Business Rural North Winter 2021

40 | Pragmatic choice Sue Russell W h ananaki, an hour north-east of Whangarei is a popular holiday destina- tion and nestled among the diverse community is Whananaki Coastal Charolais Ltd, a well-established breeding, finishing unit and stud operation. Craig and Greta Harman run the farm which has been in existence since 1967, initially con- sisting of 50ha of flat, 207ha medium to steep hill-country and 70ha of native bush, including Manuka stands, part of which are fenced and identified as conservation reserves. In 2002 a further 120ha in Whananaki South was bought into the business and in 2018 the neighbouring farm was leased, future-proofing the self-con- tained operation. “The Stud was started in 1969 and our goal has always been to breed quiet, sound and func- tional terminal sires that will meet the develop- ing needs of our commercial beef clients,” says Greta. The couple breed all their own replacements and finish all the other cattle for processing. Today, the Stud comprises 120 Charolais breeding cows who work alongside of a further 130 commercial cows. While the Stud has oper- ated now for over 50 years, the commercial herd operation has over time shifted from a buy-in/ finishing unit to a breeding/finishing one. “The Coastal hill country lends itself to breed- ing cows which in itself is not the most profitable system, however we are currently working our way toward supplying closed herd cattle to a bio- medical specialist pharmaceutical company. At the moment all the cattle are sold to Silver Fern Farms, at export quality, by two years of age. In terms of environmental impact Greta says Charolais are a great breed, growing robustly with minimal resources. “The Beef industry needs to do better. We do not need less cattle we just need to produce more beef using less resources by using the faster growing Charolais genetics,” Greta says. The choice to breed Charolais came down to some pragmatic factors. Their growth rates are exceptional and they thrive on the coastal condi- tions the farm enjoys. “We breed bulls that complement our clients’ farming systems, adding value by improving their profitability.” Northland Charolais cross weaner calves are renowned profit makers.. The couple host an on farm annual bull sale in late May each year and attract beef farm- ers. A split calving regime in the commercial RURAL PEOPLE » Whananaki Coastal Charolais: Craig & Greta Harman herd means that the farm produces calves and finished progeny year round. “It suited us also to have split calving given the dry summer conditions we experience.” Greta says a passion for them is to leave the farm in better condition than when they first step foot on the land and this vision guides their whole land and stock management system. “It’s about our biodiversity, making sure our footprint isn’t negative. Everything we do, we think about its environmental consequences.” Three years ago, the couple took out the Northland Supreme Winners in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, something Greta says they are really proud of. “We had already fenced our stands or remnant native bush, waterways and wetlands. Now going forward we are just continuing find ways to improve the quality of water leaving the farm. Our biodiversity is definitely growing.” There’s a strong push within the Whananaki community toward environmental initiatives involving lots of groups, all keen to see the environment nurtured. Greta leads one of these, the Land Care Group, which employs a trapper to trap ‘just about anything’. “Stoats, rats, feral cats, possums, you name it. We’re also involved in protective monitoring of brown teal (pateke), the rarest of all waterfoul on the mainland, along with Northland Kiwi, Bellbird and Kaka.” A great deal of Greta’s spare time is devoted to supporting environmental care initiatives in the area, along with other groups, such as DOC, Northland Regional Council, Kiwi for Kiwi and Preditor Free NZ. She says one of the real joys of working with these people and on the activities they pursue is the personal confidence volun- teers experience and the community outcomes all benefit from. Come May 25, this year’s bull sale will take place. “We have 25 Charolais bulls for sale. We definitely have a strong group of commercial farmers who come each year. Our bulls produce top quality weaners.” As climate patterns become less certain Greta says the approach Craig and her take is to simply concentrate on doing the very best they can on their own patch, always with the consideration of environmental benefits their activity brings. “Farmers, by nature, are very adaptable thinkers. There will always be demand for meat protein, even more so now, with people really interested in the quality of breeding and farming practices that impact on animal well-being.” “Farmers, by nature, are very adaptable thinkers. There will always be demand for meat protein, even more so now, with people really interested in the quality of breeding and farming practices that impact on animal well-being.” Craig and Greta Harman run Whananaki Coastal Charolais. BERNIE McGAHAN Northland Regional Livestock Manager Phone 027 590 2210 or Email bmcgahan@pggwrightson.co.nz IANMUNRO Servicing Livestock Rep Phone 027 598 6074 CAMHEGGIE Genetics Rep Phone 027 501 8182 Proud to be associated with Whananaki Coastal Charolais Corner Dent & Finlayson Streets, Whangarei 0110, Northland Proud to support Whananaki Coasta l FOR ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL 3 Springs Flat Rd, Kamo PH 435 1924 www.Kamovets.co.nz