| 43 MEAT & WOOL » Cameron & Robert Grant Harnessing the land comes naturally Cameron and Robert Grant were named 2023 Southland Regional Supreme winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Tracey Edwardes Proudly supporting Cameron and Robert Grant. Winning an award, after the spotlight has been shone over your entire farm system, is some achievement. Although, harnessing the land comes naturally for Cameron and Robert Grant who have the hardy genes of a 5th generation Southland farmer. They were named 2023 Southland Regional Supreme winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “It’s a pretty big picture of your whole business. Judges acknowledged very high results in all areas particularly for weed and pest control achievement, and knowledge of industry challenges.” The Grant brothers started out in 1880 as 17acres strawberry farm in the Hokonui District, 5kms from Gore. Now its 4440ha of sheep and beef - and the strawberries long made way for fodder beet, kale and swede for stock feed. “We’ve still got the original block, and farm four different blocks in total with a 40km spread from end to end. Block 390ha in Gore, 890ha Tin house, Campbell’s Block 2262 ha, Otapiri block of 970ha. Robert and I share the decision-making, and Dad still likes to get out and about with us when he can.” “We changed from traditional Romney to Wairere Rams Genetics, for the last 17 years. They were fantastic and took our now 21,800 ewes to next level. But it was simply time for a change, and we looked around to see what was out there, so we’ve just moved to Grassendale Genetics for the ewes, to get us over our current 150% lambing. Worm resistance in their flock was a big factor. Hogget mating has been ramped up, particularly over the last three years, with every hogget we’ve got, 7500, going with a ram last year. “At moment there’s 600 Hereford and 350 Angus/Hereford cross cows, but we may change to a full crossbreed herd. There’s a lot of organising to do now, he says, so it’s more hours in the office chair. But they do get out on the land most days. Employing eight full-timers, having young staff and see them develop, and then retain those contacts. Being outside with the stock is big part of our lives, and there’s community and school involvement, the local catchment group, and I’m president of Gore Racing Club. Budding 6th generation farmers are Robert’s two children Kazia, 16, and James, 13. And Cameron has Addison, 12, Zoey, 11, and Angus, 9. Cameron, 47, and Robert, 46, are close in age, and brotherhood. “Some days there’s challenges, it’s about speaking your mind - but it’s also about not holding a grudge. “The biggest challenge on the farm is probably carbon and green house gases at the moment, Peter Chisholm 027 433 8943 • cmcadmin@xtra.co.nz Leigh McHaffie 027 454 5139 | Manager 027 770 4182 Office Administration 03 208 5585 Hours Mon - Thur 9am -12pm PETER CHISHOLM Mobile: 027 433 8943 Email: peterchisholm@xtra.co.nz LEIGH MCH Mobile: 027 454 5139 CULTIVATION Ploughing Discing Power Harrowing Cultivator Mole Ploughi Ripping BALING Mowing Mower Conditioner Tedding Raking Small Square baling Round baling – with variable chamber balers Baleage Combination baler Individual wrapper Tube Wrapper CARTAGE ON FARM USING TRACTOR TRAILERS CONTACT: CMC C NTRACTING CAN OFFER: SEEDING Fodder Beat precision sowing Direct Drill with rubber tyred roller Grass roller drill Heva 6m roller seeder Power harrow ridger combination DIGGER PETER CHISHOLM Mobile: 027 433 8943 Email: peterchisholm@xtra.co.nz LEIGH MCH M bile: 027 454 5139 CULTIVATION Ploughing Discing Power Harrowing Cultiv tor Mole Ploughing Ripping BALING Mowing Mower Conditio er Tedding Raking Small Square baling Round baling – with variable chamber balers Baleag Combination baler I dividual wrapper Tube Wrapper CARTAGE ON FARM USING TRACTOR TRAILERS CONTACT: CMC CONTRACTING CAN OFFER: SEEDING Fodder Beat precision sowing Direct Drill with rubber tyred roller Grass roller drill Heva 6m roller seeder Power harrow ridger combination DIGGER Twin Farm Suftex NZ Terminal Average $6.22 above average per lamb NZ Standard Terminal Worth (NZTW) Proudly Supporting the Grant Brothers At Twin Farm we aim to turn grass into $$$ most efficiently through genetic selection, enabling our commercial clients to maximise their production. To maximise your farming future, contact Twin Farm today! Twin Farm Suftex Bred for an excellent marker, high growth rate and yielding over 56% in Alliance meat yield. Independent trials prove increased growth, survival and meat yield result in $6.22 per lamb better returns than NZ industry average. Members of Premier Suftex Group. 800 fully recorded ewes and getting that under control - and continuing to farm sustainably while finding an economic way to do it. It’s something we just have to achieve. “Entering the awards was great process for us and made us question our decisions. We last entered a decade ago and got three awards, but then got busy adding another 1500Ha. We were always meaning to enter again, then realised we were never going to be completely ready. So don’t be afraid to give it a go. Be proud of what you’re done, and have a crack!”
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