66 | Mastering volatile high-country farm Richard Loader RURAL PEOPLE » Makokomiko Station A large-scale high-country sheep, beef and deer enterprise in the Rangitikei, Makokomiko Station embraces a total of 2260 hectares, in the Pukeokahu District, 35 minutes nor-east of Taihape, towards Hawke’s Bay. The farm is owned by the descendants of Maata Kotahi, in a Maori Ahu Whenua Trust, and since last Christmas has been looked after by experienced farm manager Dan James. “We’re a volatile high-country farm, typically getting half a dozen good falls of snow each year,” says Dan. “The farm’s contour ranges from flat to undulating, right through to very steep country. All our easy crop-able country goes from 820 metres above sea level, sloping down to 740 metres, before falling away to the Rangitikei River at 540 metres.” Farming the easy country at high altitude brings with it the challenges of not being able to sow during the autumn because it’s too cold and the shoulders too short, with 120-day winters. “There’s a bit of planning around our planting. We’re really restricted to just using the spring. Each year we put thirty hectares into swede, so that we can graze our hoggets out during the winter. The following year that land is put into rape or kale mix. After that it either goes into a plantain clover mix or ryegrass clover mix, depending on where it fits on the farm and the stock that will be on it. That 30-hectare cropping area is rotated around each year on the 300 hectares of easy country, so that we’re renewing the pasture and putting some development into the soils as we go.” Notwithstanding the challenges of high-country life, Dan says this season has been uncharacteristically brilliant, much warmer than usual with only two dumps of snow and minimal frosts, resulting in record grass growth over the winter. Makokomiko farms off an effective area of 1970 hectares. Over the last five years 160 hectares off erosion prone land has been progressively retired to manuka plantings. The majority of the waterways have now been fenced off, along with extensive riparian planting. In 1995, 75 hectares were put into plantation pines, and will be ready for harvesting in about three years. Another 29 hectares of pines are in their second rotation, replanted in 2013. As at the 30th of June, Makokomiko is home to 7800 ewes along with 2100 hoggets and 100 rams. There are 530 Angus cows with 150 replacements, 490 weaner cattle, along with 565 hinds, 143 weaner hinds, of which 60 will be replacement and the rest finished and sold at the local Waiouru sale. Twenty sire stags complete the mob. Dan has farmed all his life and says it is all he knows — of course there is a lot to know about farming, particularly the challenges of high-country farm management. “I love the environment we have here. I have a stock manager, as well as a fencer general who is also doing a bit of cultivation this year. We also have a ‘Growing Future Farmers’ cadet four days a week. We all have a common goal and direction. That ticks a lot of boxes for me.” FERTILISER, LIVESTOCK, GENERAL CARRIERS, WOOL P: 06 382 5828 F: 06 382 5824 M: 021 741 463 | 027 222 3431 E: dispatch@raycoles.co.nz accounts@raycoles.co.nz A: PO Box 21, Mangaweka 4746 Thanks for the decades of doingmonthly pastures cuts which enable us to report the Taihape High Country pasture growth rates Enough Veterinary Excellence to Fill Your Gumboots! 24hours a day, 7 days aweek! Emergency Contact: 06 388 0863 • 24-hour service Proud to be supporting Makokomiko Station 06 388 0863 / Fax 06 388 0657 taihapevets@xtra.co.nz Makokomiko Station manager Dan James. The 2260m station near Taihape typically gets half a dozen good falls of snow each year. Thursday 1 December 2022 Time: 1pm. Viewing from 10am onwards 1529 Ngapaeruru Road, RD3 Dannevirke • Eye muscle scanned • SIL Recorded • All Sires are DNA foot scored 15TH ANNUAL ON FARM RAM SALE 114 South Suffolks and 50 Poll Dorsets up for Auction Callum Stewart – 027 280 2688 Tom Suttor – 027 446 9967 Bjorn Andersen – 027 440 5888 Simon Prouting 027 8058501 | prouting@inspire.net.nz ROCKLEA SOUTH SUFFOLK TH Genetics
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=