44 | Embraced diversification as a strategy The property has been granted approximately 700 hectares of native bush into the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Karen Phelps Cattle Flat Station has embraced diversification as a strategy for long-term sustainability, with its newest venture bringing luxury accommodation to one of New Zealand’s most remote and pristine landscapes in northern Southland. Farm owner Geoffrey Young has renovated an old musterers’ hut into an eco-luxury cabin that opened recently for bookings, offering visitors a chance to experience the station’s unspoiled natural beauty and 20 kilometres of premium fly fishing along the upper Mataura River. The cabin, marketed as Mataura River Hideaway, sleeps three to four people and has two outdoor baths on the large decking with spectacular views. It operates completely off-grid, powered by solar energy and gas, and has no mobile phone reception offering the perfect opportunity for people to truly switch off, says Geoffrey. Located approximately 10 kilometres into the station, the accommodation is accessible only via Cattle Flat Station’s private roads. Geoffrey’s son Cameron and daughter-inlaw Anna manages the cabin, which also includes guided hunting and fishing if people desire. The farm is home to substantial populations of red deer, fallow deer and chamois. There are also wild pigs, which are controlled through regular weekend hunting expeditions. This accommodation venture represents just one aspect of Cattle Flat Station’s diversification strategy. The property has been granted approximately 700 hectares of native bush into the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), creating a significant additional revenue stream. “With ETS and agritourism, we think this income will become significant and build to perhaps half the total income of the station in time,” explains Geoffrey who has owned the 5,400-hectare property for over 30 years. “It provides protection against fluctuating commodity prices.” The station, which runs 8,000 Romdale ewes, 300 Merino wethers, typically 2,300 hoggets, 560 cows including in-calf heifers, 300 calves, approximately 20 bulls, and 200 rams, has faced challenges common to many high-country operations. “The low product prices for the past two years, up until this season, have been a challenge,” says Geoffrey. “This season the product prices have jumped enormously for red meat so that’s great.” He says the income from being part of the ETS has accelerated development work on the station including the recent construction of a high-altitude airstrip which will enable aerial liming of back country to improve pasture productivity. The goal is to improve existing productivity and increase stock numbers by 3000 - 4000 stock units. Conservation has been an important part of Geoffrey’s farming approach. He has protected and enhanced native reforestation in areas that aren’t suitable for farming and improved productivity in more accessible hill and high country. MEAT & WOOL » Cattle Flat Station “When I bought the station there was a lot of gorse on the top end of the river, steep high country,” recalls Geoffrey. “We caught TB about two years later and the possums on the station were annihilated. During that time it was incredible how many young natives grew up through the gorse so we now have about four kilometres of attractive native bush growing there.” Geoffrey also actively contributes to the wider farming community as a farmer-elected director for Beef+Lamb New Zealand’s Southern South Island region and serves as a trustee on the Mid Dome Wilding Trees Charitable Trust. “I’m very passionate about this because wilding pines are becoming an increasing problem,” says Geoffrey. “Because these trees were planted by government, farmers feel they shouldn’t have the responsibility to remove them. The trust was formed to help farmers get them removed from 42 BrownRoad, Invercargill, NewZealand 027 231 4299 admin@fwshearing.co.nz their properties and it’s great to be able to help with that work. “With Beef+Lamb New Zealand I regard it as a privilege and honour to work in this role. There are a lot of challenges in farming at the moment and we are really focused on profitability, productivity and sustainability within farming systems.”
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