54 | Major opportunity for James Kenny Jimmy Kenny has purchased 2700 Romney ewes and 700 Romney hoggets from the Brydies and still has his Okaruru Stud comprising 400 Dorset Down ewes. Karen Phelps With many farms converting to forestry three South Island farmers have ensured the legacy of one farm will live on as a food production block feeding Kiwis and the world. When stock agent and farmer Jimmy Kenny was looking to purchase in Lawrence to add to his existing 75ha block forestry was making it challenging to compete. Clients Dave and Sally Brydie got wind he was looking to purchase and offered him a lease to buy option on their 400ha property, while Jimmy sells his Kaiwera farm, to preserve its multi generational farming legacy. “I’m pretty lucky to be given this opportunity as there has been a fair bit of pressure from forestry around Lawrence, which has driven up the prices. Dave and Sally were keen for the land to go to a local farmer. Because it is a multi generational family farm so it wasn’t a decision made lightly by them to sell,” says Jimmy. The purpose of the purchase has been to save driving an hour each way between his Kaiwera and Lawrence farms. Jimmy grew up in Lawrence so is returning to his roots. He says his 235ha Kaiwera farm is a great opportunity for some farmer out there with heavy soils that are summer safe. It is on rolling hill country and much of the farm has the Waipahi River, a popular trout fishery running through it. A lot of the waterways have been fenced off along with riparian planting. The farm has good infrastructure and facilities such as good fencing, wool shed and covered yards. Half of property is deer fenced providing an opportunity for a savvy farmer wanting to diversify. While the new Lawrence is steeper it has more scope for Jimmy to grow his business and presents opportunity to add value to the land. He has purchased 2700 Romney ewes and 700 Romney hoggets from the Brydies and still has his Okaruru Stud comprising 400 Dorset Down ewes. The stud was originally purchased from Bob and Marilyn Masefield and it is the oldest registered Dorset Down stud in New Zealand. Jimmy says that New Zealand-wide the breed is in strong demand for crossing purposes to produce fast growing lambs. Other traits include impressive meat to fat ratio, virile rams and the breed has been shown to cover greater than MEAT & WOOL » James Kenny average numbers of ewes per season and remain active for a number of years. Jimmy also cites traits such as “big bones and good meaty back legs” as key advantages. The stud has a firm focus on producing terminal sires that result in fast maturing lambs. Jimmy keeps outstanding rams utilizing their genetics in the stud as well as keeping an eye open for new promising genetics to bring further gains. He holds a sale each December about a week before Christmas on farm in Lawrence when he sells around 75-85 rams, a mix of Dorset Down, Dorset Down Texel and South Dorset Down Cross rams. A further 30 rams are sold by private treaty each year. Jimmy also plans to run around 60 Angus 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 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 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 15a Hokonui Drive, Gore PO Box 172, Gore 9740 Phone: 03 208 9240 Email: admin@ocr.co.nz www.ocr.co.nz Pleased to support James Kenny - Dorset Downs Mike Millard | Nathan Heenan | Rose Johnston | Emma Hewitson | Sarah Collie cows to sell Angus and Charolaise Cross beef calves. There are a lot of gullies in Lawrence so the cows help to clean these up as well. Jimmy still works as an agent for Rural Livestock and says having several threads to the business helps to mitigate risk and ensure strong cash flow. Partner Kendra Breen helps out on the farm as well as working off farm part time as a carer. Son Ridge, 9, is already starting to help out on the farm. • Dorset Down • Dortex • South On Farm: 196 Waipori Road, Lawrence Thur 14th December • Inspection from 11am, Sale 1pm OKARURU DORSET DOWN 2023 Ram Sale
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