| 47 MEAT & WOOL » Glentoi Farm / Grandview Farm Busy planting up to 40ha of new grass every year Overlooking the Taieri plains from the homestead. Aimee Wilson The owners of Grandview Farm in South Otago are so pleased they took up the offer to purchase the 700ha property nine years ago. Mike and Pip Jones are shareholders with the Oliver family from Mosgiel, and the farm is located at Glenledi near Milton. The couple were given the opportunity for a shareholding, after being involved with managing several big farms and stations in the past - Mike worked for an American company in North Canterbury, before the Olivers asked him to return south and buy a farm with them. He’d also managed the Oliver’s 830ha Manuka Gorge property, Tenby Estate, further inland, for many years, so their business partners were familiar with his broad experience and reputation. Tenby Estate was sold for forestry three years ago. So much has happened at Grandview Farm since they took over in 2016, and the family has been Alexanders are proud to support Glentoi Farm Their achievements have not gone unnoticed by the New Zealand Farm Assured Programme either, with Glentoi Farms achieving NZFAP Plus Gold Certified accreditation, underscoring their excellence in both animal welfare and environmental care. Willie and Millie both come from farming families and are proud to be building a productive farm able to make their work-life balance fit well. They’ve been busy planting up to 40ha of new grass every year but the widespread gorse keeps on multiplying - spraying up to 10 days a year - at a minimum. “We can’t not have a season off spraying, it just doubles in a short time,” Mike said. South Otago has a fairly reliable rainfall that is often Easterly and beneficial for farming. Even compared to Southland and looking back on early 2024 with the Spring floods, the stock has done well under the conditions in this damp climate. Spring 2024 experienced cooler weather and was running a month behind, “it was all doom and gloom at the start of the season,” Mike said, but lamb prices have steadily increased ever since. The farm has a mixture of perendales and romdales to make up the present 3000 ewes and 75 beef cows, and the property is on mostly rolling to steep contour and includes 250ha of native bush and gullies. Previously used for dairy grazing, the original purchase included a small number of sheep, and that will continue to remain the dominant farming practice. Mike and Pip also have two lease blocks at Tuapeka West, both managed by their daughter and son-in-law, Byron and Libby Aitken. In 2019 they designed and built a four-bedroom homestead, further adding to their investment. They handle most of the work themselves and hire casual staff as needed, including their own son Morgan who lives in a cottage on the farm, and works as a builder in nearby Dunedin. Mike loves the outdoors, and he loves animals and growing them to their full potential. As they reflect on a surprisingly good summer - lambing percentages have consistently stayed around 138-140% to the ram. “We expect this season to be no different.” Pip said her husband is a hardworking yet humble farmer who consistently achieves great lamb weights because he excels at doing the simple things well. Covering Otago & Southland 0800 227 226 www.advance-agriculture.co.nz Proud to support Grandview Farm Specialist Suppliers of Agricultural Chemical, Seed, Spray Equipment & GPS Precision Ag 0800 433 787 www.mainlandminerals.com A smarter, more strategic and sustainable approach to your fertiliser. Everything your soil needs Proud to be associated with Grandview Farm using resilient systems that suit the natural environment. With the valued assistance of trusted shepherd Brooke Thompson, the Millton’s will continue to run the farm and raise the next generation together, sending a clear message that thoughtful stewardship and sound business practices can go hand in hand with modern farming. The Millton’s will continue to run the farm and raise the next generation together.
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