 | Mark 021 948 472 E mierscontractors@farmside.co.nz STEPPING BEYOND THE NUMBERS MORE THAN ACCOUNTANTS BDO ROTORUA (07) 347 9087 BDO.NZ/ROTORUA Rosewhare TEXELS Rams available December through until February 06 370 9269
There’s an App for that Farming is getting more and more complicated every year, not the foundational skills but keeping up with the reporting, recording information and what used to be called paperwork – what now could be called ‘digital-work’. Luckily, there’s an app for that. Te-Anau basin sheep and beef farm manager and Resolution software co-Director Paul Ruddenklau says it all started when he himself needed a simple and intuitive data management solution for the properties he manages and his other business, to help keep track of everything and also for regulation compliance purposes. “I manage 7,500 stock units across two farms and own an agronomy business, so at the time I really just needed a simple way to collect and share information for myself and my clients,” he explains. “The software and App we developed was only intended to be used by a small group at the start, but the result was so good and so easy to use that other users quickly got on board.” The aim has been to enable farm workers to solve the problem of recording the data as they are doing it, with a focus on it being as user-friendly and as fast and simple as possible for farm employees, managers and owners to use. “It’s about allowing farmers and their sta to get on with their day without creating a whole other job when you come home at night,” Paul explains. The ability to take a photo and add in a timeline so that they can visually see what’s been done. That visual aspect is also key because many farmers struggle with reading and writing. “When we pushed the program out initially we started with 100 really good farmers who wanted to stay up with the times and that gave us the ability to test Resolution among sheep and beef, dairy deer and crop farmers. “It spread virally through Southland and Otago through our connections and word of mouth. People are loving it and telling their neighbours. It makes it easier to manage sta and record information in a way that anybody can find on their smart phone and understand, so that has been key really. “We really do understand that every farmer is di erent and every farm is di erent, so if you have an app that’s not flexible and can’t be changed to suit the farmer the way he wants to record...then you’ll find resistance.” A fairly recent development is the addition of voice to text functionality, so that you can speak the word and it spells it for you. “It’s all about removing those limitations for people to being able to use the software.” A lot of bigger organisations are now using the software to record their weekly health and safety meetings as a voice recording and taking a photo to show everyone is in attendance. Resolution software Co-Director Henry Douglas, part of the well known family-run Monymusk Hereford Stud (890ha, 9000 stock units), says it solved a lot of his problems on-farm and both Directors could see that it would solve problems for many farmers around New Zealand and beyond. “About 70 per cent of our current users are sheep and beef farmers, but this is a tool that is just as useful to a dairy farmer or to stay on top of operations on a horticultural block as well,” Henry says. A standout feature for many farmers is map laying, which allows sta to identify hazards on a map, by pushing locate which shows where you are on the map and then entering in the hazard for all to see. Also for the allocation of jobs; farmers can mark where they want an electric fence on the map and then push locate and put that fence exactly where he wants it. “Our tagging system is what makes it so simple for our guys to bring data back. It just enables you to make accurate on the spot decisions, because all the information you need is in your pocket.” For more information visit https://resolutionapp.co.nz/ or contact the founders directly at https://resolutionapp.co.nz/#contact
8 | RURAL PEOPLE » Rangiputa Station Good wintering land, tougher in summer Previously 4000 Romney ewes/1000 replacement ewe lambs were carried, but these have been reduced to 3000. Russell Fredric Rangiputa Station, like many other Northland farms, has struggled to grow grass this spring. Manager Colin Rakena says cooler spring temperatures that followed a very wet winter has meant grass only started to grow in earnest towards late October. “We will be starting to kick into weaning lambs in the next week or two.” The sheep and beef station is located on Karikari Peninsula north-east of Kaitaia. The peninsula is only about four or five kilometres wide at its narrowest point, consequently Rangiputa’s pastures include free draining sandy ridges and peaty soils. This, combined with a widespread chalky-natured pan makes it good wintering land, however it is also its Achilles heel during summer. Rangiputa covers 3232 hectares effective out of a total of 3600ha with about 70 to 80ha being in wetlands. This winter 2ha of native species such as manuka, flaxes and cabbage trees were trial planted to assess if they were suited to specific areas, while further poplar planting has been undertaken. The station provides secondary school vocational training for a two-day Enviro Schools programme that involves two of the station’s fencers and about 50 students learning about fencing riparian areas. During the past season stock numbers have been tweaked as a part of adapting systems to enable nitrogen inputs to be reduced as well as to cater for the dry summer. Previously 4000 Romney ewes/1000 replacement ewe lambs were carried, but these have been The reduction in nitrogen has been compensated by 60-day pasture rotations with the aim of keeping a viable pasture cover ahead of the wintered breeding cows. “We are de-stocking by killing those bulls before our summer really takes off, it eases the pressure on water as well.” 0210 348 999 mawlimited@outlook.com mawlimited@outlook.com For all your agricultural contracting services in the Far North For all your agricultural contracting services in the Far North · Livestock · Logs · Water · Readymix Concrete · General Cartage 09 406 0087 | mangonuihaulage.co.nz reduced to 3000, while there are now 1300 Angus breeding cows instead of 1500. The station also supports 2000 Friesian and Angus trading beef bulls on 1175ha. These are either transferred from other Pamu farms or bought in as rising two-year-old’s at about 350 to 400 kilograms, held on the property for one winter and grown to around 600 kilograms. We start killing from October through till the end of January. We are destocking by killing those bulls before our summer really takes off, it eases the pressure on water as well.” The reduction in nitrogen has been compensated by 60-day pasture rotations with the aim of keeping a viable pasture cover ahead of the wintered Breeding cows. Angus genetics are sourced from Focus Genetics and from the nearest Pamu stud farm at Kapiro near Kerikeri to ensure high performing livestock. “[We are looking for] for good maternal instinct, good milking ability and good 400- and 600-day growth rates. We are selecting mixed-aged bulls with better breeding values to go over the mixedage cows and not so much lifting that calving ease but better birth weights to get a bigger calf.” Although it was intended to reduce or even eliminate the sheep, they are proving helpful in controlling gravel groundsel, an invasive weed that is toxic to cattle. Rangiputa Station employs 10 staff and Colin feels fortunate to have an experienced team who are passionate about their work and the lifestyle it provides as well as the peninsula and the surrounding area being “not a bad spot”.
| 9 RURAL PEOPLE » James Donaldson Not having the ability to achieve genetic gain means growing a lot of quality grass is a big part of James and Katie Donaldson’s Whangarei bull rearing business. “We also focus heavily on trading margins; we are true traders so if we can see an opportunity to by cheap cattle or sell expensive cattle we take that opportunity,” James says. Their business winters 2800 Friesian bulls on three properties which total 1050 hectares about 10 kilometres south of Whangarei. The blocks are a mix of freehold, either owned directly by James and Katie and/or their wider family, plus leasehold properties, swith the home farm being 700 hectares. “We started the farm business in 2008, we leased one one property and basically we’ve kept building the business from that point on. We added quite significant land holdings 7 years ago and last year we added another farm so it’s gradually built over the years.” James and Katie started by farming and finishing bulls and after taking over the home farm also started breeding cows and had a small ewe flock. However this model was not proving economically viable against their debt loading so they switched the whole business to bull finishing and have never looked back. “It has allowed further development and better farm business expansion.” A key to the success of the bull rearing operation has been using a cell grazing system which was instituted on the first farm over three years. “It’s kind of like having lots of mini dairy farms. Bulls don’t like other bulls so we have to run them in small mobs. The farm has 140 mobs on it and each mob has 17 cells and rotates around them at different speeds throughout the year.” 2800 Friesian bulls on three properties The blocks are a mix of freehold, either owned directly by James and Katie and/or their wider family. Russell Fredric Ben McLennan 021762727 | admin@mclennanagri.co.nz LIVESTOCK CARRIERS WI: 027 202 7884 FREE PHONE: 0800 4 A DEAL. 38 Rewa Rewa Rd, Whangarei / Ph: 09 438 1319 adminn@piakogroup.co.nz / piako.co.nz / bryanttractors.co.nz PIAKO TRACTORS NORTHLAND LTD PROUD TO SUPPORT JAMES DONALDSON (Formerly Bryant Tractors) Sales / Service / Spares Tractors, Machinery & Spray Equipment Because each cell only covers about about .45 of a hectare, James and his four full-time equivalent staff spend about 70% of their time shifting, sorting, drenching or drafting the bulls. “There’s a huge stock work component.” “We feed them really well and there’s a big focus on pasture management so it’s about having the right pasture covers at the right time of the year, having the right rotation speed. We use two dressings of nitrogen and 30 units per dressing over the winter.” In addition, a lot of analysis, expense and thought goes into the soil fertility using wellproven science. “The goal is to grow more grass and harvest more pasture so our soil fertility is incredibly important.” Half of the 2800 bulls wintered are yearlings and the other half two year old’s. The bulls are bought in two tranches; one mob as spring R2’s and the other as R1’s and are killed as rising three year-old’s with 98% of replacement livestock being sourced by Kaitaia company Sloane Livestock. “I kind of live and breathe the bull market, I follow it very closely, I keep looking at what’s happening overseas and the potential impact here. I spend a lot of time looking at markets.” Proudly supporting James & Katie Donaldson’s bull farming business CONTACT Leo Sloane 021 992 982 or Bruce Mudgway 021 241 4907 Greenlea Premier Meats & Rahui Sharefarming Systems
10 | Finding the ‘good zone’ at iconic station Vast, windswept Castlepoint Station covers 3850ha with 12km of coastline. Sue Russell RURAL PEOPLE » Castlepoint Station • to page 11 spending in the second half of the financial year. It means we can plan with surety. Cash flow wise, it works really well.” Castlepoint Station is a remarkable, vast windswept coastal property. Land here is prone to movement with subsidence from bouts of heavy rain and top soil blowing away in high wind areas. Its history is interesting too. Early Maori left their mark on the landscape when they used fire as a way to hunt moa. Thomas Guthrie established the Castlepoint Station in 1848, selling it in 1873 to GM Waterhouse, who three years later sold it to Walter Wood Johnston. Since 1876 through to when the Crofoot’s bought it, the property remained in the Johnston family. When Anders and Emily bought the farm they invested significantly in improving infrastructure, roads, fencing and improving soil quality and pasture. They introduced the use of Dung Beetles, who, essentially carry the manure down into the soil profile, bringing rich nutrients on which to grow pasture. A range of pasture species have also been introduced to assist the soil to retain its structure and form. These are grown using direct drilling methods which reduce the amount of soil movement in the planting process. “We try to do as little disturbance as possible so the soil is more bound and less likely to blow away.” Castlepoint Station is approximately 55 minutes from Masterton township. It’s best described as a long skinny property with 12km of coastline. There’s a private access track right the way through Performance & quality you can trust multi Award winning Since 1924 Jacques Reinhardt manages sprawling coastal Wairarapa property Castlepoint Station, owned by Emily and Anders Crofoot, who purchased it in 1998. In subsequent years the Crofoot’s increased the station’s footprint, buying adjoining property, so today Castlepoint Station measures an impressive 3850ha, and with an effective area of 2700. The primary stock activity at Castlepoint Station is sheep and beef breeding and semi-finishing. “We’re currently mating 9,500 ewes and about 450 cows and approximately 120 yearling heifers. We also finish about 4,000 winter lambs and try to finish our two year old cattle. Being summer dry and winter wet means we have to closely watch stock weight and condition,” Jacques says. Half the steers are sold and half finished at the station and all the terminal lambs are sold. All other lambs are kept through the winter and killed July through September, reaching carcass weights of 21kg. Selling in what Jacques describes as the ‘good zone’ is what brings in the income. With the help of farm consultant Ed Harrison, the breeding programme has been tweaked to get the best bang for your buck. This has made a noticeable difference on return and reducing risk, as Jacques explains. “Lambing percentages and lamb weight are our pillars. When I first came here nearly six years ago the best lambing result was 135%, now we’ve tweaked that up to 147% and we’re getting better lamb weights. This means that we are only spending the money we have earned and can control our
| 11 ‘Dream vision’ can become a reality Sue Russell RURAL PEOPLE » Castlepoint Station / Glenross Station Marcus Hildreth returned to the family ram stud at Glenross Station in 2016, having spent time overseas, including cattle ranching in Canada. He is Operations Manager at Hildreth Romneys which is a sprawling 830ha farm backing onto the Kaweka ranges with elevations from 300m – 650m, 40 minutes inland from Napier/Hastings in Hawke’s Bay. In this role Marcus is overseeing all aspects of the station and stud’s operation. His father, David, takes care of the processing of data to SIL who produce detailed information on the genetic worth of each ram eventually sold. “With advances in technology and research we’ve been significantly increasing our genetics year after year,” Marcus says. Farmers are constantly dealing with change and one on the forefront are the environmental issues impacting on weather phenomena. Marcus feels there’s an unfair amount of finger-pointing at farmers. “It’s hard when, as a primary producer you’re continually on edge when extreme weather patterns cause economic and emotional hardship, to then have to deal with public criticism. Farmers are doing their bit. There’s always room for improvement but I think it’s extremely difficult to be a global industry leader in a field and get told we are the biggest burden on NZ’s image/emissions.” Future challenges and direction in sheep breeding includes breeding-in lower input stock. “Costs are rising and don’t fluctuate like our revenue, they stay up and don’t come down.” Digital technologies in use • from page 10 the property and the inland farm boundary is next to substantial forestry plantings. Digital technologies are also used. The owners have embraced these developments to better improve recording, reporting, documenting all activities to help better inform future decisions. With staff located at each end of the farm, 25 minutes drive apart, it’s essential Jacques says that there are tools to aid communication and document activities. “We use Quip, which operates from a social media type base, where we can tag people, create and post photos. That’s how we communicate now and everyone knows what is happening, what jobs are done and what jobs aren’t.” With the owners, who moved to New Zealand from east coast US when the bought the Station, living on farm, Jacques says they are very involved “A lot of work has gone into enhancing the environment, fencing of and planting waterways and planting trees to support soil stability ...” The largest range of side by sides in the Wairarapa We service and repair all makes and models of ATV's, Side by Sides and Bikes. High St, Carterton | 06 379 7887 | sargentmotorcycles.nz at policy level. Collecting data is an essential part of how good farming policy and practice evolves. Jacques, who will leave his role after Christmas to advance his farming career into consultancy, describes Castlepoint Station as an iconic place. “It’s a really special place to work. A lot of work has gone into enhancing the environment, fencing of and planting waterways and planting trees to support soil stability and provide shade for the stock. I’ve enjoyed every moment working here.” Livestock Pregnancy Ultrasound I NDEPENDENT • EFF I C I ENT • ACCURATE Sheep ∙ Cows ∙ Horses ∙ Dogs Servicing all of the North Island • Local to the East Coast 027 878 2883 | sandy.campbell@hotmail.com Proud to support Glenross Station We can help you with: Direct drilling Conventional drilling Rotary hoeing Agricultural spraying Discing Ploughing Roller Drilling Rolling Ripping Tyne cultivate Power harrowing Plus plenty more agricultural services Phone Roger to discuss your requirements: P: 021 245 1472 E: hunterag@xtra.co.nz For all your agricultural cultivation and spraying requirements As a ram stud Marcus says they are very aware of the drench resistance situation and are moving more focus towards producing rams that will help that situation. “It’s not as simple as exposing the mob and picking the lambs with the highest growth rates. This would create a ticking time bomb. We’re aiming for stock that are reducing the farms overall worm population as well as performing well in weight gains. Sounds like a dreamers vision but we think it can be done.” Marcus also understands that good maternal flocks will always be essential in the farming system in New Zealand. A solid base that can handle the elements and produce good lambs in tough country. “Terminal sires certainly have their place in terms of quick growth and early to the market especially in summer dry areas with a summer/ autumn worm problem. But terminals need to go to good sound ewes and I believe it’s hard to beat the modern day Romney for consistency and hardiness.” Other pressures are continually impacting the sheep farmers’ bottom-line including the sad demise in the value of the wool clip. “If wool doesn’t lift in value then its likely more will turn to the shedding alternative but some serious genetic gains need to be made in these breeds to handle what our traditional sheep flocks have been battling for generations.” Facial eczema poses a continual threat most years and Hildreth Romneys is providing clients with high performance stock with the strongest FE background. “We’ve been breeding for this for the past decade and are really impressed with the look and performance of them.” Soon the flock will also be tested for methane emissions as Marcus says this issues is going to factor more and more into stock selection by clients wanting to lower emissions in accordance with government regulations. Each year Hildreth Romneys stands up about 1000 rams for sale. Data is supplied to clients on the breeding values of every ram sold. This year the sale gets underway on 14 November. “We’re really proud of what we put in front of the clients each year. A lot of work goes into producing and recording solid high performance rams and the positive feedback is hugely reassuring that they like both where we are at, and where we are heading” Marcus Hildreth is Operations Manager at Hildreth Romneys which is a sprawling 830ha farm and ram stud.
12 | product. This, Ben considers to be unacceptable and unsustainable to the deer industry in a time of increasing economic and environmental pressure. In his opinion ‘we can longer afford the status quo’. ‘The Green and Black of It’ sets out to suggest a number of ways forward.“We need to fundamentally change the way Deer products, and in particular velvet, are taken to market. I would like to see Deer Industry NZ take a leadership role in pulling together a strategy, with input from the NZ deer Farmers Assn and the Government, that will be effective in creating new value chains that match value creation with economic return. Moving from conventional supply chains, that State of the NZ deer industry in focus Puketotara Farm has 300 stags and beef cattle in Ongaonga. Sue Russell • to page 13 RURAL PEOPLE » Ben Anderson - Puketotara Farm Ben Anderson owns Puketotara Farm, on which he runs 300 velvetting stags and beef cattle at Ongaonga, some 20km’s west of Waipawa and Waipukurau in central Hawke’s Bay. He has also recently purchased a 500 cow dairy unit near Eketahuna and has diversified into forestry, having planted 100ha of pine between the home farm and a dedicated forestry block. Ben holds strong ideas about the health and situation of the deer sector as it is currently structured and has put considerable thought and research into where the industry needs to adapt and change in order to create long-term sustainable value for its farmers. He’s had the opportunity to really explore the context of the deer industry as a recipient last year of a Nuffield Scholarship. Scholarships, from this international organisation, are awarded to those working in the food and fibre sectors who are keen to challenge, share, explore and bring their ideas to life. “Receiving the scholarship offered me the opportunity to really explore the current situation within the NZ deer industry, , to better understand the shape of the challenges we faced and to see where the opportunities might exist,” Ben says. Nuffield Scholars are selected from a criteria which places a focus very much on the future. Recipients are those who demonstrate a tenacity to challenge and test their own thinking and above all, are not afraid to do things differently and test historical boundaries and norms, with a view that their research will enable strategic growth and secure the industry better for the future. “Usually the programme involves first travelling overseas, learning more about what is happening globally across a range of agricultural sectors, but because this was during Covid, I ended up spending last year drilling down into what was going on within the NZ environment and completing my research paper from that perspective. Soon I will be heading away to Europe and the U.S.A. to look at agriculture more generally, but with a real focus on seeing what lessons and observations can be applied back home. Ben’s research on the New Zealand Deer sector is espoused in his Paper, ‘The Green and the Black of It: Economic and Environmental Sustainability in the NZ Deer Industry and the Case for Change’. His research was driven by a desire to better understand why New Zealand deer farmers operated within a production structure that appeared to place the maximum risk on them, while delivering disproportionately small farm gate returns. “I wanted to understand how it has come about that NZ deer farmers received poor returns when compared with the level of risk and the value of the end-product.” Ben says the whole purpose of his study was to identify why and where change was needed to bring about sustainable practice and profitability to the industry here. This included looking closely at existing supply chains and evaluating these in terms of being fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world. Ben approached his research in a number of ways; reviewing existing commentary, speaking with industry leaders, academics, public servants and business owners. He discovered that NZ deer farmers, like the wider dry-stock sector are not profitable when considered against average Returns on Capital Employed in this country. Deer farmers here, on average returned 3.4% on their capital, compared with 6.5% on the NZ share market. “Factor in inflation and the return is virtually zero.” What this means is that NZ deer farmers, along with the rest of the drystock sector, have very little financial headroom to improve their environmental performance in any meaningful way, such as by reducing stock numbers, and still be a finacially viable. It also means that exisiting deer farmers will increasingly look to more profitable forms of land use such as forestry, further contracting what is already a small industry. Pine trees have never been our problem. Our lack of profitability is. “We also have far-reaching issues such as the consequences of climate change and competition against alternative proteins to increasingly contend with. These factors alone create significant risk to an industry which is relatively fragmented and is unable to exercise any real market power. Unlike the dairy sector where the majority of farmers are shareholders of an organisation established to add value, create meaningful gain through the supply chain, and champion milk by adding value, paid back to its member suppliers, the deer sector isn’t structured to work that way. Ben describes two challenges ahead: Firstly, shifting the sector to create a strategy of active risk management and secondly, develop and implement ways where value can be both captured and created. “The question is what is the most appropriate way for the sector to firstly ensure its survival, and secondly become an economically and environmentally sustainable form of occupation for future generations, noting that there is no one solution. Unintelligent selling of velvet, as Ben puts it, is an example of an inertia and inability to focus and implement needed changes to bring about meaningful gain.“Compare our situation to that of the horticulture sector and the huge part Zespri has played in delivering value-add results to its suppliers and to Fonterra, who deliver better farmer returns because of how they are organised.” NZ’s own Spring Sheep Milk also provides a great example to the deer industry. It uses a similar form of commodity, but with value added, a strong brand created and sold via multiple distribution models to multiple markets. As a result, Spring Sheep farmers enjoy around $4000 EFS, compared to the deer industries average of $300-$500 EFS. The Deer industries conventional position, selling raw undifferentiated commodity products to a small pool of coordinated foreign buyers , creates the opportunity for others to realise the true potential of the product. This approach results in NZ’s velvet producers receiving as little as 3% of the end value of the “We need to fundamentally change the way Deer products, and in particular velvet, are taken to market. I would like to see Deer Industry NZ take a leadership role in pulling together a strategy, with input from the NZ deer Farmers Assn and the Government.” andersonreisima@gmail.com Ben 0278192792 / Wayne 0274441270 338 Te Awa Road, RD4, Waipukurau 4284
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