| 55 You have to be passionate about farming to do what you do, right? That is the rhetorical question asked by Kerry Irvine, who in partnership with his wife Pamela, farm sheep and beef in southwest Nelson. “My passion is to produce the best quality animal that I can and see it from birth right through to the processing chain. It’s not so much about the money, it’s pride in the animal that goes out the gate. If you’re in farming to make money, you’re doing well, but there’s pride in the land, pride in the animal that really drives you to get up in the morning.” The Irvine’s 700 hectare property borders the Kahurangi National Park, and includes 143 hectares of flat ground, 38 hectares of rolling country and 175 hectares of steep country. There is also 232 hectares of non-effective scrub land and a 112 hectare kanuka carbon farm. “We also have a 44-hectare lease block 20 minutes down the road towards Tapawera and 18 hectares of that is irrigated ground,” says Kerry. “That farm is used to grow supplement feed and run our winter trade lambs. We also have fattening cattle on the lease block and we run some older cows to take the pressure off them from the home farm, and hopefully get another two seasons out of them.” Kerry and Pamela have been on the home farm for sixteen years. After a year at Telford and briefly working at Goldpine, Kerry joined a shearing gang. “My passion is to produce the best quality animal that I can and see it from birth right through to the processing chain. It’s not so much about the money, it’s pride in the animal that goes out the gate.” Passion for farming shines through There are about 300 replacement hoggets every year, along with 120 Hereford cows, and 80 fattening cattle of various ages. MEAT & WOOL » Kerry Irvine “After 12 years I was looking for a change. When the opportunity arose to go farming, I grabbed it. Pamela and I leased the farm for a number of years and were lucky enough to be able to buy it in 2020.” Kerry and Pamela operate the home farm and lease block as a team, each with well-defined areas of responsibility. While the lease block is Pamela’s baby that she looks after, making all the day-to-day calls, Kerry helps out with weighing lambs or sorting cattle. The home farm is run by Kerry, with Pamela providing a helping hand where needed. “Pamela also does all the book work, and I’m really lucky that she has the ability to do that. She’s great around the animal metabolic side as well.” The farm is home to 1100 Perendale ewes, all capital breeding stock. In a normal season, the Irvines likes to finish the lambs between 18-19 kilos. There is about 300 replacement hoggets every year, along with 120 Hereford cows, and 80 fattening cattle of various ages. “The best of the calves go through a calf sale. We put about eighty six-month old calves into the sale this year. Anything that doesn’t fit in terms of size or markings, we hold back and fatten ourselves. I’d like to grow into a position where we’re keeping more and more cattle each year to fatten. The tops of our steers are doing well over 300 kilos now. They’re beautiful big animals and I just want to take them through and finish the job myself, rather than someone else getting the benefit of my hard work.” Richard Loader BULK CARTAGE A.C. Palmer and Sons Limited ALL FERTILISERS & LIME TO AIRSTRIPS & FARM BINS Dolomite & Lime Seed Mixes Bark Sawdust Gravel Loadrite equipped loader for accurate loading every time Brian: 027 297 8543 0800 777 144 Kevin: 027 479 4257 Tim and Sue Anderson 033192730 Woody Anderson 0274692378 info@mtguardian.co.nz www.mtguardian.co.nz
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