| 13 Alford Farms evolving with NZ ag landscape Winchmore Sheep and Beef Block. Karen Phelps MEAT & WOOL » Alford Farms Alpine Pastures Group’s (APG) commitment to quality red meat, wool and dairy production is coupled with a strong focus on sustainability, positioning the company at the forefront of New Zealand’s evolving agricultural landscape, say Group Compliance Manager Kate Griffiths and Canterbury Operations Manager Hayden McCambridge. Hayden oversees four farms in Winchmore in Ashburton and Wakanui - three sheep and beef operations and one dairy farm spanning 140 hectares and milking 550 A2A2 cows, supplying Synlait and utilising Halter technology. The sheep and beef units cover 600 irrigated hectares dedicated to finishing operations, producing primarily antibiotic-free lambs and cattle. Hayden’s partner Kate, originally from the UK, came to New Zealand for a holiday and ended up staying here after meeting Hayden. With a background in dairy farming she complements Hayden’s role by working on the farm as well as serving as the compliance manager for all of APG’s properties, including two in Otago. Her responsibilities extend to overseeing compliance for livestock procurement and grazing operation Livestock Grazing, which is under the APG umbrella, Owned by the Spiers family, the Group’s approach to farming is deeply rooted in continuous improvement. The dairy farm, acquired just two years ago, has already achieved Lead with Pride Gold Plus status. Meanwhile, the sheep and beef farms are certified under NZFAP Plus and ZQ Merino standards, demonstrating the Group’s dedication to sustainability and opening doors to increased market access. The standards ensure that the products meet rigorous criteria such as origin, traceability, food safety, animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility. “All three standards we adhere to are about continual improvement, and that’s an ethos of the whole business. This puts us in a good position to move with consumer demand, focusing on good, efficient, and sustainable farming as well as making a profit,” explains Kate. The Group is also incorporating the Lead with Pride animal welfare practices into the sheep and beef side of the business. Kate says this crosspollination of best practices across different farming types showcases the Group’s comprehensive and innovative approach. As part of its sustainability ethos, APG places a strong emphasis on social responsibility and staff development. “There is a real focus on the people part of the business and social responsibility, which is an important part of the audits we undertake,” says Hayden. “For example, helping people to grow in their roles. The scale of the business means we can move people to higher roles and also give staff opportunities to undertake outside courses and learning.” This people-centric approach extends to involving staff in daily decision-making processes. “The staff is involved in everything from the daily planning to the financials so they understand what they are trying to achieve,” Hayden adds. 0800 224 661 | enquiries@roadtrans.co.nz Taking care of all your rural transport needs, where ever you are. Your Local Master Electricians. Ph 03 308 2621 | 347 Grahams Road, Ashburton 7774 | www.aoteaashburton.co.nz • Solar Installations • Air Conditioning • Heat Pumps • Indoor/Outdoor Lighting • Rural Electrical • Appliance Repairs Silage | Straw | Cultivation | Harvesting | Windrowing | Transport | Feed Sales Proud to support ALFORD FARMS Phone Phil: 027 699 0795 Tim: 027 323 4048 239 Springfield Road West Ashburton Ben 027 538 8336 Nick 027 538 8369 Matt 027 220 2475 Email: Office@maybrothers.co.nz Website: www.maybrothers.co.nz “The wider APG management and owners have played a key part in this and are well engaged in the continual improvement process.” Looking to the future, Griffiths and McCambridge are committed to driving on-going efficiency as a key part of sustainability. “It’s all about the efficiency of farming,” says Hayden, “better ways of wintering and faster ways of growing stock out. We are striving to achieve our targets with sustainable practices at the forefront of our decision-making.”
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