| 7 Kiri Tapsell of Pukenga Farms. Source: New Zealand Farm Environment Trust. Aimee Wilson 01 BFEA Compact Brand Guidelines V1.0 FEB 2022 Proud to Partner with Pukenga Farms INDUSTRY LEADERS IN: Frost Protection & Irrigation | Agricultural & Horticultural Remote Monitoring & Control Automation | All types of Pumping Applications | System Integration CONTROL TECHLTD www.controltechltd.nz 07 219-0661 0800NZSEED Talk to the experts or email us enquiry@pastoralimprovements.co.nz Evolving from sheep, to dairy, to kiwifruit RURAL PEOPLE » Pukenga Farms The diversification of ancestral land on Pukenga Farms Ltd from sheep and beef to dairy, and now kiwifruit, has earned the family business a Ballance Environment Farm Award for (Bay of Plenty). Kiri Tapsell grew up on the family farm at Te Puke, which was previously run by his grandfather - who developed the land for Maori affairs. His grandfather ran the land as a a sheep and beef farm, “with a tiny bit of dairy for cream like everyone did,” and then it moved into full time dairying and beef under Kiri’s parents. “All along we’ve been trying to find the best land use for the best type of land, and finding that sweet spot of what to do with it all.” Retiring low-lying areas from grazing and planting 17ha of kiwifruit on the higher land - the climate in the orchard works well, being warm and elevated. Kiri’s parents had 7ha of orchard and Kiri has grown it to 17 ha. Starting with traditional green kiwifruit and moving into gold and now red varieties, they have been moving toward using a low vigour system. This has resulted in a huge change in sustainability, from stringing all gold and red, “and this year we’re hoping we won’t be using any at all,” he said - except when developing new blocks. The amount of string waste is a fraction of what it was. The orchard will also be grafting a further 3ha of red kiwifruit over the coming winter months. As well as the kiwifruit there are 80 beef breeding cows farmed on 125ha along with 80 calves, 80 R1’s & 80 R2’s approx 50% split between sexes. The judges were impressed with water management on the property, with all drains fenced, and stock entirely excluded from artificial watercourses. Kiri explains that because 100ha of the land wasn’t suitable for kiwifruit, they had to make the best of what they could with the 17ha - which was proving to be the most profitable part of the business. They have moved beef into Autumn calving only this season so when the prime beef schedule is high the animals will be three months older, and therefore heavier and worth more. The decision to move away from dairy farming was an environmental and financial one - and when his parents bought the neighbours farm that came with green kiwifruit. But Kiri’s father died in 2016 and before he did he understood that environmentally the dairy unit would not be viable within a couple of decades. They started planting more kiwifruit and since 2020 stopped dairying altogether. “Staying compliant by upgrades in effluent and feed pads was the final push they needed to stop dairying and move to beef, and more kiwifruit.” Kiwifruit worked because there was enough ground water to irrigate and enough skilled labour to set it up - Pukenga Farms now contracts ‘Prospa’ for its orchard management, and as a result Kiri will only needs to spend 30% of his time on that part of the business. “Staying compliant by upgrades in effluent and feed pads was the final push they needed to stop dairying and move to beef, and more kiwifruit.”
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