Business Rural North Summer 2023

North Awarima Station’s pure wool blankets are made from the first clip of lambs’ wool - page 14 Blankets add to diverse business Summer 2023 www.waterfordpress.co.nz

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Rural North accepts no responsibility for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businessruralnorth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz   Mark Mayston �� 03 Kumeu River Wines �� 04 Gavin and Karyn Humphrey �� 05 Beef + Lamb - East Coast: Patrick Crawshaw �� 06 Rukumoana Farm �� 08 Mathewson Farms �� 09 ALLIN Solutions �� 10 Waipuna Farms �� 11 Arohiwi Station �� 12 Awarima Station: Monique and Tim Neeson �� 14 Ben Dawson: Waihau Terminal Sires �� 15 Black Pond Farm �� 16 Andrew Russell �� 18 Ben Gordon �� 19 Charlie and Emma Adair �� 20 Sam Dodd �� 21 Ferdon Genetics �� 22 Glen Elgin Farms �� 23 Glengyle Angus: Sam and Emma Mann �� 24 Glenross Station �� 25 Hinemoa Produce �� 26 John Spellman �� 27 Tahau Jersey: Josh and Kareena Sneddon �� 28 Lakeview Farm �� 29 KayJay Angus �� 30 Laura Watson �� 32 Limestone Downs �� 34 Meringa Station �� 35 Mangamingi Station �� 36 Mill Valley �� 37 Mahuri Farm: Nathan and Libby Blake �� 38 Ohutu Station �� 39 Ora Station: Dave and Charlotte Wright �� 40 Oak Range Wagyu �� 41 Otiwhiti Station �� 42 Tawa Hills Angus �� 43 Rachel and Greig Alexander �� 44 Plains Agri: Brad and Annie Knight �� 46 Rangiatea Stud �� 48 Rewa Rewa Station: Patrizia Vieno �� 50 Richard Webby �� 52 Te Karoa Farms �� 53 Scott Gower �� 54 Shaydoc Holsteins and Jerseys �� 55 Tui Hills Herefords �� 56 Whariti Farm �� 58 Waiwhenua Farm �� 60 MAW Ltd �� 61 Bayline Construction �� 62 Clearwood Contracting �� 63 CR Grace �� 64 Dannevirke Carriers �� 66 Everitt Contracting �� 68 Fergus Rural �� 69 Greig Gibbons Contracting �� 70 Harvest Hawke’s Bay �� 72 Mabey Contracting �� 74 Ireland Contracting �� 76 Hunter Ag Services �� 77 Lloyd Gernhoefer Contracting Ltd �� 78 Northland Seed and Supplies �� 80 Oliver’s Transport �� 82 Tree Machine Services �� 83 Piako Tractors �� 84 Power Farming �� 87 Waikuku Farms Ltd �� 88 41 | Making Wagyu more available in NZ 53 | Adaptable farm system in focus 22 | Ferdon Genetics 75 years in the making North OUR PARTNERS: 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 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Chris Pearce chris.pearce@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Randall Johnston randall@waterfordpress.co.nz Paul Mein paulmein@waterfordpress.co.nz Journalists Anne Boswell, Ange Davidson, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Tracey Edwardes, Russell Fredric, Alexia Johnston, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Karen Phelps, Sue Russell, Rosa Watson, Virginia Wright. RESEARCH & MARKETING Sam Dart, Adam Feaver, Chris Graves, Megan Hawkins, Lisa Moffat, Colin Morais, Catherine Norton Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Danielle Percival, Adam Shirra, Leo Smith, Alasdair Thomson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Connor Gosnell, Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa, Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam. art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Ann-Marie Frentz, Alissa Crosby. OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz 69 | Farm environment plans gain traction

| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Mark Mayston Challenging times for kiwifruit growers Incessant rain, labour shortages and the growing gold kiwifruit industry in China are posing big challenges for the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, says NZKGI chair, Mark Mayston. Ange Davidson It’s been a tough couple of years for kiwifruit growers with excessive rainfall compounding Covid related labour shortages and supply chain issues alongside changes to industry wide environmental regulations. Chair of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI), Mark Mayston, says the industry experienced a labour shortfall of around 6,000 seasonal workers last year, which forced them to change the harvesting process contributing to poorer fruit quality. The fruit’s quality was also hampered by amount of rain across New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards. “In Tauranga we had our annual rainfall by March this year. It made the growing season extremely difficult due to a lack of sunshine hours and waterlogged soil. We’re seeing lots of dead vines around as they’re under continuous stress from water,” says Mark. NZKGI advocates for the country’s 2800 kiwifruit growers at a government level as well as providing practical support for growers as the industry grows and changes. It’s mission: to advocate, protect and enhance the commercial and political interests of New Zealand kiwifruit growers. Another challenge facing the organisation is the growing gold kiwifruit industry in China where illegal plantings are now well established. “At present, the gold fruit quality grown in China is variable. China has a big local economy and the fruit is largely sold in this market so it has negligible impact on our exports. However, over time, the Chinese will get better at growing. We need to understand our market in China and find out where it’s at,” believes Mark. “We want to have our IP secure and although the horse has already bolted in a lot of cases, we’re seeing movement in China with companies selling at a commercial level. We need to stop this, and we’re talking with government about supporting Zespri. It’s a work in progress.” Chile are also strong growers of kiwifruit and operate in the same growing season as New Zealand. World-wide, the supply of kiwifruit has dropped in the past couple of years with Chile also dealing with tough climatic changes, but the global demand remains strong. There is a huge demand for Vitamin C rich foods in Asia and Europe, with kiwifruit being a key product people eat everyday for its health and digestive attributes. In New Zealand, green kiwifruit is at an all-time low, with gold kiwifruit production now double its green counterpart and a 1/3 more gold will be in production next year. “Green kiwifruit is the backbone of our industry. But we’re also lucky to have the Zespri SunGoldcultivar which has reinvigorated the industry since Psa pretty much levelled green production after it was found in 2010. Almost 8,000 hectares have beenplanted and grafted since its commercialisa- Parts and Service for Farm & Orchard Equipment 07 548 0194 info@equipmentcentre.co.nz 1109 State Highway 2, Whakamarama, Tauranga tion in 2012 and each year we are releasing more SunGold licences,” he says. “There are so many opportunities within this industry. We’re seeing great jobs at all levels that are verywell paid. Kiwifruit is one of the country’s horticulture success stories and an exciting industry to be part of.”

4 | RURAL PEOPLE » Kumeu River Wines ‘Rave reviews’ for Kumeu River chardonnay Kumeu River Wines is one of the most sought after in the sophisticated UK market. The Kumeu River Wines extended family. Virginia Wright Kumeu River Wines grow their own grapes on around 30 hectares of land locally, purchase grapes from another four growers, and own another 28-hectare vineyard in Hawkes Bay. Having first grown grapes in Kumeu on 12 acres (approximately five hectares) in 1944 they’ve built their reputation along with their size. Their chardonnay is one of the most sought after in the sophisticated UK market where it’s known as rivalling the best of the French but with a much better price point. Kumeu River wines consistently do well in the New Zealand market too but given that 60% of their wines are for export, international recognition is important for overseas sales. “We’ve had some really good news recently about the 2022 vintage,” says the family vineyard’s co-owner and chief wine-maker Michael Brajkovich. “My brother Paul is in the UK showing the chardonnay predominantly to a very receptive audience and we’re getting rave reviews. Our chardonnay matches up very well with what we generically call white burgundy which is from the Cotes de Beaune particularly. “The other area we’re entering into stylistically is Chablis, particularly from our vineyard down in Hawke’s Bay which is all on limestone,I’d even go so far as to say it’s along the same lines as a Premier Cru Chablis. Our grapes here in Kumeu are all on clay soils so there’s a bit more richness to them,” says Michael. Having spent some of his formative years of training learning the art and craft of being a wine-maker in France, drawing from centuries of traditional knowledge and practice, and complementing the years already spent learning its science with a Bachelor of Oenology from South Australia’s Roseworthy Agricultural College, Michael should know what he’s talking about. Their highly respected UK wine merchant Farrs Vintners agree with him, marketing the chardonnays as ‘great white wines that frequently out-perform famous Burgundies in blind tastings’, and having imported every vintage of Kumeu River since 1989. After four excellent vintages up to and including 2022 the weather experienced through the 2023 growing season was cause for concern. What had been looking like another good year looked a lot less promising when more than a month of extensive rain fell in the lead up to harvest with the bird nets already in place. With the rain came downy mildew and the frequent deluges meant the copper spray that normally gave the vines protection was washed away while the nets meant further spraying wasn’t an option. Michael was relieved when the harvest proved better than he had feared when he saw the state of the vines. “By the time we had harvested some of our Chardonnay vineyards, they were effectively defoliated. So, even though Hunting Hill, Coddington and Mate’s all looked amazing on the vine, there were few leaves to continue the ripening process. Having said all that, the wines in the cellar are looking very good, albeit a little lighter in texture than the previous four vintages.” What Farr Vintners will have to say only time will tell, but Michael remains optimistic about their 2023 vintage even as the next season’s grapes begin to show their buds on the vines.

| 5 RURAL PEOPLE » Gavin and Karyn Humphrey A passion for livestock and the land Mangakino farm manager Gavin Humphrey says the farming lifestyle had lured him back to the land and a passion for stock had kept him there. It’s a passion shared by daughter Grace, who has had fantastic results with calf rearing for the last two years and is a part of the relief staff. Rosa Watson For the Humphrey family of Mangakino, farming isn’t just a job but a way of life. Gavin and Karyn Humphrey milk 1100 cows on a 330-hectare property that makes up part of the Wairarapa Moana Incorpartion group. He has six full time staff on the team plus relief milkers. The family have been with Wairarapa Moana for four years and this is their fifth season. This year they took out runner up dairy manager of the year at the Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards. Gavin said he had entered the awards with his wife’s encouragement. “We’ve been doing it for a while and that was just a way to benchmark against the industry.” They reached second place last year and were third the year previous and are hopeful to do even better next time. The farming operation is a real family affair with Karyn, assisting with admin and managing the calf rearing on farm. Their son Jack (20) is a herd manger within the team, and has also achieved success at the Awards, named as a finalist for Dairy Trainee two years in a row. And daughter Grace (16) has had fantastic results with calf rearing for the last two years and is a part of the relief staff. Gavin had been managing dairy farms for 11 years before taking on the managing role at Wairarapa Moana. “Now I’m looking for the next step, which is either multi-farm management or operations manager. I don’t want to put future growth on hold, I want to continue moving forward.” Wairarapa Moana is a large multi-farming outfit that owns 12 dairy farms and three dry stock units all in the Mangakino area. Before forging a career in agriculture, Gavin had tried his hand in a number of fields. Out of school he worked in lighting and sound engineering. He also dabbled in aircraft construction in Palmerston North, building the aluminum components, and worked in scaffolding and engineering. His first farm job was at the age of 17 milking 2500 cows. “I think after the first two months I said I’m never going to milk a cow again, but 23 years later here I am.” He said the lifestyle of farming had drawn him in, and a passion for the stock and land had kept him there. “It’s not work if you get paid to do something you love.” And that passion looks to have passed down to the next generation with both children working in the industry and completing AgITO qualifications. • Pressure Pumps • Trenching • Pool Products • Water Filtration • Effluent Systems • Water Blasters • Bore Lifts 07 886 0271 15 Campbell St, Tokoroa 3420 www.swws.co.nz DESIGN • SUPPLY • INSTALL Our Business is Pumping SouthWaikato Water Solutions Ltd

6 | RURAL PEOPLE » Beef + Lamb East Coast: Patrick Crawshaw Shaping the industry at the front end Charlotte Crawshaw lends a hand feeding out at Te Hau Station. Richard Loader Recently elected to the board of Beef + Lamb New Zealand as the Eastern North Island farmer director, Hawke’s Bay’s Patrick Crawshaw’s passion for farming has evolved to wanting to be part of making New Zealand’s agricultural industry successful. “Being able to give back to the industry that has given me so much, and help take it to a higher level is where I’m focused. I embrace the challenge of having greater influence and trying to be part of moving through change while shaping what that change looks like. “I had completed some training with the Rabobank Executive Development programme and when the term for our previous Beef + Lamb representative came to an end I saw the opportunity to throw my name into the ring.” Reflecting on leadership and leadership style, Patrick observes there are leaders everywhere; some lead from within, some lead from the top, and others will lead without even knowing it. “I just go about my work and make an impact, without placing too much importance around it. Eventually that takes you to where you want to go and gives you the influence you want to have. “I’m thirty, and at the front-end of my farming career, with a lot of my career in the industry still to come. If I can be part of shaping the industry at the front end, and supporting the next generation of farmers, I feel that is a really cool opportunity.” Five years ago, Patrick and his wife Isabelle bought Te Hau Station, a 250-hectare effective sheep and beef property in Patoka, fifty minutes west of Hastings. This year, the farm will finish 2600 lambs and 300 cattle, with the majority of lambs and cattle bought store. There is also a small commercial Angus herd that is part of the Informing New Zealand Beef programme, a future focused seven-year programme (2021–2027) run by Beef + Lamb Genetics designed to generate more income for beef producers and the economy while protecting the environment. Patrick grew up on a family farm, Kenhardt Angus in Nuhaka, northern Hawke’s Bay, and attributes his passion for livestock and the land to his early life and the opportunities provided by his parents. “Mum and dad encouraged us into a lot of youth industry events. When you are living and breathing it as a youngster it becomes quite infatuating. I attended Lincoln University and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Agriculture degree, majoring in Farm Management.” Adding to what has been a very big year for the Crawshaws, Patrick was crowned the East Coast Young Farmer of the Year in March, and later placed fourth in the Grand Final held in Timaru. This June the Crawshaws decided the time was right to engage a full time Block Manager to ensure Patrick could give the Beef + Lamb role the justice that it deserves, particularly given the damage caused by the cyclone, and employed Tayla Brady. “We have Beef + Lamb, and NZ Meat board meetings every six weeks, so you get pulled away from the farm for two of three days. And then there are other industry events that I attend. “I’m challenged with what my full time equivalent on the farm is, so we employed Tayla to keep the farm wheels turning. “She’s in charge of the day-to-day farm operation. I set out the strategy and the tactics, which Tayla executes. When I’m back on farm Tayla will tell me what needs doing.” While Isabelle has a busy off-farm job, she contributes to farm business planning, strategy, values and goal setting. The Crawshaw’s also have two young daughters, Millie 1 and Charlotte 3. Our Farming Growth rural division is all about supporting rural businesses. We understand farming, the challenges and what it takes to succeed. 06 876 8124 info@pkfcs.co.nz pkfcs.co.nz Rural Accounting Specialists PKF and the Farming Growth team are proud to support Beef & Lamb - East Coast 16TH ANNUAL ON FARM RAM SALE 110 South Suffolks approx and 50 Poll Dorsets up for Auction Thursday 30th November Time: 1.00pm. Viewing from 11.00 onwards 1529 Ngapaeruru Road, RD3 Dannevirke • Eye muscle scanned • SIL Recorded • All Sires are DNA foot scored Over 50 years of breeding Callum Stewart – 027 280 2688 Tom Suttor – 027 446 9967 Bjorn Andersen – 027 440 5888 Simon Prouting 027 8058501 | prouting@inspire.net.nz Genetics “I’m thirty, and at the front-end of my farming career, with a lot of my career in the industry still to come. If I can be part of shaping the industry at the front end, and supporting the next generation of farmers, I feel that is a really cool opportunity.”

| 7 RURAL PEOPLE » Beef + Lamb East Coast: Patrick Crawshaw Te Hau Station is a 250-hectare effective sheep and beef property in Patoka, west of Hastings. Predictive farming technology. Everyday farmmanagement. farmiq.co.nz farmax.co.nz FarmIQ was established eleven years ago, as part of a Primary Growth Partnership (PGP), with the original goal of deriving greater returns from the red meat supply chain, from inside the farm gate to the supermarket shelf. At the conclusion of the PGP project, FarmIQ became a commercial entity and its capability extended beyond red meat to include dairy. FarmIQ remains farmer-focused, designed to make the planning and recording of everyday activities on farm simple and easy, with those records accumulating to make assurance and compliance reporting a breeze, taking the stress out of evidence reporting to regulators and processors. The digital farm map at the centre of FarmIQ is a real-time management tool, where farmers record stock and land events, as well as other features like farm environment plans and all health and safety requirements. In 2021, FarmIQ purchased farm modelling company, FARMAX, expanding its oering to farmers. FarmIQ Executive General Manager, Gavin McEwen, says FARMAX enables users to create a digital twin of their farm system and model dierent scenarios such as; what if the milk price decreases further? Or, what if there’s a drought? Or, when is the best time to sell stock to the works? “The core value of FARMAX is the ability for farmers to pull levers within their farm system; to test scenarios before implementing them on farm; and to be aware of what the eects will be on profitability, production and sustainability.” Gavin oers the example of Patrick and Isabelle Crawshaw who commenced using FARMAX when they bought their Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef property, Te Hau Station. “They are a young farming couple and wanted to get a better understanding of their property and the farm as a business. Under the guidance of their farm consultant, the Crawshaws use FARMAX to plan, make educated decisions about when to buy or sell stock, and what profit margins might look like if they pursued a certain course of action. They have commented that FARMAX helps them operate the farm as a business, knowing how they are tracking towards farm goals and providing the confidence to make on-farm decisions.” The Crawshaws also use FarmIQ as the hub where all important farm information is input and stored, becoming the one source of truth that over time — and combined with the power of FARMAX — will enable informed forecasting for better outcomes. Compliance reporting a breeze

8 | RURAL PEOPLE » Rukumoana Farm Dung beetle trial latest initiative by couple Grandchildren Henry and Ella inspecting the Dung Beetle colony. Ange Davidson Bordering a predator proof fence has its benefits and its downsides and fortunately the benefits outweigh the negative for Robert and Jane Brown of Rukumoana Farms near Stratford. Farming within the halo of the 230 hectare Rotokare Scenic Reserve brings reduced pests and increased birdsong but with the decrease in stoats and other predator pests, Robert says he’s seeing more rabbits. “We didn’t have rabbits in these numbers before but I’m not 100% that the predator trapping is the reason,” laughs Robert. “What we are also seeing is kiwi that have been released on blocks of bush outside Rotokare Scenic Reserve, including in a bit of bush around our river. The kiwi have done so well inside the reserve. It’s a great success.” As part of the reserve’s Halo Project, the Browns host pest traps and live cat traps on their farm along the reserve’s border to keep the feral population at bay – and if a domestic cat is caught, it can be returned to its owner. The Halo Project provides sustainable protection for overflowing native wildlife, coupled with the creation of ecological corridors to other protected areas. It currently encompasses 4500 hectares of land and works with 15 local landowners deploying 1100 pest devices. Robert and Jane have been proactive in reducing their environmental footprint and improving biodiversity in the 37 years they been farming the three properties that make up Rukumoana Farms. With two of their sons farming and another working towards joining the family enterprise, they are keen to keep trialling new initiatives to make farming more sustainable. Direct drilling crops, exploring different sheep genetics and being early adopters of farm forestry on suitable and retired steep land are just some of their successful changes on farm. Their latest initiative is releasing two colonies of dung beetle at their home block, Mangamingi Farm. “We belong to a catchment group with nine other dry stock farmers in our area and as part of our investigations, we had a workshop on dung beetles. We were impressed and released them this summer where we’re rotational grazing on a techno system. We’re just hoping they’ve survived the wet weather!” says Jane. The hairy legged dung beetle is tasked with improving pasture and water quality by increasing the root biomass in grass which improves the soils water holding capacity and prevents nutrient run off. “The beetles bury carbon and nutrient rich dung down into the soil so it’s like adding fertiliser. They can tunnel from 15cm to 45cm beneath the soil.By removing dung from the paddock there should be less intestinal worms and reduce the summer flies,” believes Robert. Dung beetles are found in every part of the world, except Antarctica. New Zealand’s native beetles have evolved to live in the bush, processing bird droppings, not in open pasture with massive amounts of livestock dung. Introduced species are not a threat as they won’t colonise the bush and don’t eat anything other than dung which they suck, rather than chew. It’s estimated that there are now over half a million dung beetles in 1200 colonies on farms throughout the country. Eleven species have been introduced as each species is active at a different time. Office 06 278 0020 Steve Roylance 021 287 5335 Peter Laurence 027 252 2174 WilliamMoynihan 027 279 7099 CLAASHarvest Centre areproud tosupport RukumoanaFarm CAMPBELL & GREEN CAMPB C O N T R A C T I N G Cultivating: Ploughing • Power harrowing • Rotary Hoeing • Discing • Roller Tiling • Ripping • Aerating • Leveling • Direct drilling • Under sowing Roller drilling • Maize planting Other Services: Slurry tanker & Pond stirrer • Hedge mulching • Vibrating roller • Tip trailers & bins • Mole ploughing • Maize Harvesting Hay & Silage : Fine chop grass • Loader wagons • Mowing • Turning • Swathing • Bale stacking • Hay round & conventional Happy to be working alongside Rukumoana Farmwith their success Proudly Supporting Rukumoana Farm South Taranaki wide Ph James Green 027 493 8484 Accurate, Timely Fertiliser Application office@heli.co.nz | www.heli.co.nz | 0800 33 66 44 When you want it, where you want it! Product placement tailored to fit in with the business operation. NEW PLYMOUTH 36 Eliot Street / 06 759 0105 ELTHAM 11 Stanners St / 06 764 8305 www.schurrireland.co.nz m ow rin y ur ea f t r E p e g o id l u u e. Schurr & Ireland are proud to support Robert and Jane Brown Proud to Support Rukumoana Farm WESTOWN AGRICULTURE 06 753 6611 Chris 027 220 9007 180 Cowling Rd | New Plymouth www.westownagriculture.co.nz

| 9 RURAL PEOPLE » Mathewson Farms Solid farm foundation offsets challenges Andrew and Bridget Mathewson with family. Over the past 15 years, the couple have renovated the station’s woolsheds, redeveloped the cattle yards and sheep yards and renovated the homestead and staff accommodation. Kim Newth Declining commodity prices coupled with more extreme weather over the past few seasons are pressures that Martinborough couple Andrew and Bridget Mathewson have in common with farmers and growers across New Zealand, but prudent farm management at their sheep and beef property in Martinborough is helping them weather the challenges. “Something I have always worked on is to keep a medium cost business,” says Andrew. “There will always be years where farmers have to cut costs, but if your business is structured correctly you will get through it.” Andrew hails from Central Otago and, for 10 years, ran his family’s high country property, Lake McKay Station, before it was sold in 2008 due to farm succession planning and land tenure changes. When he and Bridget went looking for another property with good scope and potential, they found just what they wanted in Martinborough: Whakapuni Station. The property has deep historic roots in the area. Bridget has devoted many hours to enhancing the homestead’s extensive established garden, (which opened to the public last November as part of the Wairarapa Garden Tour). “She’s doubled the size of the garden since we came here – hats off to her as it has all been her work and her eye.” Andrew faced a big learning curve when they first moved to Martinborough, adjusting to a different farming system and a different climate. The 1700ha station has an effective farm area of 1300ha with the rest being in forestry and native bush. Andrew says a game changer for their operation five years ago was adding a 170ha flatland run-off, used for finishing stock and trading stock.They generally trade through 5000 stock units a year through that block. “Having that run-off block is a huge help as you can pull levers if you need to and offload when you need to.” Over the past 15 years, the couple have renovated the station’s woolsheds, redeveloped the cattle yards and sheepyards, renovated the homestead and staff accommodation, applied capital and maintenance fertiliser, and completed a lot of subdivision/fence replacement across the farm. The station runs approximately 10,000 capital stock units, of which three-quarters are sheep and the remainder are cattle. “Subdividing the hill blocks gives us more manageable paddocks and makes it easier to grow quality pasture. We’ve also changed the genetics from composite ewes to a Romney flock and also went back to Angus cattle. The Wairarapa Romney Improvement Group has done a fantastic job of breeding stock to suit these conditions.” Andrew says they had been lucky to have good staff over the years and generally have one permanent shepherd along with a couple of casual shepherds to assist when needed. Contractors For all your agricultural requirements. Cultivations, direct drilling, baling and grain harvesting. 317 Ruakokoputuna Rd, Martinborough | M 027 405 9887 | E pakohe.ag@gmail.com Pakohe Agriculture Ltd are bought in for fencing, shearing and crutching. “We have a good local agricultural contractor for the run-off block and for ag work.” Andrew and Bridget have three children with Sam, their eldest, in his final year at Lincoln University. With his own team of dogs, he plans to go shepherding next year. “He is looking forward to heading off soon to the great wide open!”

10 | Science, methodology key for breeders Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » ALLIN Solutions “What sets us apart in the breeding space is that we have a really scientific approach and methodology. We use the latest technology, for example full genomics on all our lambs are done using the 60K SNP.” ALLIN Solutions is holding its first on-farm Waipuna Maternal and Waipuna Terminal ram sale in November. It marks the on-going transition of the Waipuna stud to Dr Danitsja (Dani) van der Linden and partner David (better known as Norm) Alderson. The couple work in conjunction with Donald and Liz Polson, the founders of the stud, with the Polson’s breeding Waipuna Maternal - Highlander genetics and Waipuna Terminal rams on their farm on the hard hills of Waipuna in the Mangamahu Valley north of Whanganui. Moving forward Norm and Dani will be farming the Waipuna Maternal rams at Cheltenham after weaning, where the rams will undergo an extensive measurement programme and get ready for sale in March as hoggets and November as two tooths. The Waipuna Terminal rams will still be sold from Waipuna Farms as a hogget and the two tooth rams will be sold at Norm and Dani’s farm in Cheltenham. Waipuna Maternal stud comprises approximately 1200-mixed age and two tooth ewes and 900 ewe hoggets.. Each year the flock produces around 900 ram lambs. This year around 110 terminal two tooth rams and 400 maternal two tooth rams will be for sale. Dani, a qualified geneticist, has been in charge of the Waipuna breeding programme for the past decade, running two separate breeding programmes: Waipuna Terminal and Waipuna Maternal – Highlander genetics. “What sets us apart in the breeding space is that we have a really scientific approach and methodology,” she says. “We use the latest technology, for example full genomics on all our lambs are done using the 60K SNP. We use Animate to help with mate selection to optimise genetic gain and minimise in-breeding and Tararua Breeding Services for AI and semen collection of rams to ensure we have good linkage with other breeders in the industry.” She says with many factors to take into consideration, missing one can throw off the data, which is why Waipuna takes such a detailed approach. As an example of Waipuna’s best practice for recording, the couple ensure they test enough progeny per sire line for each trait. In terms of facial eczema, they test 80 ram hoggets each year - five per sire line comprising about 16 sires. With an eye to the future Waipuna is also tracking novel future traits such as measuring for methane and skin thickness for lamb survival. But Dani and Norm say this still ties in with the stud’s overall breeding objective: to breed a sheep that’s low touch, resilient and highly productive. “Our end game is to produce a profitable sheep that’s very efficient at turning grass into meat,” stresses Norm. Dani says that a Waipuna Terminal is a highly productive and proven terminal, which focuses on growth, meat yield, lamb survival and eating quality. “For a farmer using Waipuna Terminal sires over a proportion of breeding ewes is playing to the strengths of both Waipuna’s Maternal and Terminal programmes, not even taking the bonus of hybrid vigour or heterosis in terminally sired lambs into consideration” she says. Waipuna Maternal – Highlander Genetics is a productive, efficient, FE tolerant and resilient sheep. The focus is on producing moderately sized ewe that rears multiple-born lambs with a total weaning weight equivalent to her own live weight, good reproduction, milking ability, hogget fertility and industry leading FE tolerance with Waipuna Maternal being the most tolerant composite sheep in industry, says Dani. As part of their business, they also run a genetics consultancy business with Dani offering her expertise to farmers to determine on-farm breeding objectives and recommending sire and breed selections for multiple breeds and a guide to help them with their next ram purchase. WE COVER ALL ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTION KŶ ĞŶƚƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŽŶ ĨĂƌŵ ƐĞŵĞŶ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ &ĞƌƟůŝƚǇ ĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĨƌĞƐŚ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ / / ĂŶĚ d ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ /ŵƉŽƌƚͬ ǆƉŽƌƚ ŽĨ ƐĞŵĞŶͬĞŵďƌǇŽƐ WƌĞͲĞǆƉŽƌƚ ŝƐŽůĂƟŽŶ CONTACT US: 06 376 4955 @ tararuabreedingcentre@tvg.co.nz tararuabreeding.nz PROUDLY SUPPORTING DAVE ALDERSON AND ALLIN SOLUTIONS Tararua Breeding Centre Part of Totally Vets Ltd Cattle, sheep and goat reproductive specialists Highlander rams. ALLIN Solutions is holding its first on-farm Waipuna Maternal and Waipuna Terminal ram sale in November.

| 11 RURAL PEOPLE » Waipuna Farms Striking results from high-performing sheep Waipuna Farm in the Mangamahu Valley near Whanganui. We are consistently scanning more than 180 per cent, not including triplets, in our commercial ewes, and lambing over 150 per cent,” says Mark Polson. Rosa Watson A fifth-generation farming family based in the Manawatu is breeding high performance Highlander sheep that are achieving eyecatching production results. Waipuna Farms, owned by the Polson family, has been breeding rams for over 40 years from the home farm Waipuna in the Mangamahu Valley, about 30 minutes from Whanganui. The 2000-hectare property has a mix of very steep hill country and river flats, and has 190 hectares under irrigation for finishing lambs. It also owns two other farms nearby – 600-hectare Te Tui, and 700-hectare Awarua that is owned in a 50:50 partnership. The properties run 13,000 ewes and 550 breeding cows. All lambs are finished, and 3,000 ewe hoggets are mated each year. Mark Polson said the family’s association with Mangamahu goes back to 1873, when his greatgreat-grandfather purchased land there. “We are proud to have kept it in the family for so long.” Mark’s parents, Donald and Liz, are very much involved in the farm but are looking to take a step back. “The key to our success is the amazing team of people who make it all happen.” Donald started Romney breeding with his late brother, Alistair, when they joined the Romney Improvement Group in 1978. And that has carried through the next generation. Mark said they looked for a number of traits to put into a breeding index, including ewe efficiency - lamb weaning weight and mature ewe weight - disease resistance, in particular facial eczema, worm resistance, clear face, bellies and bum that allowed for easy crutching and dagging, skin thickness, which relates to lamb survivability at birth, eye muscle area and low methane production. “Two of the most important factors for sheep farm profitably are lambing percentage and weaning weight. From this base we can focus on other important things like facial eczema tolerance, milking ability, and parasite tolerance,” Mark said. “We are also looking to breed for what consumers of lamb want, therefore we scan for eye muscle area and test for low methane sheep.” And they’re seeing excellent results, he said. “We are consistently scanning more than 180 per cent, not including triplets, in our commercial ewes, and lambing over 150 per cent. “Our DNA Highlander flock scan over 210 per cent, and can lamb as well as 170 per cent.” In recent years they have partnered with Norm Alderson and Dr Dani van der Linden, who own a farm near Feilding and are responsible for growing Waipuna rams for sale, as well as do all the measuring and testing required. Dani is a geneticist and controls the genetic direction of the flock. “Norm and Dani bring a huge amount of passion to the Highlander and Primera, our terminal sire breeding programme,” Mark said. The annual two-tooth ram sale will take place in November, and there was already good interest from both long standing and new clients. “We have been breeding rams for a long time and farmers know the value of buying the best genetics they can.” Recently, Waipuna was a national finalist for the Silver Fern Farms Plate to Pasture Awards. “This was recognition of the excellent breed we have and the awesome team that make it all happen.” Sheep and beef farming was in a challenging time where returns were down and farmers were generally “a bit pessimistic”. “As ram breeders, we could see this as a threat, or we could use it as an opportunity. “Our job is to work with our clients to understand what they require form us and give them confidence that investing in our genetics is the best thing they can do for their farming operation.” >> E/ < &KZ >> zKhZ , >/ ' Z Yh/Z D Ed^ ^,ϰ tŚĂŶŐĂŶƵŝ͕ ƐĞƌǀŝĐŝŶŐ ůŽǁĞƌ EŽƌƚŚ /ƐůĂŶĚ ϬϮϭ ϴϮϴ ϰϮϰ ^ƉƌĂǇŝŶŐ &Ğƌƚ ƵůůŝŶŐ ^ĞĞĚŝŶŐ ƵƌŶ ŽĨĨƐ >ŝĨƚŝŶŐ For all livestock, wool, fertiliser, metal, grain bulk cartage. Proud to be associated with Waipuna Farms Contact Brendon & Pete 06 345 8661 / 027 276 4127 grange.trans@xtra.co.nz SH3, Westmere, Wanganui

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