| 29 Small tweaks add up on Northland farm The farm has been planted in 40ha of pine trees to further diversify the business, and with an eye to future carbon credits. Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » Roger Ludbrook A series of small changes are setting Tupe Tupe in Northland up for the future. The farm, which totals approximately 400ha total/280ha effective, has a reduced stocking rate with nitrogen no longer being used due to cost. Roger Ludbrook, who manages the family farm with wife Carol, says it made economic sense. “Running 870 head of cattle it was costing us something like 160 bulls to put nitrogen on the farm. So we can now drop numbers to 680 bulls plus 40 breeding cows and we think it will stack up better in terms of profitability despite production dropping,” he says. Tupe Tupe also runs a flock of 430 Wiltshires. Requiring no shearing, docking or crutching, the breed is proving its worth with the current price of wool versus shearing costs, says Roger. Tupe Tupe sends rams to the works at around 19kgs and sells ewe lambs for breeding, which are proving popular. The family has focused on creating diverse income streams to future proof including a small farm tour business unfortunately launched just before the first Covid-19 lockdown. The plan was to target around 4000 of the many cruise ship passengers disembarking in Paihia. Originally bought in 1832 by Henry Williams, who translated the treaty, the farm has a long history. It was Henry’s daughter who married a Ludbrook in 1858, which saw the family purchase the farm in 1860. Roger plans to look into re-launching the business again now the cruise ships have started to return with a range of farm, colonial and Maori history tours reflecting the rich past of the region. The farm has also been planted in 40ha of pine trees to further diversify the business, and with an eye to future carbon credits, and 56 large solar panels were installed in a field last year. The cost of the solar panel project was a bit over $50,000 and the repayment should be six years, says Roger. Electricity costs have dropped from $1200 to $700 per month. It’s enabled the farm to hedge from future electricity price inflation. And Roger says farmers are certainly feeling the current economic pressures. One result of this on Tupe Tupe has been that when a worker left in May 2022 he wasn’t replaced and Roger has been running the farm by himself. “It’s certainly busy. Farmers are probably New Zealand’s biggest group of volunteers as they work for minimum wage and don’t take holidays.” “It’s certainly busy. Farmers are probably New Zealand’s biggest group of volunteers as they work for minimum wage and don’t take holidays,” he jokes. “It’s harder in terms of workload but in some ways it’s easier because the only person to yell at is myself. I have had up to three staff before and I spent most of my time organising them so now I’m just organising me.” He is aware of the challenges though. “A self employed person working by themselves has to be massively aware of mental health. I go to the gym three to four times a week and play golf once a week.” He also plans to bring a contractor on to spray his gorse, recognising some jobs are better contracted out, and will have a part timer working from June to give him breaks. Roger is also busy off-farm in his role as the Meat & Wool Chair for the Northland branch of Federated Farmers. “I’m helping where I can because it’s hard to find people who want to come into the role. I will be given a vice chair at the AGM coming up with the idea that my role will eventually transition to them.” Rob Titter Farm Services Ltd Repairs on all makes & models r��er@xtra.co.nz Ph: 09 401 1774 Mobile: 027 522 6248 34 Station Road, Kaikohe. Proudly supporting Roger Ludbrook and his farming endeavours Proudly supporting Roger Ludbrook Account Enquiries: 021 124 2237
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