| 45 ‘A massive problem in the South Island’ Dan’s grandfather bought Awakino Station 34 years ago, but Dan is the first family member to manage the farm. Bernadette Cooney The exponential growth of wilding pines across the South Island needs a targeted multi agent approach if we are to halt further loss of productive high country says Federated Farmers High Country Executive Chair for North Otago, Dan Devine. Advocating for controlled burns as the most cost-effective way to tackle the problem, Dan welcomes increased recognition among ministers, of the scale of the problem, but it still needs a joint approach involving farmers, ECAN, DOC and local councils to successfully tackle it. “It’s a massive problem throughout the South Island, we have some really big seeding areas that’s have only gotten worse,” Dan says. “With the cost of chemicals and helicopters and everything else at the moment, I think the most cost-effective option for the wilding pine problem is controlled burns.” Previously outspoken against regulatory overreach from the provision of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, Dan says the sector keenly awaits the review of the RMA by Associate Environment Minister, Andrew Hoggard. Beyond Dan’s role as Federated Farmers’ High Country Executive Chair, which keeps him active in many areas of policy advocacy, he runs Awakino Station in North Otago. A 7500-hectare sheep, cattle, and deer operation in the heart of the Waitaki Valley. With six full-time workers including himself, on farm, Dan’s wife Jaz Mathieson, balances raising their three daughters with being full-time station cook. Dan’s grandfather bought Awakino Station 34 years ago, but Dan is the first family member to manage the farm, following on from his years as stock manager at Molesworth, Bendigo and Claredale Stations. Today, Dan oversees 24,000 wintered stock units, primarily 50% sheep, 25% cattle, and 25% deer. On the sheep side, Awakino moved away from MEAT & WOOL » Dan Devine - Awakino Station Romneys nine years ago in favour of half and quarter bred Merino ewes. Recently, they’ve pivoted again, replacing unprofitable Merino ewes with Merino wethers to better utilise the summer grazing country. Awakino’s sheep genetics program has expanded from its focus on fertility and foot rot resistance to also targeting wool yield, type, and colour. Cattle operations remain steady. Awakino runs Hereford cattle, using low birth weight Angus bulls for first-calving heifers. Heifers are sold in-calf to other stations and bulls sold to the dairy industry. “The cattle system is one thing I haven’t tinkered with in the last 10 years, as its reasonably strong,” says Dan. “And of course, better beef prices have certainly helped this year.” Dan credits the success of the cattle program to strong systems established by previous managers. CONTRACTING SERVICES FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOUR LAND Mulching Hay & Baleage 021 209 4809 greencontractingnz@gmail.com www.greencontracting.co.nz Green Contracting Rural Fencing Precision Planting Cultivation Drilling 83 Main Rd, Kurow 9498 | 027 899 0321 | asicontracting2020ltd@gmail.com Providing construction service for the agricultural, commercial and residential community. CONTRACTING Connecting people, innovation and business Connect with us at deloitte.co.nz Accurate Professional Service EID Recording Foetal Aging 3 Way Drafting System 2-3 Experienced scanning teams available for efficiency on the bigger mobs Proudly Supporting Dan Devine - Awakino Station South Island wide Sheep Pregnancy Scanning Service Contact Us Jess Bell 0279038516 jessbellscan@gmail.com The station’s deer farming now runs about 1300 mixed-age hinds. This includes around 100 trophy hinds supporting a growing safari hunting business, they’ve been operating for the past five years. “We’re doing both elk and red stags, and we’ve got fort and fallow deer, and now we’ve got a little over 100 stags at various ages of the developing herd, which will get grown out for trophy stags.” Awakino Station supplies the stags and land while a partner guide manages the tours which take place from February through to June.
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