10 | Traditional breeding with modern technology Dave Martin says the operation has evolved significantly over time. Photo: Sue Wilson. Karen Phelps A focus on resilience, productivity and people is shaping the future of Martin Pastoral, a multi-generational farming business based near Wairoa. Operating across two properties - the 2,000-hectare Shannon Station hill country block and the 220-hectare Roscommon Farm finishing unit - the business blends traditional breeding with modern technology and diversified income streams. Dave Martin says the operation has evolved significantly over time, remaining grounded in its core strengths. “We focus on doing the basics really well, breeding sheep and cattle to the best of our ability through strong genetics and management,” says Dave. The family’s connection to the land dates back to 1906, when Dave’s great-grandfather and greatuncle first carved the farm out of native bush. Now ownership is shared between Dave, his father Frank and uncle Joe, with Dave taking on the role of general manager. “Dad still comes up and drives the tractor and is involved in the financial side, I call him my CFO,” says Dave with a laugh. The hill country farm runs around 580 breeding cows and 6,000 ewes, predominantly Romney sheep alongside Angus and some Hereford cattle. Manager Jeremy Bright and two shepherds run Shannon Station day-to-day. Stock bred on the property are transferred to Roscommon Farm, where they are finished for market. Depending on the season, the finishing block carries up to 400 cattle and 1,700 lambs. “We take lambs from weaning, then another lot in autumn, and aim to finish them from May through to October at 22 kilos plus,” says Dave. Cattle are typically brought down as weaners and traditionally grazed behind electric fencing through winter. About 50% are sold store as R1s and the rest finished at 320kg carcass weight. However, the introduction of new technology is set to change that. Dave says the recent adoption of Gallagher eShepherd virtual fencing collars is expected to significantly improve both animal performance and staff efficiency. “Our biggest issue in winter is when it’s cold and wet, animals walk in their feed behind a wire,” says Dave. “With the collars, we can shift them easily without physically moving fences, which should mean better feed utilisation and weight gains.” Roscommon Farm also supports a mixed cropping programme, with around 25 per cent of the land in summer cash crops. These include milling maize for RURAL PEOPLE » Martin Pastoral processing into food products and squash for export markets. The decision to diversify followed the de-conversion of the finishing farm from dairy after the 2008 downturn. “It made sense to move to a system that better suited our overall operation,” says Dave. Recent years have tested the resilience of the business with two major cyclone events causing widespread damage. “The hill country was badly hit in 2022 with slips and fencing losses, while Cyclone Gabrielle impacted the finishing block more severely,” says Dave. “We had areas buried in up to 700 millimetres of silt, so it’s taken time to get pastures back to full production.” A strong commodity cycle has helped fund recovery efforts and deferred maintenance. “Hill country farms are expensive to maintain, so being able to catch up on infrastructure has been important,” says Dave. Sustainability is another key focus, both environmentally and operationally. Martin Pastoral is part of the local catchment group, working on riparian planting and erosion control in a landscape prone to slips. “Sustainability isn’t just environmental, it’s also about having a system that works financially and is attractive for staff,” says Dave. “Utilising technology like the electronic cow collars along with traditional horse and dog work helps make the job easier and more appealing.” MARTIN PASTORAL PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=