20 | Forestry constant and crucial income stream Field day at a hybrid trial site. Young hybrid plantings at Balmoral Station. Karen Phelps Forestry » Balmoral Station Balmoral Station director Andrew Simpson believes many farms in New Zealand could bene t from planting forestry blocks on their unproductive land. He’s not talking about planting pine trees on good producing farmland but rather those scrubby areas or gullies that aren’t contributing hugely to production. “I think there is a balance and it could make all farms carbon neutral or positive. We’ve planted out farmable land but it was pretty unproductive and still graze in amongst the trees,” he says. Balmoral Station, a 9700ha farm to the west of Lake Tekapo, which takes in Mt John Hill and the tussock grasslands around Lake Alexandrina and Lake McGregor, has been experimenting with forestry as part of its diverse farming system for decades. The land rises from 640m up to 1066m and farms 9000 stock units, mainly merino but also including 170 breeding cows. Around 20-30ha has been planted in pine trees for the past 25 years totalling 600ha after this season’s planting. The family has consent to plant 900ha. Andrew says it’s proved a constant and crucial income stream with the allocation of carbon credits each year. They are not only balancing their emissions but are ve times carbon positive at present. “We’re sequestering 10,000 tonne of carbon each year through the forest. When it becomes older and gets more plantings we estimate that will rise to 20,000-25,000 tonnes per annum. At $80 a carbon credit at the moment that’s seriously good money,” he says. Registered under the saw tooth model they can claim 100% of carbon sequestered but if they harvest they pay back the credits at harvest time. Andrew doesn’t see this as being an issue. “In 50 years time New Zealand’s target is to be carbon neutral. So if we have to pay them back then when we harvest carbon credits could be virtually worthless,” he says. The farm has also been part of a development programme in conjunction with Scion and Proseed looking at nding a species of radiata pine that grows well in the high country, is not affected by wind or snow and doesn’t cause a wilding conifer issue. “We are planting out cedrius attenuate, radiata guadalupe and straight radiata hybrids They don’t spread because they are a closed cone species and the seed can’t get out. It’s looking very promising.” Andrew is also looking at how to utilise the thinnings out of the forest with options including biofuel and wood pellets that could result in additional income streams. ‘There are some quite exciting opportunities and options we need to be exploring.’ It’s all part of the family’s focus on creating a well-balanced and diverse farming business. The family has also recently bought a half share in 10,600ha Mt Hay, Andrew’s original family farm that he grew up on. It runs 2500 ewes plus replacements. The purchase will enable all young wether lambs at Mt Hay to be brought over and fattened and nished on Balmoral Station. Andrew is planning on putting on continued irrigation development to utilise the 400ha consent that is currently held. This will allow stock numbers to be increased gradually internally. He credits the farm managers as being a key asset because great staff enable the family to grow their business, which also includes Balmoral Merino Stud, land development company Lake Tekapo Enterprises and tourism business The Cairns Alpine Resort, which has recently added six new two bedroom high spec huts, a golf course and a helipad. Peter McPherson, Chris Heath, Peter Cockburn, Wayne Morgan, SandraWiggins & Supporting Sta Proud to support Balmoral Station monk fencing mackenzie basin - rural fencing Email monkfencing@gmail.com Proud to be associated with Balmoral Station Phone Nathan 021 203 1076 Hamish Cottle 0210 232 0627 Peter Irvine 0274 315 553 40 Sidey Rd, RD 24 St Andrews getatexel@gmail.com @highgroundsfarming “Breeding quality high yielding, sires” Now running in conjunction with Halcroft Texels
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