Business Rural South Spring 2026

South Maniototo sheep breeders Glen Leith are gearing up for a strong ram sale with Romney and Dorset rams available in December - Page 28 Romney stud looking forward to sale SPRING 2026 www.waterfordpress.co.nz

2 | Contents #businessrural #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz   Salmon Smolt �� 03 Armidale Wool Stud �� 04 Awatere Farming �� 06 Longfield Stud �� 08 Chris and Desiree Giles �� 09 Ben King �� 10 Bog Roy Station . �� 11 Bryce Mckenzie �� 12 Burwood Station �� 13 Guy and Kathryn Wigley �� 14 Benio Downs �� 15 Garston Hops �� 16 Southern Reproductive �� 17 Coleridge Downs Ltd �� 18 Craigneuk �� 20 Dan Devine - Awakino Station �� 22 Dawnlee Dorset Downs �� 24 Durham Farm �� 25 Elliot and Janine King �� 27 Glen Leith �� 28 Perspective �� 29 Glenwillow Farm �� 30 Golden Gully Farming �� 31 Jackson Farming Ltd �� 32 Kamahi Perendale �� 33 Knightlea Farm �� 34 Glenfern Farm �� 35 Lawson Lea Genetics �� 36 Taiaroa Charolais �� 38 Ian Anderson - Ben Ledi Station �� 39 Lesley Roy �� 40 Logan and Nicky Kelly �� 41 Mike McElrea �� 42 MMM Cattle �� 44 Chris Dillon �� 45 Nithdale Genetics �� 46 Okawa Farms �� 48 Orari Gorge Station �� 49 Otematata Station �� 50 Rosebery Farm Ltd �� 51 Peel Forest Estate �� 52 Rosedale �� 54 Ryan Sutherland �� 55 Spring Creek Downs �� 56 Te Pirita Enterprises �� 57 Steve and Nina Ireland. �� 58 Tamar Farm �� 60 Te Wae Wae Dairies Ltd �� 62 Toko Farms Ltd �� 63 Ballandean Ltd �� 64 Cordyline Southdowns �� 64 Torrisdale - Murray Greys �� 65 Nick Ensor and Georgie Sinclair �� 66 Campbell Spreading Ltd �� 67 MotoSouth �� 68 Avenel Agriculture �� 70 Baz Janssen Building Ltd �� 72 Canopy Camping �� 74 Catalyst Performance Agronomy �� 75 Croton Motorcyles 2023 T/A Rogers �� 76 Longview Dairies �� 78 Pyramid downs �� 79 Fairhall Agricultural Services �� 80 Farm Fix It �� 82 36 | Benefiting from 3rd generation involvement 70 | Business has expanded in recent years 106 | Expert veterinary services for rural areas 09 | More than chasing production figures RESEARCH & MARKETING Sam Dart, Adam Feaver, Chris Graves, Megan Hawkins, Lisa Moffat, Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Adam Shirra, Leo Smith, Alasdair Thomson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa, Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam. art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Ann-Marie Frentz, Alissa Crosby, Michelle Phelan. 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Gilchrist Brothers �� 84 Highland Nutrition �� 85 Kings Rural Transport Ltd �� 86 Lott Contracting �� 87 Toko Spraying �� 88 Topflite Ltd �� 88 MacKenzie Aviation Ltd �� 89 Mainfert Ltd �� 90 Multi Ag Ltd �� 92 NC Equipment Ltd �� 94 Nick Wilson Contracting �� 95 North Otago Pastoral �� 96 PGG Wrightson �� 99 Pomahaka Water Care Group �� 100 Renner Fencing Contractors Ltd �� 101 Sam Forrester Contracting �� 102 Spreading North Canterbury �� 103 Top Soils Ltd �� 104 VetSouth Ltd �� 106 Harliwich Contracting Ltd �� 107 Ag Science �� 108 Alpine Buildings NZ Ltd �� 109 Bradley’s Engineering Services �� 110 Welshy Contracting �� 110 LJ Contracting (NZ) �� 111 Mainland Spreading �� 111 Pankhurst Contracting Ltd �� 112 David O’Neill Contracting �� 112 Southland Helicopters Ltd �� 113 Ross Bros Transport �� 114 Sam Young and Emma Shaw �� 115 Waimakariri Irrigation Ltd �� 120 OUR PARTNERS: Business Rural South (listed as Business Rural): Print ISSN: 2537-9984 Online ISSN: 2537-9992

| 3 RURAL PEOPLE » Salmon Smolt Salmon farms well served by quality hatchery Fish health and performance manager Michael Avis. The Silverstream salmon hatchery near Kaiapoi. Kim Newth At Salmon Smolt New Zealand’s Silverstream Hatchery in Kaiapoi, North Canterbury, general manager Lukas Hetzler is upbeat about the growth prospects ahead for King Salmon and New Zealand’s aquaculture industry. “It’s an exciting time for the industry,” says Lukas, citing the Government’s target to grow aquaculture to a $3 billion industry by 2035. “As the wider industry picks up pace, our shareholders expect to see further growth too.” Salmon Smolt New Zealand has a valuable role in supporting some of the country’s leading King salmon farmers and exporters. The hatchery operation supplies young salmon, known as smolt, to four key shareholders – Akaroa Salmon, High Country Salmon, Sanford and Mount Cook Salmon. All bar High Country Salmon have hatcheries of their own but having access to Salmon Smolt’s stock adds another layer of certainty for these businesses. “If something goes wrong with those hatcheries or they have a gap they need to fill, they know we’re here to back them up,” says Lukas. “The smolt we provide are very important from that perspective. In total, we supply around 550,000 to 650,000 smolt each year.” From spawning to egg incubation and raising young fish, Silverstream provides a clean, quality hatchery service. Two spawning events every year ensure there’s always enough young stock coming through to keep South Island salmon farms well supplied. Salmon Smolt New Zealand also supports Westland Fish and Game with young salmon for the Lake Kaniere put-and-take fishery. Lukas says their hatchery’s cool, clear water is ideal for egg incubation and for raising smolt. “We’re lucky to be close to a spring head at Silverstream, which ensures we have really great water to use for our fish operations.” Salmon Smolt has additional holding space at its other facility in Winchmore, Ashburton. Once young salmon reach 15g in the Silverstream raceways, they are transferred to Ashburton for the final finishing phase ahead of transfer to commercial salmon farms. “We also hold most of our brood stock at Winchmore - it’s a salmon farm in the middle of a dairy farm, which is pretty unique!” Salmon is a major export earner for New Zealand, with key export markets including the USA, China and Australia. New Zealand’s salmon exports climbed past $200 million in 2024. While most of the world produces Atlantic salmon, New Zealand specialises in premium Chinook salmon, otherwise known as King salmon. It’s one of nature’s superfoods, being an excellent source of Omega-3s and essential nutrients. King salmon from New Zealand is often described as ‘the champagne of salmon’ because of its superb taste. Aquaculture is a big OXFORD EDGE ACCOUNTING. ADVICE. STRATEGY. Good businesses need more than good numbers. We bring straight-talking advice, commercial thinking and a team that genuinely cares about your success. FIND YOUR EDGE > 03 379 6710 www.oxfordedge.co.nz employer in New Zealand too with a team 3,000 producing our King salmon, Greenshell mussels and Pacific oysters. Lukas, who grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada, took up his role at Salmon Smolt New Zealand some 18 months ago. Inspired by his grandfather, who was a lobster fisherman, Lukas completed a Master’s degree in Fisheries Research Management and has since acquired extensive experience in aquaculture across both Canada and New Zealand.“I love showing school groups through the hatchery and letting young people know about all the opportunities out there in aquaculture.” Design, Fabrication, Machining. waimakengineering.co.nz stu@waimakeng.co.nz

4 | RURAL PEOPLE » Armidale Wool Stud Exceptional quality of its fine wool fleece Armidale co-owner Simon Paterson said the family was delighted with the win. Emma Bailey Armidale Wool Stud has taken out the 2026 NZ Royal Agricultural Society’s Golden Fleece Competition winning the Supreme Champion Fine Wool Fleece, amid wool having a long overdue resurgence. The New Zealand Golden Fleece Competition is a highly anticipated event across the country and this year was hosted by Central Otago A&P Association held in April at the WS Hickey Wool Store in Omakau. Armidale co-owner Simon Paterson said the family was delighted with the win, with the merino stud regular attendees of the local A&P shows and well known for the exceptional quality of its fine wool fleeces and stud merino sheep. It was also the 70th anniversary of the WS Hickey Wool Store. “We were really rapt and extremely proud. “There was such a good display of wool, history and wool products as well as being able to see the workings of a wool store.” Armidale Merino Stud at Gimmerburn is a fifth generation farm located in Maniototo. The property is flat to rolling with two summer run blocks and 120ha of irrigation. Simon runs the farm in partnership with his wife Sarah and parents Allan and Eris Paterson. The family already has an impressive collection of silverware and A&P show championship ribbons dating as far back as the Paterson family can remember. The region is known for its hot dry summers and long cold winters. The family has been on the property since the 1880s, with Simon’s two sons the sixth generation on the farm. Simon said the season had been a tough one. “We had an ok spring - it was cold. Summer was pretty marginal and dry and autumn was terrible for our crops, with wind and rain, but it’s been mild enough for us just to squeeze through from a stock food point of view with plenty of supplement feed on hand.” The rams are sold at an on farm auction on the third Friday of January and after that they are sold privately from the start of February. “We had a really good sale this year; the average was well up on previous years with quite a few new clients. Everyone is very positive about wool at the moment. It is brilliant to see resurgence, it was long overdue. “People are starting to realise the positives of natural fibres, merino has always been pretty strong and fine wool is getting quite a push at the moment.” Genetics play a huge role in breeding the sheep in production and quality traits, he said. “We see a massive trait difference between sire groups. It is so easy to have a negative impact if you don’t keep an eye on it.” Through genetics they are drenching less, he said, by breeding disease resistant traits. Meat is also another factor. The sheep used to be just bred for wool but now carcass rates have also become important. June has been quiet for the farm. In July pregnancy scanning and shearing would be staggered with lambing likely mid September. Proud to support Armidale in data recording and management through the use our Performance Recording Software. MacroStock is Comprehensive Pedigree and Performance Recording Software Solution, designed specifically to meet the needs of the Stud Breeder. Containing the essential tools required for the management of all stud records, in one easy way to access locations. If you are a beef, sheep, goat or deer breeder, you can utilise the versatile tools contained within MacroStock to analyse your stock production. With easy to use data screens you can analyse the data of the animals you are producing enabling you to improve their quality, ensuring they have the traits you require – maximising your profitability. 03 307 8053 bob.girvan@vantagepoint.co.nz NEW-GENERATION READY TO TACKLE WORK , WEEKEND AND EVERY ADVENTURE IN BETWEEN Book your test drive today at GWD Toyota Alexandra - 74 Centennial Avenue Phone: 03 448 6989 www.gwdtoyota.co.nz

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6 | RURAL PEOPLE » Awatere Farming Awatere’s low-cost, all-grass farming The system delivered a good result last season. Russell Fredric Awatere Station’s low-cost, all-grass farming system shapes everything from pasture renewal to livestock performance, with every decision aimed at getting more from the land. The Anderson family has farmed Awatere Station, near Waikaia in Northern Southland, for 53 years. Today, Awatere Station manager Tom Anderson oversees the 3,000-hectare hill-country property alongside Ryan Tutty and Angus Murray. A further 250ha support block in Wendon Valley brings the total farming area to about 3,250ha, including 2,750ha effective. The farm runs 12,000 Romney ewes, 3,000 replacement hoggets and 650 breeding cows, while finishing about 90 percent of its lambs and all steers by 18 months on-farm. “We’re a sheep and beef-based breeding and finishing property, rolling through to medium and steeper hill country. Our main focus is keeping a low-cost system that works with the country we’ve got.” That strategy underpins a wintering system that relies entirely on pasture rather than winter crops or supplementary silage or baleage. Farming up to 750 metres above sea level means weather can quickly test that approach, particularly after pre-lamb shearing, but the result is a more efficient, low-cost business. The system delivered a good result last season. Lambs averaged 18.7kg carcass weight, while steers averaged 280kg. Consistent scanning results and improved sheepmeat and beef schedules created opportunities to reinvest. “It gave us the ability to do more development. We doubled the area we usually regrass through direct drilling, built a new set of sheep yards and further subdivided paddocks. Lifestyle & Rural Fencing including: DEER • SHEEP • CATTLE • POST & RAIL • YARDS 027 867 2975 | dbfencing2024@gmail.com

| 7 RURAL PEOPLE » Awatere Farming Moving away from winter cropping has significantly reduced pressure on vulnerable winter soils. These investments were all seen as something that will provide a greater return to the business than debt reduction.” Breed selection has been another important part of lifting performance. The farm moved from Perendale genetics several years ago to Wairere Romney sheep, improving fertility, lamb growth and wool production. The cattle herd is evolving as well, with Angus genetics being introduced over predominantly Hereford cows to produce productive hybrid cows capable of rearing calves that can be finished within 18 months. The change reflects experience gained at Argyle Station – Umbrella Range Angus and confidence in the type of cow best suited to the hill country. Environmental management follows the same practical thinking. Moving away from winter cropping has significantly reduced pressure on vulnerable winter soils, while fertiliser is strategically applied across the property each autumn to maximise pasture growth. “Our whole focus is getting the hill country growing as much winter feed as it can. This is utilised by ewes in the winter whereby they will spend up to 14 days in one block without a shift. “Questions have been asked why we haven’t developed these blocks into young grass, but the cost of doing so and the three-year reversion rate far exceeds the cost of a yearly dosing of a fertiliser mix containing 40 units of N [nitrogen].” During the past three years, greater emphasis has been placed on fencing waterways, while ongoing gorse and broom control remains a permanent budget priority regardless of seasonal conditions. Annual possum control programmes and regular deer management help protect productive and native areas of the property, complementing continued pasture renewal. Tom places equal value on developing people “as without them the cogs just won’t turn”. Alongside him, Ryan and Angus share responsibility for stock work, fencing, tractor work and general maintenance, giving both broad experience across all aspects of the farming business. “There’s still a huge amount of potential for this property. Something always needs to do better. That’s what keeps the business improving.” CALL JOE STRINGER 0211 682 532 OR TALK TO YOUR LOCAL STOCK AGENT 459 CLINKER HILL RD WENDON VALLEY GORE R1 BULLS SPRING SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY OCT - NOV info@matakanui.co.nz Ram Sale Thursday 4th February 2027

8 | RURAL PEOPLE » Longfield Stud Top Corriedale sheep in North Canterbury Longfield stud ram. Booker Family (inset). Photos Biddy Harnett-Getz. Emma Bailey For over a century Longfield Stud has been breeding exceptional Corriedale sheep in North Canterbury, now it is adding White Suffolks to its legacy. Longfield Stud owners John Booker and Jo Thomson are excited about the addition of White Suffolks which have already generated interest. The Corriedale stud was set up in Hawarden, North Canterbury by John’s Grandfather Bill in 1925. In 1960 his father Freeman started on the farm and took it over in 1973. John went into partnership with his dad after coming back from overseas in 1992 and then he and his wife Joanna took it over in 1997. In 2016 the John and Jo and three of their five children, Claire, Fern and Rosa moved the stud to Ballyams, a 640 hectare property at Kekerengu, north of Kaikoura. Despite changes in land use and a swing to dairy farming, John’s passion for Corriedale sheep hasn’t dampened in particular for genetics and measuring performance. Johns main motivation with breeding is to improve his clients returns. “After my stint at university (Lincoln) I was a farm adviser for MAF and that’s when I got into performance recording and became involved with SIL (Sheep Improvement Limited).” He measures fertility, weaning weights, autumn weights, eye muscle in the males and the yearly fleece weight and micron. “Buyers are very particular about their wool. The Corriedale clip has got quite a bit finer. Corriedales are a dual purpose breed; meat and wool and we have a really good return on our wool and lamb production.” He has embraced new technologies using AI and embryo transplants. “Now when we sell genetics overseas we are generally selling semen.” After John had a bad quad bike accident in 2024 the family made the decision to sell Ballyams and moved to a smaller block closer to Kaikoura. “A change in location always brings new challenges. In Kekerengu we had high rainfall and humidity so your wool quality had to be spot on to avoid fly strike. This year in Kaikoura we had 380mls of rain in January and then 250mls in July but the wool held up. “My shearer Peter Yorke, with 51 years experience all around the world, couldn’t believe the whiteness and brightness of the fleece after the season. We had the Y-Z colour test with a result of negative 1.3. “We’ve had fantastic pregnancy scanning results of 185 per cent with our 60 kilograms ewes.” Two of their five children work in sheep genetics and the meat industry and he wants to leave a legacy at the farm for them so now they are looking to add White Suffolks to the stud, using his past experience working with different breeds. In March John and Jo bought purebred White Suffolks in South Australia. They will graze over there and be mated with White Suffolk rams at an export breeding centre. “The resulting embryos will be imported and implanted into recipient ewes next Autumn.” He has already seen quite a bit of interest in the breed, which is one of Australia’s most popular terminal breeds. “They are notable for ease of lambing and fast growth weights.” 03 201 6470 Carl - 027 272 9333 | Callum - 027 272 9888 LONGFIELDSTUD • BOOKER FAMILY • EST 1925 • Corriedale and White Suffolk All sheep run under commercial farming conditions • Fully performance recorded • 185% pregnancy scanning 2026 - 60kg joining weight • Sale rams 23-27 micron Contact - John Booker & Jo Thomson, Kaikoura j.booker@amuri.net | 027 414 4129

| 9 More than chasing production figures The Giles family has also embraced A2 genetics. Karen Phelps For the Giles family of Southland breeding cows is about more than chasing production figures. It is about building a Jersey herd with the right balance of size, fertility and milk quality to suit modern dairy farming. The family has spent more than 15 years developing its own genetics, beginning in 2009 when Chris and his wife Desiree were lowerorder sharemilkers. Today they milk around 550 predominantly Jersey cows with their breeding programme attracting recognition from within the industry including some of their cows featuring in the CRV catalogue over recent years. Their cows also recently earned strong praise from Jersey NZ Herd Tester Robert Hall, one of CRV’s progeny testers, who visited the farm to score their animals. The assessment highlighted the quality of the herd and the progress the Giles family has made through careful genetic selection. “Breeding has always been a long-term focus for us,” says Chris. “We breed on four main traits - stature, capacity, high protein and fertility. We want a taller Jersey with more frame and capacity but still with the fertility and production advantages Jerseys are known for. Our production goal is to have a Jersey cow capable of producing 600 plus kilograms of milk solids.” The Giles family has also embraced A2 genetics as part of its breeding strategy, adding another focus to their selection decisions. For the past eight years, the farm has been involved in CRV’s Progeny Test programme, using semen from selected young bulls to help identify the next generation of elite dairy genetics. “Being involved in progeny testing gives us access to genetics earlier and allows us to contribute data back into the industry,” says Chris. “It’s a long-term commitment because you’re waiting several years to see how the daughters perform, but the information you gain is valuable.” As well as developing their own herd the family has started selling Jersey bulls, focusing particularly on high-fertility genetics. This is now their fourth year offering bulls with sales ranging from around 30 to 80 animals depending on the season. “We’ve had really good feedback from the bulls we’ve sold so far,” says Chris. “A lot of sales have come through word of mouth, which is a good indication that people are happy with the genetics they’re getting.” The breeding programme has been developed alongside a highly efficient farming system. The Giles family’s Waimumu Downs operation, owned in equity partnership since 2014, has RURAL PEOPLE » Chris and Desiree Giles grown from milking 400 cows on 143 hectares to its current herd size through pasture improvement, infrastructure investment and careful management. The farm operates a grass-based system, with all stock wintered on-farm, and currently produces around 520 to 530 kilograms of milk solids per cow. It has a 50-bail rotary shed equipped with DeLaval plant. For the Giles family, genetics remain a key part of building resilient dairy systems into the future. “Good cows make farming easier,” explains Chris. “If you can breed animals that are fertile, productive and suited to your system, they give you a strong foundation for the future.” Preparing for their next step up the dairy ladder their farm Waimumu Downs, owned in an equity partnership, is on the market. This move aligns with the Giles’ goal of direct farm ownership. Contact Erik (027) 204-8019 admin@optiumag.com Check us out on Facebook DRILLED RIGHT ON TIME. • Strip till Beet and Swedes • Late model, full GPS auto steered tractors • Precision planter available • Full cultivation options • For all your Beet, Swede and Maize Drilling requirements • Full cultivation of ex winter paddocks • Experienced ploughman • Digger with tree shear for controlled shelter belt trimming, lanes and culverts • Full silage and bale services Covering South Otago & Southland

10 | A very deliberate investment in people The extra person allows staff to break up milking with jobs such as weed spraying, repairs and cleaning. Kim Bowden RURAL PEOPLE » Ben King For North Canterbury dairy farmer Ben King, improving the farm does not always mean investing in the latest technology. As his 650-cow herd moves through its July-toSeptember calving, Ben and his two full-time staff members have been joined by a third, helping the team through one of its busiest periods of the year. When Business Rural caught up with him, 75 percent of the herd had calved, with the season going well. The new staff member is a deliberate investment in the people behind the operation. “We’re a business primarily, but people are number one, cows are a very close second,” Ben says. Ben had been considering Halter, which would allow him to remotely manage grazing across the farm’s multiple mobs, but the cost meant he had to choose between the technology and another fulltime employee. He describes the system as “a square peg in a round hole” for his current setup – something he would like to adopt, but not at the expense of another staff member. With the farm’s 48-aside herringbone shed requiring two people to milk, the third staff member means the team can rotate through other jobs rather than spending every working day milking. The staff work a five-on, two-off roster, meaning 10 milkings in five working days. “It just becomes monotonous and repetitive, and nobody deals well with that over time,” Ben says. The extra person allows staff to break up milking with jobs such as weed spraying, repairs and cleaning, which Ben believes helps keep the team fresh. Jerseys play an increasingly important role in Ben’s herd. The farm is unusually wet – “if you dig a hole, you’ll hit water gushing out of the ground at two metres” – making the lighter Jersey less damaging to pasture. Ben keeps his Jersey and Friesian-cross cows in separate herds – “I quite like looking at them separately” – and is gradually increasing the Jersey proportion, with an eventual goal of a fully Jersey herd. There are other practical reasons for his preference, including the breed’s milk-solid production, fertility, foot strength and ability to handle the farm’s hot Canterbury summers. Ben takes a keen interest in genetics, sourcing bulls from nine companies across seven countries last season and selecting animals he believes will move the herd in the right direction. “If you can affect change on management and breeding, you should do both,” he says. Ben inseminates cows twice a day for three weeks, carefully controlling semen temperature throughout the process, and the farm has recorded North Canterbury’s highest six-week in-calf rate for the past four years. The breeding focus is paying its way. Last year, Ben and his family earned almost as much income from selling stock they had bred as they did from their sharemilking operation. Ben takes a long-term view of the land and the wider future of dairy farming, saying farmers need to “have the least impact we can on the environment we have” and listen to what the public expects of the industry. “We’ve got to continue to get better because the way we were farming had flaws, and the way we currently farm still has room for improvement,” he says. Ben wants more people without a family connection to see dairy farming as a viable career. “It’s nice that some people prove that you can go up if you have the right attitude,” he says. Engineering . Mechanical . Water Leo Dunne Ltd. Please call us for friendly and prompt service: Office: (03) 315 8470 Email : leodunneltd@xtra.co.nz J osh P itt – Workshop Manager : 027 244 5750 Wendy Croft – Office Manager : 021 113 0368 www.leodunneltd.co.nz ® 26 Lyndon Street, Culverden PROVIDING SERVICES IN: Baling/Balage/Hay, Cultivation, Direct Drilling, Harvesting Forage/Silage/Maize, Precision Planting Our Services Include: • Architectural Homes • New Housing • Renovations • Alterations • Light Commercial Builds • Concrete Placing • Decks and Landscaping Earl Builders email: kelly@earlbuilders.co.nz mobile: 027 6609 555 And pretty much everything in-between. “You don’t have to be a family farm to be a farmer.” Ben and Allie are building their business with their young family in mind. While he wants their children to choose whatever path suits them, he hopes farming will remain an option. “If they were to choose this life, I’d like to think that we leave in a state where they can continue to do that,” he says.

| 11 Very proud to farm such a unique spot Bog Roy Station runs 4000 merino ewes plus replacement sheep and 185 cows. Emma Bailey RURAL PEOPLE » Bog Roy Station In the heart of the South Island lakes district Bog Roy station continues to do its part in the thriving Waitaki District economy, despite the challenges of high country farming. The picturesque Bog Roy Station sits on the south side of Lake Benmore. The 2860 hectare property rises from 400m by the lake to 1000m above sea level. Gundy (Dave) Anderson is the fourth Anderson to farm Bog Roy Station with his wife Lisa and their children, Pippa and Robbie. Gundy went into partnership with his parents in 1997, and in 2005 the couple married and took over the farm. The Anderson family have endured many trials on the land, but are proud to farm the unique spot. The 2860ha dry-land property has steep, dry hills and rolling country and down into flatter land bordering Lake Benmore. They run 4000 merino ewes plus replacements sheep and 185 cows. It’s tough land to farm punctuated by dry hot summers and snow in the winter and persistent fog. Previously rabbits had been a big problem but they were under control now, Gundy said. It had been a good season overall. “We’ve had good growth and good prices but stock finishing was slower due to lack of sun.” He was pleased to see wool prices doing well with some of their merino wool used by brands like Icebreaker and Branwyn. “We have almost all of our wool contracted so are insulated from ups and downs to a degree.” The beef side of the operation was going well and they were increasing numbers and planning on using halter collars next weaning. This year stock health had been a focus due to the lack of sun. The biggest challenge of the farm was the short growing season with dry summers. Rainfall is very low, averaging just 420 millimetres a year. Overall the Waitaki District is performing well economically which was pleasing to see, he said. “I can only really speak for farming. Prices are up across the board for sheep and beef but they need to be to keep up with skyrocketing costs, costs of compliance and exorbitant rates.” He was also hopeful the next Government will prioritise reducing compliance costs and compliance rules and look after primary producers. Looking ahead he was focused on, “consolidation and continuing to look after the land.” The family has been on the land for over 100 years. Dave Anderson’s great-grandfather John took up the lease in 1919. It was one of six leases cut off from the Otematata Station. In the early days it was snow and rabbits which drove some farmers to walk off the land. The family endured the hydro scheme in the 1960s which dramatically cut their property in half and they lost the flat river basin that became the lake. They have also had other processes to work through such as securing irrigation consents and freeholding the property. Despite all this, keeping their piece of paradise in the family is paramount, keeping them part of the farming and agricultural sector across the Waitaki region which has helped drive one of New Zealand’s most important rural economies. We’re proud to support Bog Roy Station. Ask around about us or give us a call on 0800 366 466. PHONE 027 433 5523 DAVID O'NEILL CONTRACTING LTD Proud to be associated with Bog Roy Station • PLOUGHING & CULTIVATION • FINE CHOPPED SILAGE • MULCHING • FERTILISER SPREADING • DIRECT DRILLING • GENERAL CARTAGE • BALAGE • RUT BUSTING • GRAIN HARVESTING

12 | Focus on environmental improvement The 720 cows milked in the 54-bale rotary shed produced 357,000kg of milk solids this year, with twice-a-day milking on the home farm. Randall Johnston RURAL PEOPLE » Bryce McKenzie As a lifelong farmer and enthusiastic trout angler, Bryce McKenzie is deeply motivated to safeguard the nation’s waterways. Raised on Mckenzie Downs near Pomahaka, about 25 minutes north-east of Gore, Bryce’s son Jared now manages the 340ha dairy farm, leasing it alongside his brother Warrack from the family trust – a set up that has been in place ever since they first converted from sheep to dairy in 2008. Warrack and Jared also share in the milking operations at a nearby farm with 500 cows; about 10 minutes away from the home farm and have just completed their first season there. Together, the brothers own a company, a parcel of land, and care for over 1200 cows – mix of Kiwi-Cross, Friesians and a few Jerseys. The land is mostly flat to rolling, so not too arduous. The 720 cows milked in the 54-bale rotary shed produced 357,000kg of milk solids this year, with twice-a-day milking on the home farm – supplying Open Country, while the other share-milking farm is supplying Fonterra. “We’ve had a pretty good run recently overall. The payout is good but costs are very high,” Bryce says. “We need to be careful that the cost increases don’t outpace the income.” The home farm expanded when the neighbors sold their 130ha sheep and beef farm, the McKenzie’s had leased it for years (mostly for calving) anyway, and although the conversion took a fair bit of time and investment, it was mostly done by the time the purchase went through. The team has used Halter cow collars for about three seasons now and have used the data to make better decisions regarding animal health, pasture management and it had allowed them to target their on-farm investments where they are truly needed. They do get a lot of rainfall and the pasture can get boggy in winter, so about five years ago they constructed a large calving pad, equipped with pipes, gravel, and sawdust, to facilitate calving for all their cows. Any runoff is directed to a pond and then distributed across the land. As the soil dries, it is pumped back onto the farm. Drainage pipes are installed to capture all runoff from the pad. Bryce still does a lot of the groundwork, but they also use Maitland Contracting to assist when needed. They do a fair bit of winter cropping to help keep feed costs down, 25-30ha of sweede and kale mostly. There are two permanent staff on the home Proud to support Bryce Mckenzie www.caldwellcontracting.co.nz (03 206-6465) • Cultivation • Effluent and muckspreading • Excavation • Silage • Tree felling and wood chipping • Transport and Fertiliser spreading 24 Main Street, Gore | findex.co.nz Your farm’s next chapter needs a financial plan. The lawyers sort the legal side. But who helps you weigh up what’s actually best for the farm and the next generation taking over? Our advisors work alongside your lawyer to help farming families get succession right. Talk to a local advisor today. Findex NZ Limited trading as Findex farm and two on the share-milking operation. Bryce is a founding member of the Pomahaka Water Care Group. At 72 years old, he is also actively involved as a co-founder of the advocacy group Groundswell NZ. He believes that in any water care initiative, individuals can contribute positively through their daily actions to reduce the impact on the waterways they are linked to. “This collective effort can significantly improve the condition of our waterways, and it has already made a difference here, mainly with riparian lanting and the calving pad.”

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