JUNE / JULY 2014 RealFOR EVERYTHING FARMINGFarmer AND FAMILY FarmIQ to unlock pastoral potential Succession in farming and Healthy employees breeding are productive employees Rugby in the heartland From the CEO Upcoming Events This edition of Real Farmer has a particularly diverse range of reading, 11–14 June Mystery Creek Fieldays covering all manner of topics from rugby through to a farmers cooking programme. Farm Safety Training 17 June—Ashburton Combine these with the usual array of 22 July—Ashburton informative articles and there’s sure to be For more information or to RSVP, something of interest for everyone in your please contact Unique Solutions household. on 03 423 2273 or email cindy@ One of our feature stories takes a look at the uniquesolutions.co.nz. Howden family farming operation in West Otago, Primary ITO Train the just north of Gore. Brian and Nola, along with Trainer Workshops their son Nathan and his wife Charlotte have bred Texel and other 11 June—Timaru composite rams since 2005, but the family’s farming history stretches 17 June—Glenavy further back and has seen many high points along the way. Both For more information on this free generations talk about where they have come from and what the workshop, please contact your local future holds. Primary ITO adviser on 0800 20 20 We also talk to Mid Canterbury woman, Jen Sheppard who is working 20 or email [email protected]. with Federated Farmers to provide young and migrant farmers with cooking classes, recipes and supermarket tours in an effort to improve 4–5 July food and nutrition knowledge, and in turn, employee productivity. West Coast AgFest Jen is passionate about food and these classes are set to benefit Ruralco will be attending AgFest, employees and employers alike. we’re looking forward to seeing you There’s also a profile on the Heartland Rugby competition; its history there. since it was borne out of the old NPC in 2006 and its importance in 10 July 22 our regions today. Lincoln University Dairy Farm Economic commentator, Tony Alexander shares his views on where Focus Day the NZ dollar is heading as the world economy moves on from the For more information phone turbulent times of 2008 and 2009; there’s also a look at the Farm 03 423 0022 or email IQ system of technologies created to provide a consumer driven, [email protected]. integrated value chain for red meat; and Ramsay Margolis discusses the importance of strong connections between co-operatives and its members. Winter is here and as we fast approach the shortest day, I hope you’ll take some time to settle down by the fire and read through this edition of Real Farmer. Neal Shaw, Group Chief Executive Contents www.ruralco.co.nz RURALco NZ LIMITED EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: ADVERTISING CONTRIBUTORS: PHOTOGRAPHY: ENQUIRIES: PO Box 433 Our team welcome your Anita Body, Tim Brewster, Rowan Craw, Megan Graham, Ashburton 7740 contributions, enquiries and letters. Please contact the Bernard Carpinter, Linda Clarke, Marloes Leferink, Marketing Department on: Don Joseph, Ele Ludemann, Charlotte Mackenzie, 0800 RURALNZ (787 256) Please post or email to: Tel: 03 307 5100 Ramsey Margolis, Richard Diana Rowe, Melody Shaw ruralco.co.nz [email protected] [email protected] Rennie, Kate Taylor www.ruralco.co.nz DISCLAIMER: FronT PAGE PHOTO: Trusted co-ops working for farmers All information contained within Real Farmer is to the best of the author’s knowledge true and accurate. Opinions expressed Brian Howden with son are those of the author and not of Ruralco NZ Ltd. Items herein are general comments only and do not constitute or convey Nathan on the family farm advice. This newsletter is issued as a helpful guide to members. 2 17 31 19 26 10 Features Regulars Profiles More 2 Succession in farming and 7 Taking responsibility a 15 Charging your batteries 36 Co-op News breeding fading strength Newlands Ashburton 39 Out and about 10 FarmIQ to unlock pastoral 9 Cows should be seen but 18 $10 million upgrade to 41 Classifieds potential not herd deliver feed when needed 17 Where to from here? SealesWinslow 13 Thoughts from across the New life injected into 25 From shelter belts to 19 rivers Coalgate sales ornamentals Lakeway Nursery 22 Healthy employees are 21 Getting the basics right productive employees 29 Appropriate storage of fuel 33 Raise superior calves for less than $5 per head* 26 Rugby in the heartland Donaghys 31 Co-operatives—an extension of your farm business, or 35 Local feed for local stock your other business? Sgt Dan’s Stock Foods Ltd FEATURE Succession in farming and breeding Are the next generation of the Howden clan going to produce better sheep in West Otago? If they keep up their formula combining genetics, land and stock management, the odds are they will. BY TIM BREWSTER 2 REAL FARMER FEATURE The Waikoikoi family is in their fourth generation The Howden’s bought the Blythburn Genetex and their stud is a crucial aspect of their of farming sheep on their Donald Road property stud from the Wishart family in 2009 and an success, Brian said. and over the decades have consistently raised additional 121 nearby hectares to bring the farm’s The reputation of the stud and the commercial the standard of their breeding stock to ensure a total working size up to 387 hectares. stock has been a big factor in securing a valuable successful, ongoing stud operation. Last year the farm produced 142,755kgs of supply contract with the Waitrose supermarket Brian and his wife Nola have been farming the meat with an 18.5kg average lamb weight for chain in the UK, a contract the Howden’s have property since 1981, after Brian’s father left the a yield of 368kgs of meat /hectare along with had for 15 years. property. A former truck-driver, an activity he still 30,000kg of wool. The security of the contract enables them has a passion for, Brian was asked to come aboard With an estimated 30% of their work allocated to to buy additional stock when numbers drop the company that had been formed for the farm the stud, the Howden’s sell between 100 to 110 and helps with their reputation to potential which has now been in the family for 80 years. two-tooth rams a year and between 30 and 35 purchasers. But it’s not just the successful continuation of their Genetex (Romney and Texel) ram lambs. “We just seem to have people coming to buy our stock they’ve been working on, family sucession The stud stock units this year totalled 600 rams. Word of mouth is the best advertising. planning for the farm is key as well. stud ewes, 180 stud hoggets and 160 stud One of the problems in ram breeding is you Brian and Nola’s son Nathan and his wife Charlotte ram hoggets. struggle to find better rams than yours,” Brian said. joined forces in 2008 and with the expansion of Managing customer expectations with breeding the farming operation; the combination of family “The combination of family stock can also be a bit tricky. co-operation and consistent stock improvement “Some people will change their ram breed appears to be a winning formula. co-operation and consistent stock improvement appears to and expect changes overnight but it takes five “We need to be one step ahead with the fertility generations,” Nola said. programme. Knowing what they (purchasers) be a winning formula.” Brian and Nola are equal shareholders with want in the future and trying to have it available. Nathan and Charlotte who now have two You never know if you’re getting the same client small children, which means a good working back the year after, but we’ve been pretty lucky, relationship is vital. most of them have,” Brian said. “We seem to work very well. We have a policy Since getting back on the land, he and Nola have where we talk on Sunday nights. We see each experienced substantial success in their farming, other most days. We plan our week. We have winning Romney Farmer of the Year and being goals and objectives that have to be met and runners-up in the AC Cameron South Island Farmer we know what has to be done for the rest of of the Year in 1991 and Clutha Farmer of the Year in the week. We don’t get up in the morning and 1995. In 2005, they were runners up in the Lincoln wonder what we are going to do,” Brian said. University Lamb Producer/Finisher Awards and both have undertaken judging roles for hogget “Best bit probably was I didn’t come home competitions at district and national levels. straight away and learnt from other people as well. I didn’t get set in Dad’s ways,” Nathan said. Long time Romney farmers, the Howden’s attention had been drawn to the Texel breed After completing a diploma in Farm Management which had been introduced in the early 1990’s. at Lincoln University in 2002, Nathan worked on a Early adopters of the breed in New Zealand sheep, beef and cropping farm in Mid Canterbury. praised their resilience and strong growth rates That was followed by a stint playing rugby and and Brian and Nola started breeding Texel’s along working on a high country sheep farm in Wales. with their other rams after buying the MEBA Texel Following his return, he notes the changes in the Stud from Errol Holgate in 2005. area due to dairy farming has bought financial In 2008 they sold their first crop of two-tooth benefits to the area, but the traditionally tight-knit rams.