40 | RURAL PEOPLE » Rukumoana Farms Small communities Drafting R1 bulls at Mangamingi (above). Walking the fenceline on a back ridge at Mangamingi. Karen Phelps With two neighbouring farms recently sold to NZ Carbon Farming for pine tree plantations, Taranaki farmers Robert and Jane Brown have concerns about the ow-on effects for their small community. “It will be two less families living here and that does make a difference in a small place,” says Jane. “It’s also good farming land some of it and that’s lost forever to food production now,” says Robert. “It also pushes up the price of land making it dif cult for farmers to start a farming business or expand. There was a $3m difference between the highest drystock farmer’s price for the neighbouring farms and what they sold for.” They are hoping proposed changes to government policy might see the right tree planted on the right land lessening negative effects on rural communities. They themselves are dabbling in pine trees planting on some of the class six and seven areas of their property not suited to farming. They planted 32ha of trees under the Afforestation Grant Scheme in 2011 plus retired 12ha of bush. Since then an additional 38ha of pine trees have been planted. The aim was to offset greenhouse gas emissions but with changing regulations they are not presently sure how that will pan out. Nevertheless it could provide an income if the economics stack up to harvest the trees one day in the future. Rukumoana Farms is run by Robert and Jane, son Nick and wife Sophie, son Will and wife Kate and son Sam and wife Melissa. The beef and lamb nishing operation includes two farms and a run off block totalling 1263ha/1159ha effective. As part of the family’s farm succession plans Nick and Sophie are leasing the Toko farm, which includes a bull TechnoGrazing system, and Will and Kate are leasing Rukumoana. Robert is working for Will and he and Jane take charge of the 82ha effective run off block at Rawhitiroa. Sam has his own contracting business, which is helping him to move towards his goal of farming in the future. Sam completes the direct drilling work for the family farms and also takes on outside contracts under his company SB Drilling Limited. “It was important to start farm succession plans early otherwise we’d be too old to be able to help them transition,” says Jane. “The next step will be for the boys to buy into the farms and we’d like to either lease or buy another farm for Sam as he’s dead keen to go farming as soon as possible.” The family is farming for the future by being good custodians of their land. Four wetland areas have been fenced off and many native plants put in. Poplar poles are used for erosion control and shade and predators proactively managed. The family has a no-tillage philosophy and a direct drill is used to plant fattening crops. The Brown family are part of the Mangamingi Catchment Group, which has received $80,000 of government funding to be used over the next two years. While the funding is not speci cally for farming but for the community the Browns say it’s resulting in some important opportunities. “So far we’ve had educational workshops on freshwater quality and have identi ed ve sites on ve farms to start monitoring. Other possibilities the funding might assist is farm environment plans and information on the carbon credit scheme,” says Robert. “It’s a good opportunity to help farmers face the challenges that are out there,” adds Jane. “It’s also good socially for the community to get together.” www.wairererams.co.nz | 0800 924 7373 Robert and Jane Brown at home on their Taranaki farm Rising to the challenge For more than 20 years, the Brown family have been relying on Wairere genetics to consistently deliver high levels of sheep performance. With a move to Wairere Challenger rams some 10 years ago, that performance has continued to build along with the level of FE tolerance that is needed in their environment. Using the Wairere Dominator terminal sire over a portion of their ocks, the Browns get all the sheep genetics they need from Wairere. “Wairere is a reliable and innovative rambreeder and great to deal with”
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