22 | Novel way to control young wilding pines Dan says attention across the high country remains firmly fixed on changes to land-use and environmental legislation. Karen Phelps High country farmers are enjoying better times but uncertainty over land-use rules and political change continues to shape the outlook for the sector. North Otago station owner Dan Devine, who chairs Federated Farmers’ High Country Executive for North Otago, says the current conditions have provided some breathing room for farmers. “The weather has been pretty good this year, most of the regions have had a sympathetic winter. That’s been a positive for the industry. Prices have been good this year too, so farmers are making money,” says Dan who runs Awakino Station, a 7500-hectare sheep, cattle and deer operation in the Waitaki Valley, wintering about 24,000 stock units across a mixture of livestock. He says attention across the high country remains firmly fixed on changes to land-use and environmental legislation including the proposed Crown Land Legislation Amendment Bill and conservation reforms. Federated Farmers is currently submitting on the proposals, with stock exclusion rules and the ability to graze conservation land among the issues being considered. “What we’d like to do is be able to open up some conservation land for grazing in return for controlling pests and weeds,” he says. “That could be a significant win-win for farmers and the environment.” One area being investigated is the use of Merino wethers to control young wilding pines. “The larger wilding pines won’t be taken out but the younger ones up to about two years old, the wethers will take the top out of those small trees and kill them. That would make grazing that land with Merino wethers a real positive for the environment,” says Dan. He says the approach could provide a relatively inexpensive form of weed control and give farmers access to additional grazing land. “It doesn’t cost the taxpayer any money to do it, so it’s a cheap form of weed control and it’s a win for farmers as well, as it would open up extra land for them to graze,” he says. RURAL PEOPLE » Dan Devine - Awakino Station Accurate Professional Service EID Recording Foetal Aging 3 Way Drafting System 2-3 Experienced scanning on the bigger mobs Proudly Supporting Dan Devine - Awakino Station South Island wide Sheep Pregnancy Scanning Service Contact Us Jess Bell 0279038516 jessbellscan@gmail.com PHONE 027 433 5523 DAVID O'NEILL CONTRACTING LTD Proud to be associated with Dan Devine - Awakino Station • PLOUGHING & CULTIVATION • FINE CHOPPED SILAGE • MULCHING • FERTILISER SPREADING • DIRECT DRILLING • GENERAL CARTAGE • BALAGE • RUT BUSTING • GRAIN HARVESTING Clachanburn Deer - longstanding supporter of Awakino Station. J&M Falconer - 027 434 4593 e: info@cbdeer.co.nz ELK/WAPITI TERMINAL SIRE SALE “CONSISTENT QUALITY AND RELIABILITY” Saturday9thJanuary2027 | AuctionStart time 10.30am | Brychan027 3611237
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