| 47 MEAT & WOOL » Braided River Farming “We’re not in the best location to grow chicory being a bit higher at 450m, but it fits our farm system because it’s hard to make money out of grass in Canterbury in the summertime without having a dairy shed.” Braided River’s robust farm business Dave and Millie are building an inter-generational robust farming business with multiple income streams. Kelly Deeks Diversification and added value are key to the Braided Waters Farming operation at Rakaia Gorge in Canterbury, where Dave and Millie Harper run a diverse and complementary business which finishes lambs, cattle, and deer, grazes dairy cattle, and grows 80ha of winter feed. Braided Waters farms 640ha of river flats and terraces, with about 90% of the area able to be cultivated. 100ha is owned by Braided Waters and the remainder leased under four separate leases. On this property, Dave and Millie are building an inter-generational robust farming business with multiple income streams, that focuses on adding value and exceeds best practice environmental and farming standards. “We try to make sure all of the income streams complement each other and don’t compete against each other,” Dave says. “The deer come on in the autumn, and they have gone before the lambs come on after Christmas, and the cattle amalgamate into the system, coming on as 100kgs in early December and we always try to get rid of them before their second winter.” The Harpers’ journey towards added value is about quality over quantity. They are fattening lambs from the farmer-owned Headwaters breeding programme that focuses on finishing lambs on chicory to provide higher levels of Omega-3 and polyunsaturated fats, for healthier, tastier lamb. Over the past 15 years, Headwaters has developed a top performing ewe with high fertility and resilience, that produces lambs with good growth rates and unique fat constitution. “They have put the fat back on to the sheep, because it was bred out for so long,” Dave says. “These sheep have been bred to be hardy, with readily available intramuscular fat that gives more consistent flavour, colour, and tenderness, and is easier to cook.” The resulting Lumina brand of lamb is now sold to high-end fine dining restaurants around the world, and is contributing to the growth of the New Zealand lamb market. As part of the programme, Dave and Millie have got to know some on New Zealand’s top chefs and gained an understanding of what they are looking for in a lamb product. “In all my farming career I’ve never really talked to chefs. It’s about consistency, and how they can make more money out of a good product so can afford to pay more for it.” Dave and Millie are starting to get some traction with Lumina and last year were paid $20 per head above schedule Lumina. Chicory is an expensive crop to grow, still the Harpers continue to farm to their strengths. “We’re not in the best location to grow chicory being a bit higher at 450m, but it fits our farm system because it's hard to make money out of grass in Canterbury in the summertime without having a dairy shed.” Also the chicory red clover mix doesn't rely on a not a lot of nitrogen so while it costs money to grow, it doesn't cost the environment quite so much. The Harpers are always looking at ways to reduce the high wintering proportion of their business, have tried some things and are open to new things. One of the other ways they are currently doing it is by putting in more lucerne and when they have a surplus, providing good quality feed for other local farmers. “There’s no point selling average quality silage. We have to provide good quality. There is no advantage in being average.” $6+%85721 03 669 4938 www.ashburtoncanam.co.nz
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