18 | Slips still moving Fencing is an ongoing activity on Glenburn Station. Kim Newth RURAL PEOPLE » Glenburn Station Last year’s cyclone damage is continuing to be felt in coastal Wairarapa. Local sheep and beef farmer Lachie McFadzean, at Glenburn Station, says some slips have not stopped moving and that means extra work for the farm team. “We have been very dry this summer and everything hardened up. Then when we finally got some rain, one of the slips moved again and ripped the fence away. That left a whole thirty metre stretch of paddock with no fence.” Much of the farm’s electric fencing has yet to be restored and, as Lachie observes, this is also causing problems with stock walking through fences and ripping out posts. “We’ve nearly got one area back up and running that takes our young stock. They need time to learn that fences can bite and should be treated with respect. It makes the job that much harder if they don’t get that experience.” Fortunately, for Lachie and his father John, having a strong farm team helps compensate for the gaps in fencing that inevitably add time to mustering and shifting stock. Lachie says both their shepherds – Campbell Evans and Devlin Gurr – are going very well. Devlin was recently named as 2024 Wairarapa Shepherd of the Year at the annual Wairarapa Sheep & Beef Awards. “Devlin started his farm-work career with us after graduating from Gisborne’s Waipaoa Station farm cadet training programme. He’s from Northland, with no background in sheep farming, but through that cadetship he got a really good grounding in shepherding, including how to work dogs and ride horses. I have no doubt that he presented to the award judges as a very competent all-rounder.” Campbell has also impressed Lachie with his competence and capabilities. Campbell is currently taking part in the B+LNZ Generation Next Programme that aims to build participants’ potential as future industry leaders. Glenburn Station will winter some 6750 ewes, 2350 hoggets and, at time of writing, the team was still aiming to finish 1500 lambs. Glenburn has long used Turanganui rams to drive productive traits in the station’s Romney flock. On the terminal side, Southdown andBeltex/Suftex genetics are sourced to achieve high yields. Unfortunately, with it having been such a dry summer, Lachie doesn’t think the ewes will scan as well as previously. (It has been a tough time all round for sheep farmers, with the store market also failing to meet price expectations). On the beef side, Glenburn winters some 530 Angus cows,along with 120 R2 steers (fattened off kale and fodder beet) and 300 yearling steer calves. The cattle operation is high performing, usingbulls bred by Lachie’s brother Johnie at Glenbrae Station. The brothers inherited their passion for hill country farming from their parents, Helen and John McFadzean and, at Glenbrae, Johnie has taken breeding to another level. McFadzean Cattle Company offers three signature breeds for cattle farmers and Glenburn Station has made good use of the excellent Cruizy Calve and Super Angus breeding options to achieve their easy calving, growth and yield targets. Meanwhile, Glenburn’s line-up of farm accommodation, managed by Helen, remains a welcome source of steady income for the family farm business. Mike Warren 027 446 5312 or 06 307 7841 Guy Warren 027 848 0164 WilliamWarren 027 824 9327 Turanganui Romneys Glenburn Station Accommodation Glenburn Station offers five accommodation options in this rural coastal slice of paradise. Enjoy the tranquil country atmosphere, just 5 minutes walk from a safe swimming beach with abundant sea life and a reef to explore at low tide Contact us at: info@glenburnstation.co.nz or 063727045
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