| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Story Farming Ltd Hill country move perfect for stud herd The Melville family is marking 67 years of breeding with its 32nd annual bull sale. Lot 7 in the upcoming sale this R2 bull (above) ranks as one of the very best bred at Ratanui. Structurally very sound the bull was born and raised as a twin. Karen Phelps The Story family has moved its successful farming operation from Tolaga Bay to Wairoa. They took over the new farm on 1 March and Melville Story says although it was sad to say goodbye to the land they had farmed for 17 years they are excited about the opportunities the new property presents with not a at paddock on it – perfect for testing their stud herd, which is run under commercial conditions cleaning up rank pastures. “All of our bulls are sold to hill country farmers so what better way to grow and nish them on the hills. They’ll arrive ready to perform and prosper,” he says. “We have tonnes of growth and frame in the background of our herd so we’ll be looking to thicken up and moderate our cow size a whisker to suit the hill country we have. Our goal going forward is to breed a medium plus sized cattle beast that holds condition and produces progeny that will perform year in, year out.” The farm is all medium to steep ash/pumice/ papa country and rises to 1515 feet above sea level. It is approximately 630ha and borders the Te Uruwera National Park. The family will be calving down 210 cattle and lambing 2250 ewes with 600 ewe hoggets plus carrying replacement stock. Winter stocking rate will be sitting around 10 stock units/ha. The family is busy preparing for its 32nd annual R2 bull sale marking 67 years of breeding after the stud was established in 1955 and purchased by Melville’s parents Dick and Averil Story in 1978. The sale will be held 24 June at 1pm on farm at 89 McDonald Road, Tuai. Melville says that the bulls have been developing true muscle and strength on the hills. L to R: Ross Mitchell, Daryl Fergus, Rob Fergus, Tim Petro, Luke Bates, Deano Brenssell. www.fergusrural.co.nz • admin@fergusrural.co.nz Gisborne: Wairoa: Rob Fergus 027 4496007 Deano Brenssell 027 8638923 Luke Bates 027 4211653 Daryl Fergus 027 2092787 Ross Mitchell 027 4048965 Environmental Solutions Consultant: Tim Petro 027 3390400 Livestock and Agribusiness consultants. AGRIBUSINESS STORY FARMING LIMITED The family has been very impressed with the Ratanui Kodiak and Turihaua N59 cattle this year – super meaty with great masculine features, says Melville. This year the family will be implementing a different sale format to what has been done in the past. All bulls will be videoed prior to sale and posted on the Ratanui Angus YouTube channel. The bulls will be sold in lot order off a projector screen/ live auction combo inside the woolshed. The sale bulls will still be penned up for viewing on sale day as per normal and people will be able to view the bulls prior to sale day as per normal. The family also sells around 12-15 low birth weight yearling bulls in September/October and around 80 rams from its 300 strong terminal sheep stud Ratanui SuffMax. The farming business also includes a ock of 2000 commercial romworth. The move to the new farm was prompted by a need to grow the business with Melville and Nicky’s sons and daughters in law – Nathan and Alice and Sean and Laura – wanting to go farming. They are all shareholders in Story Farming Limited. Melville and Nicky live 90kms away at Mahia and help out as required but the day-to-day running is left to the rest of the shareholders. “Everyone has equal input into the operational side of the business and no single opinion rules. We all work very well together.” “All of our bulls are sold to hill country farmers so what better way to grow and nish them on the hills. They’ll arrive ready to perform and prosper.” The Story family: Sean Story, Laura Urquhart, Mel Story, Nicky Story, Ali Story and Nathan Story.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=