50 | Hamish Galletly: driven by a passion for Of the 2400 hectares, 1800 hectares is grazeable. Richard Loader Driven by a passion for doing things better, whether that’s production, or for the environment, Hamish Galletly is the third-generation to care for the family’s 2400-hectare sheep and beef property in Waiau, North Canterbury. “We’re stewards of the land for a period of time and it’s important to keep that in mind. We want to look after the environment, but we also want to remain a viable business and there are ways to do that. Being able fence off our bush while remaining pretty profitable means we’re achieving that goal.” The farm is an interesting mix of contours, encompassing 1000 hectares of harder hill country, 840 hectares of rolling country and 400 hectares of flats. About 70 hectares of the flats is irrigated. “Of the 2400 hectares, 1800 hectares is grazeable. The balance is either in QE2 covenant, fenced off, or native bush,” explains Hamish. “That creates opportunities in itself in terms biodiversity in the native habitat, and we’re looking at retiring some more land at the bottom of the farm which has established and regenerating matai on it. We’re going to deer fence that to not only keep our stock out but the deer as well, because deer is one of the biggest challenges for biodiversity. That project will be jointly funded by ECan. We have quite a few little projects like that. We’ve done a little native planting near our irrigation, and we’re looking at fencing off some wetland areas.” A threat to the Galletly’s backcountry and the valuable biodiversity that is being created through natural habitats, wilding pines have been the focus of quite a bit of work in recent times. “Of the 1000 hectares of harder hill country, we’ve developed 220 hectares, using metsulfuron to kill the woody vegetation, then burning that country. All the development work, fencing and seeding, is done after the fire. Most importantly we’re putting a halt on the spread of wilding pines, and I’m pretty keen on protecting the native bush that we have, to encourage the biodiversity. We’re lucky that we’re getting some co-funding from the Government, and the National Wilding Pine programme have people coming in on foot getting rid of the trees we can’t get by aerial spray and fire.” A sheep and beef breeding and finishing farm, the ewe base is romney-texel with about 7250 ewes, including hoggets, put to the ram this year. Including young stock, there are 700 cattle on the farm this year, of which 300 are in-calf cows. MEAT & WOOL » Hamish Galletly “At the moment they’re an Angus/Hereford cross, and we’re now just using Angus bulls because that opens up new market opportunities. We’ve been loyal supporters of Silver Fern Farms for many years.” In 2019, the Galletly’s were one of the first group of farms to participate in Silver Fern Farms’ Net Zero Carbon pilot programme and the deep investigations to understand the market opportunity of the programme, and learn much more about emissions and the role farms, the trees, bushes and shrubs play as sequesters of carbon dioxide. “It’s important to distinguish that neither our farm nor animals are Net Carbon Zero, but the product Silver Fern Farms is offering to customers is. That means it’s had all of the emissions associated with it measured and these emissions have been directly accounted for, or removed, by vegetation occurring on the farms that supply that product. It’s independently certified as Net Carbon Zero by Toitu Envirocare and meets international product standards.” The Galletly’s farm was mapped to determine the types of vegetation occurring, how big they are and how old they are, as these are the three things that influence how much CO2 is being sequestered. Net Carbon Zero beef was launched into the United States in 2022 and the Galletly’s were among the first group of farmers to receive a direct market based payment for carbon sequestration occurring on their farm in addition to the payment that they get for supplying livestock. “In addition to taste and quality for our product the programme directly connects us to what global consumers expect to see in their red meat. We’re also being incentivised through a direct market based payment to look after and improve vegetation that’s actively playing a role in fighting climate change. The public see a role for farmers to play in that, while producing high quality protein and are willing to pay extra for it, because it’s a tangible value they’re willing to support. We also get the benefit of our farm vegetation being mapped in a way that helps us plan how we want to manage those areas now and in the future.” “It’s important to distinguish that neither our farm nor animals are Net Carbon Zero, but the product Silver Fern Farms is offering to customers is. That means it’s had all of the emissions associated with it measured and these emissions have been directly accounted for, or removed, by vegetation occurring on the farms that supply that product.” North Canterbury based, we supply top quality service experienced shearers and shed staff for fine wool and xbreds. Family orientated business, please ring Mike on: 021 251 7742 Or 03 319 8778 Email: morgan.shearing.ltd@gmail.com Amuri Transport (1989) Ltd Livestock – Bulk Cartage – Fertiliser Spreading & Stores – Daily Freight Service – Quarry 56 St Leonards Rd,Culverden Ph: 03 315 3033 – E: admin@amuritransport.co.nz Livestock - eddie@amuritransport.co.nz Fertiliser - fert@amuritransport.co.nz Freight - freight@amuritransport.co.nz • 4WD spray truckwithGPS guidance and auto rate application. • Proof of Placementmapping that uploads toHawkeye and FarmIQ • We provide farmerswith a timely and e icient service • Agri-Chemicals canbe provided to avoidon farmstorage. • All chemical containers are recycled throughAgRecovery. • Member of theRural Contractors Association. Ben Ferguson 027 438 4378 waiauspraying@gmail.com • Dairy • Conventional • Hill Fencing • Deer Fencing • Stockyards • Residential • Lifestyle • Postdriving Proudly supporting Hamish Galletly jdkcmorganfencing@gmail.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=