58 | Dedication to enhancing the environment A big assist for Nick has been in the use of financial technology tools to underpin best practice. Sue Russell Robert and Jane Brown own three farms, collectively under the name Rukumoana Farms, not too far from the Stratford end of the infamous Forgotten Highway, that links Taumarunui, in the central North Island to central Taranaki. Through years of hard work and dedication to enhancing the environment, taking care of their stock and seizing opportunities to grow their footprint, today, the couple are carefully transitioning the business to the next generation, through a well-planned and thought through succession pathway. In 2020/21 the couple’s due diligence tending to the environment was recognised in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, taking out regional supreme winner. Judges noted the aspiration the family has to leave a positive legacy, both on the health of stock but also on the home farm’s environmental footprint. Prudent use of fertiliser, along with good use of an on-farm spring with a solar pump system used to move water through a gravity-fed trough system were valuable developments. One of the children, Nick Brown, leases one of the farms from his parents under his business name Makuri Farms, which includes another leased farm of 800ha next door. He and wife Sophie oversee an operation with a mixture of sheep breeding and finishing, trade beef cattle and dairy grazing. Stock numbers 1st June 2024 stood at 3600 Ewes 610 Dairy Grazers 130 R2 Hiefers/steers 250 R1 Steers/heifers. Located on Toko Road, quite close to Stratford, Nick says their farms are among some of the closest sheep and beef properties to the town. Nick’s aware of just how important the work his parents have put into transitioning ownership eventually from one generation to the next. His two younger brothers are also engaged in agriculture, with Will leasing the original 640ha family farm inland from Eltham, while Sam runs his own contracting business. “We’re probably quite lucky that Mum and Dad took a few risks. The farm we are on, they bought 10 years ago and that was a big step at the time. There certainly were tight times at the beginning.” Nick acknowledges having a very capable stock manager is a huge positive for his business and he also says his time studying at Lincoln University in Canterbury gave him a good solid starting point. Completing a diploma in farm management Nick met Sophie in his last year at University. This was followed by time working in Canterbury in an intensive sheep and Beef finishing farm. “Sophie and I then moved up to the North Island for a couple of years and then had time overseas, so I’ve had lots of different experiences which I think has been a very good thing for me, before returning to the family farms.” The couple are 3 ½ years into leasing the farms ON FARM » Rukumoana Farm and Nick’s quite philosophical about the pathway ahead. “We’re definitely not making a whole lot of money but we’re not going backwards either and we’re only just at the beginning of our journey. At the moment half our income is sheep, a quarter in beef and a quarter in grazing.” He says it’s important to be diverse and nimble in farming these days, with market conditions impacting the business beyond their control. A big assist for Nick has been in the use of financial technology tools to underpin best practice decisions in that realm has been critical and, he says, certainly supported a healthy conversation with the Bank Manager. “To be honest, for the last two years, if I didn’t have these financial tools I would not have slept so well.” And a good nights sleep is something Nick and Sophie both rely on with three young children, Sebastian, Lachlan and Penelope aged 6, 4 and 2 respectively, keeping them on their toes during the day. Nick returns to the importance of succession planning and how it has helped enormously to get their own farming business on a solid footing. “You need to have patience, but it’s a balance. It is important that anyone returning home is given the opportunity to grow themselves. When looking to return to the family farm it is helpful to understand the farm business first to see if it could potentially support multiple families as is the case with us.” Nick’s also impressed with the assistance those new to the industry can gain through the Growing Future Farmers programme, he’s a huge supporter of. “They have a two-year fees free programme for young school leavers who are interested in farming. It provides keen young people, who wouldn’t necessarily get the opportunity to learn at a pace Marriner Groundspread Ltd Operating since 1996 Supporting the local community Ph: (06) 765 4345 118 Warwick Road, Stratford Proudly supporting Rukumoana Farm www.westownhaulage.co.nz 06 753 6611 180 Cowling Rd | New Plymouth WESTOWN HAULAGE LTD Proud to support Rukumoana Farm and in a way that really helps them learn the fundamentals well.” Cadets in the programme work 4 days on a farm and have a day in class studying. Through the programme students gain NZQA Certificates via EIT in Primary Industries, Pre-Employment Skills and a Certificate in Agriculture Meat and/or Fibre. “We have Madison with us on this programme and I have found it to be the right balance of practical farming experiences with theory in a very supportive environment. Those are the opportunities we want to be providing the next generation.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=