Napier Port Primary Sector Awards 2021

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR 2021 WINNERS

READ MORE ABOUT OUR WINNERS INSIDE

Championing Primary Industry in Hawke’s Bay Since 1858

Awards contribute significantly to region’s primary industry T he champions of the Hawke’s Bay primary sector were announced and celebrated for their outstanding success at a sell-out awards function for 500 people at theTomoana Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay. The 2021 Napier Port Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards are organised by the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society. General Manager, Sally Jackson stated, “We are so proud of these awards.

They are long established and contribute significantly to the primary industry across the region.” She added “This year marks the 50th year of the Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of theYear award and entrants across all categories have represented some of the finest and most innovative, industrious primary producers in the country and produce some of the highest quality food and fibre to be found anywhere in the world.”

Awards such as these articulate the story of excellence within rural New Zealand and celebrate success, business innovation and growth. The winners for 2021 represent a wide range of the primary sector and are making an immense contribution to the growth and success of the industry, not only within Hawke’s Bay but across the country.” “Year on year we have a fantastic group of businesses, organisations and

volunteers who are all helping make these awards possible.

Our incredibly loyal sponsors who join us each year allows the Society to promote the Ag, Food and Fibre sector to a wide audience, facilitating events that make a difference, acknowledging the history and heritage of farming, developing educational programmes, awarding scholarships and celebrating excellence in all its forms so that the sector and the Hawke’s Bay region can continue to develop, grow and prosper”.

The Hawke’s Bay A&P Society aims “To bring town and country together” and this rings as true now as it did when the vision of the organisation was first created over 150 years ago.

Other events organised by the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society include the National Horticulture Field Days in June, the Hawke’s Bay A&P Bayley’s Wine Awards in October and The Hawke’s Bay A&P Show also in October.

The Society is located at the historic and beautiful Tomoana Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay and the facilities on site are frequently hired out by the community and is the home base for the national event; Land Rover Horse of the Year.

For more information on the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society contact the General Manager, Sally Jackson.

THUMBSUPTO OURFARMERS ANDGROWERS. CONGRATULATIONSTO ANDREWANDMADDY MCLEAN

PROUD SPONSORS OF THE

Winners of the Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year award 2021. FMG is proud to work with those that continually innovate and progress.

We understand that rural people are problem solvers and each problem solved helps us to progress. If that sounds like the kind of rural insurer you’d like to deal with, give us a call on 0800 366 466 or visit fmg.co.nz

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We’re here for the good of the country.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is proud to sponsor the Napier Port Primary Sector Awards

WE’RE CONNECTING HAWKE’S BAY TO THE WORLD, HELPING TO BUILD A THRIVING REGION EXPORTING OUR PREMIUM, PRIMARY PRODUCE. The Napier Port Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards are an opportunity for us all to celebrate and honour the hard work and commitment of our region’s primary sector heroes. Congratulations to all the winners on the night. We’re proud to partner with the A&P Society to encourage innovation and celebrate those at the leading edge of the industry.

We also want to thank our primary sector customers for their continued support as the port navigates the ongoing volatility in global shipping and disruptions to the wider supply chain. The current peak export season has been challenging, and our teams are working hard to keep your cargo flowing through the port.

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33 years celebrating excellence in pastoral farming T he Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of theYear Awards identify, promote and celebrate excellence in pastoral farming in Hawke’s Bay. Congratulations to Silver Fern Farms suppliers Andrew and Maddy McLean who took out the prize.

Silver Fern Farms is proud to have been the naming sponsor for the award and field day for the last 33 years.

Our business has a strong base in the Hawke’s Bay with two processing sites – Pacific and Takapau. Together they process livestock for 2200 farmers, paying over $405M to farmers in the form of livestock payments, and over $66M in wages and salaries to 1400 staff at the two Hawke’s Bay sites.

Silver Fern Farms has further solidified our commitment to Hawke’s Bay with a $17M investment breaking ground in February 2021. The new Pacific Marshalling Chiller will use world-class automation to organise carcasses in the chiller based on specification and grade.

This will enable streamlined processing in the Secondary Butchery by grouping carcasses together when they’re bound for the same markets.

Conditions in the Eastern North Island allow suppliers to produce quality livestock throughout the year, and the

increased capacity to chill and organise carcasses with greater specificity will enable Silver Fern Farms to get the right product to the right customer year-round, capturing market premiums that can be returned to our farmer partners.

Additionally, a new Lidding Room will increase the space available for managing product packaging, which allows Silver Fern Farms to implement innovative and efficient packaging processes across a wide range of end products.

Over at our Takapau Plant we continue to process high quality beef mince for our partnership with Meat the Need, a charity designed to provide red meat to those in need in New Zealand. Since launching in May 2020 Meat the Need has provided over 200,000 red meat meals to foodbanks and city missions. Talk to your local livestock representative for more information on how to donate an animal.

The Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year Award is an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of farmers, after an especially difficult season. We commend the McLeans on their successful and sustainable farming operation.

We hope the award encourages farmers to continue to think of the experience they deliver for the consumer

Delicious Starts Here.

The Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year Award recognises farmers for their ability to produce inspirational quality food.

We are proud supporters of the award for 33 years.

Congratulations to our 2021 winners Andrew and Maddy McLean. www.silverfernfarms.com

and inspires New Zealanders to take pride in the hard work farmers do to deliver high-quality product to global markets.

Consumers are buying more than just our red meat – they are buying our unique

compelling story, which is the story of the sustainable communities that we support together, and our passion for creating some of the best red meat in the world.

The gamble paid off for this year’s winners “W e entered to challenge ourselves, to learn from it, and to put us out of our

comfort zone.”

The gamble paid off for young couple Andrew and Maddy McLean who are this year’s Silver Fern Farms Farmer of the Year, Hawke’s Bay’s supreme farming award.

Now both admit to being somewhat overwhelmed by their win.

“It was a quiet time on the farm until this happened.”

The couple, both 33, farm 1044ha in the Wallingford district of Central Hawke’s Bay where they live with their two children Olivia, 3, and Oscar 2, and labrador Izzy.

Andrew and Maddy are a partnership in every sense of the word. They make decisions together and work together on their goals. The children go to day care nearby so they can work together on the farm.

Their land is in three blocks, two in Bush Rd and one in Lindsay Rd near Waipukurau.

Andrew’s parents Hamish and Janine live on the Lindsay Rd block. They are also available for labour and advice on the farm.

New employee Buddy Nepe-Apatu lives on the home block as Andrew and Maddy have moved to the block they bought in March.

This has enabled Andrew to take a step back from daily farm work to focus more on decision making overall.

The 18ha Eparaima block in Bush Rd is leased under a nine-year agreement with Te Tumu Paeroa.

The Bush Rd blocks are for breeding and finishing lambs and finishing up to 400 friesian and beef-breed bulls a year, depending on the season. The 77ha on Lindsay Rd is a finishing and cropping block.

Andrew and Maddy met when they were both at Lincoln University, near Christchurch. Andrew was doing a Diploma of Agriculture and Farm Management and Maddy a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture.

They moved back to Hawke’s Bay and leased both the Lindsay Rd block and the home farm from the family in July 2015.

In February 2020 they bought the home farm. They continue to lease the Lindsay Rd block.

Maddy grew up on a Waikato dairy farm while Andrew grew up on farms in Bush Rd and southern Hawke’s Bay. He has only ever wanted to be a farmer and Maddy worked for a while for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in land management. Her experience has been a huge boon on their erosion-prone clay soils as they plant trees and retire some parts of their land.

Since the award was judged the couple have been busy both buying and selling land in Bush Rd. They sold the back 212ha of steep country of the home farm and bought a neighbouring property

of 385ha, bringing their totals now to 1044ha, 950ha effective in a mixture of 67ha of flat, 391ha of hill and rolling and 84ha of steep hills.

The farm carries 2750 romneycoopworth cross breeding ewes. Of those 1500 go to a coopworth or romney ram.

The rest go to a terminal suffolk ram.

All hoggets are mated and those which don’t get in lamb are culled. The hoggets lamb at around 100 percent.

They aim to get at least 1000 lambs away for processing off their mothers at weaning time at a target carcase weight of 18kg.

Any lambs not ready by then are carried through till autumn with a target carcase weight of 20.5kg average.

Their lambing percentage last year, a serious drought year, was 130 percent, down from 132 percent the year before”.

As well as their homebred stock they buy in up to 5000 trade lambs each year. The number depends on schedule prices and the season.

Their maternal rams come from George and Luce Williams’ Grassendale Stud at Tinui. Their suffolk rams are from Rob Tennant’s Pahiwi Stud at Flemington.

Improving ewe performance is a target and this year they have managed to lift the mixed-age ewes to a 71kg average and 64kg in the4 two-tooths and fourtooths.

Their cattle policy includes buying in both friesian and beef bulls as 300kg R1s

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in September and October. The bulls are sourced as locally as possible and either Andrew or his father Hamish casts an eye over them first.

A 2kg/day targeted weight gain means the bulls are carefully monitored during spring after being on the best feed in the far over winter. They are sent off as R2s by mid-January with a target carcase weight of 320kg.

On the block they bought this year the couple is trying an experiment in a bid to get lamb weights up and cut the cost of dipping and shearing given the poor returns from wool.

They bought 60 five-year-old wiltshire ewes in a Te Kuiti stud dispersal sale.

They have been inseminated with Australian White ram semen to lamb in August. They have also bought five Kaahu

White rams to use as a maternal sire over their early lambing ewes.

They are hopeful of good results but will evaluate where they go with this breed after lambing.

“We are looking for a meatier lamb carcase with better yield.”

Cropping on the farm is done to feed the stock. Paddocks of rape and lucerne for crop feed before going into a chicory/

clover mix to finish the lambs. After 18 months these paddocks are put back into new grass in the autumn.

To encourage the growth of clover they have changed their fertiliser programme on the advice of Melinda Turner, of Nutrilink.

Instead of superphosphate the McLeans now use a reverted super mix

Gifford Devine congratulates Andrew & Maddy McLean for winning the Farmer of the Year award for 2021

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and lime to improve the pH and lift the pasture clover content.

The couple are quick to acknowledge the hard work of Andrew’s parents on the farm before them. It is well subdivided with a good water supply reticulated from dams. The mixture of land types means most things are possible. ”Hamish’s long knowledge of the farm is always useful. He already knows the

best parts of the farm and how to work with summer dry and winter wet.”

The Huatokitoki Stream runs through the middle of the property and can flood in heavy rain and sweep fences away. The farm is at a low point of the steam’s path and is fast to food.

Last year an unexpected downpour killed stock for the first time since they have been there.

Proud to supply tough hill country Romney and Suftex rams to Andrew & Maddy McLean winners of Silver Fern Farms HB Farmer of the year

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NAPIER PORT HAWKES BAY PRIMARY SECTOR AWARDS RECIPIENTS FOR 2021 ANZ is proud to support the following winners: Andrew & Maddy McLean – SFF Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year RJ Flowers Ltd – Horticentre Trust Hawke’s Bay Horticulturalist of the Year Mark Warren – Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year Marie Taylor – Laurie Dowling Memorial Award

If you’d like to find out how we can help you succeed with your business goals, contact Marcus Bousfield 027 498 9425 or Willie Lyons 027 285 0174

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“We learned from that.”

The senior McLeans began a treeplanting programme for erosion control and waterway enhancement which the younger couple is happy to continue and expand.

They are proud of their environmental work around the farm. Hamish and Janine fenced off, replanted and retired about 13ha of riparian lowland around the stream. Now, about 2.5kim of the stream has been retired with a QE11 covenant.

A 6.2ha of native bush on the farm was retired in 2012.

Andrew and Maddy are proud of the work they are doing on the farm to enhance their environmental and sustainability values.

Most waterways are already fenced and planted and eroding gully heads and steep faces are being retired.

Poplars and willows already planted there supplemented with reversion to

native bush. They are planning to retire established native bush blocks.

In 2018 an 8.4ha paddock was retired and planted in 1000 pine trees. Projects for the future include planting 1000 trees on a boundary as well as planting 1500 trees around dams and along lanes.

The McLeans’ long-term plans include paying debt and buying more finishing land closer to town to provide a better balance with their Bush Rd blocks.

M))/

Independent wool brokers Est. 1983

“We want to use the Bush Rd farms primarily as breeding and store properties”.

They want their children to grow up as “farm kids” and to foster a love of animals in them.

In the immediate future they have to prepare for their field day on 13 May.

Congratulating Andrew & Maddy McLean for the Silver Fern Farms, Hawke’s Bay Farmers of the year.

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Farm Facts Total area: 1036ha in two blocks (judging based on 885ha) Topography: Bush Rd, steep to medium hills with rolling country around the Hautokitoki Stream Lindsay Rd, flat to rolling.

Soil types: Wanstead clay loam and Atua silt loam hill soil Rainfall: 900-1000mm annually.

Stock: Sheep, 2750 breeding ewes all at Bush Rd. 1500 to coopworth ram, rest to suffolk. Lambs not processed off mother finished at Bush Rd and Lindsay Rd. Lambing percentage averages 130 percent. Hoggets 100 percent.

All hoggets mated from April 15. This year to a wiltshire-cross ram. M/a terminal ewes mated from March 5, replacements, April 1. Teasers used on two-tooth and terminal ewes.

Up to 5000 trading lambs bought in each year, depending on season and projected returns.

Cattle: Up to 400 R2 bulls are carried over winter to be killed before the end of January.

Target weight is 320kg c/w. Average buy in weight is about 300kg. Depending on the season replacements might be bought from February to May.

Field Day – Essential Information The Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year Field Day Thursday 13 May 2021 Andrew and Maddy McLean property, 1157 Bush Road, Waipukurau • • • • • • •

10:00am registration ATV or Side by Side only Helmets required Lunch is $10 cash donation to Porangahau Playcentre Follow directions to parking on arrival Rain, hail or shine

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It’s a family affair - RJ Flowers F or Wendy and John Evans, who were awarded the Horticentre Horticulturalist of theYear, it’s a family affair.

Both third generation orchardists, the pair grew up “on the land” and met in the early 1980s while working on local orchards getting married a few years later.

RJ Flowers was started by Wendy’s dad Ron in the 1960s, who was a self—taught engineer making graders equipment up until last year when the project managed the development of the new RSE village build.

Originally a little quarter hectare section growing onions, they were looking to diversify their ground cover crop.

“It’s really important to rotate the use of soil and it’s challenging to find crops that are suitable,” John explains.

The early diversification strategy proved successful, and they now run 80-hectares.

Growing onions then diversified into kiwifruit, apples and pears, RJ Flowers has expanded to include Gilbert Orchard Ltd, named after John’s grandfather – Gilbert (Gilby) Evans – who owned the land initially.

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“I feel very fortunate to still have this in the family,” he says. “We take that responsibility pretty highly.

“We are privileged to be caretakers of this land.” Despite this the couple understand change is inevitable and have moved with the times, adapting to industry challenges like labour shortages.

John knows all too well there are just some things that can’t be controlled.

“We’ve got the most amazing climate and most fertile soil,” Wendy says.

“There are some amazing opportunities out there for all, we just need more labour.”

She says her generation had learnt to be resilient, hardworking and working to detail. Today the business is very high tech, using tools for food safety, traceability, compliance, measuring tasks,

costings and system interfacing with payroll to the latest technology for CA cool store.

While they do employ workers from the Pacific, they are passionate about finding permanent positions for locals.

“Being diverse with three crops, we have full time positions year-round.”

They see their employees as family and pastoral care is a big part of the business.

Due to a shortage of labour, they have to monitor the hours worked.

“Health and safety and wellbeing of our staff is very important.

“I want to wake up in the morning excited for work and I want our workers to feel the same.” John says moving into the industry was just a natural progression.

“You have to love what you do and we love working on the land,” John says.

“Due to the challenging times, there are less family-owned orchards. Our industry is losing good growers.”

It’s one of the reasons she was so proud of winning the award and giving the industry some positive news to celebrate.

“I was just blown away.”

John said it was a humbling experience. He felt it vindicated the work they were doing and showcased the

strong group of people they had behind them.

While still busy with the final few weeks of harvest, they made sure to celebrate the win with staff.

The couple are “in it for the long haul” and hope that some of their grandchildren will carry on the business and keep the family legacy alive.

Their focus is not to expand, but to do it better and protect their resources.

Horticentre Trust Hawke’s Bay Horticulturist of the Year The HorticentreTrust Hawke’s Bay Horticulturalist of theYear award recognises an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to horticulture through their innovation, resilience and leadership along with their commitment to education, the environment and their social responsibility.This award is open to all fruit and vegetable growers including land owners, leasees and managers based in Hawke’s Bay.

EIT helps the region’s primary sector thrive The food and fibre industry is fundamental to New Zealand. Over 70 percent of export receipts come from horticulture, agriculture, and forestry. EIT’s School of Primary Industries actively promotes innovation and development within the primary sector to ensure the industry remains world-class. The sponsorship of the Horticulture Field Day allows EIT to support the collaboration between the Horticulturist of the Year award winners and people working in the industry.

New Zealand’s fast-changing economy demands well-trained workers as well as creative and critical thinkers. EIT’s industry-experienced tutors grow students to be work-ready and foster a spirit of lifelong learning. Students gain transferable knowledge and hands-on skills while making industry connections to future-proof their career.

The institute’s priorities are to ensure graduates can be of value to their employer, and provide further education to those wanting to advance their careers.

EIT was also selected to host the new Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE). As part of the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education, the Food and Fibre CoVE is designed to drive innovation and excellence in vocational education by connecting industry with the vocational education sector, researchers, and communities. The Food and Fibre CoVE focuses on vocational excellence, attracting, retaining, and growing talent, and innovation in the workforce. Meeting the needs of learners and industry alike is at the centre of the CoVE’s and EIT’s efforts.

PP O RT U S O T D U EIT IS PRO LD DAY E I F E R U T L CU TH E H O RTI

From left to right: Chrissie Flowers, Ron Flowers, Wendy Evans, John Evans and Chris Herries from Horticentre Trust.

One of EIT’s priorities is to work closely with industry and communities in Hawke’s Bay. EIT has always played a pivotal role in equipping students with high-quality skills and knowledge in order to contribute to Hawke’s Bay’s booming food and fibre industry.

Hawke’s Bay growing industries need skilled workers, and EIT offers the necessary qualifications to help the region and its people thrive.

Thanks to active collaboration, EIT’s School of Primary Industries continues to develop innovative programmes, provide students with real-work experience and get them ready to work.

horticulture.eit.ac.nz 0800 22 55 348 |

“Money doesn’t grow on trees, it grows in them” - Mark Warren M ark Warren is the Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm forester of the year.

He farms Waipari Station on Clareinch Rd at Mangakuri in Central Hawke’s Bay and says forestry is the best use of the 25 per cent or so of his farm that is not suitable for running stock.

The 1300ha farm is a sheep and cattle breeding and finishing operation and a mixture of developed cropping late and erosion-prone papa hill country.

He runs 4000 romney ewes which he mates to either a romney or a Kelso terminal sire. About two-thirds of the lambs are finished off their mothers with the others carried over the winter for a target carcase weight 23.5kg. The farm winters about 6000 lambs and 4000 hoggets.

There 270 angus-hereford cows. A wagyu bull is used over the R2 heifers and the calves are finished for the First Light Group.

The progeny of the other cows is finished elsewhere. The farming side of Waipari is the responsibility of manager

Andrew Kennett and Mark’s middle son Henry, 23.

Mark began planting trees soon after he took over the rundown farm in 1984.

Waipari forms much of the catchment for the Mangakuri Stream and was eroding badly.

“I took over on July 1, just three weeks before (then-finance minister) Roger Douglas cut all farming subsidies and interest rates shot up to over 20 per cent.”

He said the top of the farm carried only 4su/ha and forestry turned out to be much more profitable.

Now about 5 per cent of the farm is planted in a mixture of radiata pine, red gums, Tasmanian blackwoods, totara, macrocarpa and a variety of eucalypts.

Poplars and willows are grown for poles and some firewood. They are also good for stock feed during droughts, and shade and shelter for the stock There is also a 2ha block under QEII covenant.

Some of the eucalypts are being used in a vineyard trial to find a ground-durable timber to end the use of tantalised timber

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posts for grapes. Other wood has gone to make furniture for his home and flooring in another farm building.

The trees are on their second rotation and Mark says farming is more profitable than farming at present, especially with the price of wool. Apart from the timber there is also the carbon credit scheme whereby businesses such as airlines and fuel companies buy credits to offset their own carbon emissions. The present price is around $37 a tonne. ”We try to do 30ha every three years.

It is then replanted with 20ha set to be replanted this year.

“It is the best way to look after this particular class of land. The land has stabilised and the water is cleaner.”

By developing the better land and planting crops to feed the stock the farm is able to carry the same number of stock units as before the trees were planted.

Waipari gets plenty of rain but most of it falls in winter. “With their deeper roots the trees are able to harvest that rainfall in the summer whereas grass can’t.”

He says all forestry needs is seedlings, land, sunshine, water, management and time. “And four of those are free.”

Labour is needed to plant and prune the trees but then nothing is needed until harvest.

“Without forestry we would be peasant farmers.”

Field Day – Essential Information The Pan Pac Farm Forester of the Year Field Day • Thursday 27th May • 10:00am registration • 755 Clareinch Road, Waipawa • Follow directions to parking on arrival • Rain, hail or shine • BYO lunch • Head to Napier Port Primary Sector Awards Facebook Page and website for updated information

Key facts on Farm Forestry The Pan Pac Farm Forester Award has been a large part of the Hawke’s Bay Farm Forestry Association since 1979.

Promoting the wise use of trees for profit, sustainability and the environment, the Association represents a network of tree growers practicing sustainable land management in rural New Zealand.

The importance of forests to New Zealand goes well beyond commercial timber production. New Zealand’s forests have spiritual, social, cultural, environmental and economic importance that has a significant impact on farming.

Across the country, members of the Association own, manage and influence up to 200,000 hectares of forest.

Contributing $6 billion a year to the New Zealand economy, forestry and

Grow with us

Farm foresters make a significant contribution to the primary sector in the Hawke’s Bay and the wider economy.

We are proud to sponsor the Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year Award, which celebrates farm foresters who run well-maintained, profitable operations that enhance biodiversity and minimise environmental harm. www.panpac.co.nz

its related wood processing industries provide tens of thousands of jobs and is the third largest export earner behind dairy and meat.

The Hawke’s Bay Farm Forestry Association has been operating since 1958 and has an active field day programme designed to attract farmers from across the region to various properties in order to highlight excellent examples of farm forestry practices.

The field day for the Pan Pac Farm Forester of the Year will be held on the 27 May at Waipari Station, Clareinch Road Mangakuri, Omakere.

To join or get more information on the Hawke’s Bay Farm Forestry Association email the team on tetokatrust@gmail.com

Creating workable solutions - MyEnviro B rent Paterson has a knack for spotting problems and creating workable solutions which has seen him awarded the Primary Sector Innovation Award.

Sixteen years ago, the Patoka farmer launched Rural Directions, a rural recruitment and HR platform.

“It was very much about people management and growing people’s careers. There wasn’t a pathway for developing people in the industry.”

More recently he’s turned his attention to disrupting the farm environment plan process with his new platform, MyEnviro.

It’s a resource management system based on “gold standard” farm environment plan structure for multiple systems – everything from sheep and beef, dairy and horticulture, to forestry – this is a high-definition 3D mapping system which brings the plans to life.

“We want our system to be a live story board of what’s going on on-farm.”

In recent years, many farmers in his network felt aggrieved that their environmental efforts weren’t being recognised.

“Ninety-five per cent of farmers are doing an outstanding job, we just aren’t good at showing it.

“Fundamentally we have set out to prove the farmers’ position. The only way we can do that and prove it on a world stage is through a smart technology digital platform.”

Brent says farmers have more at stake than anybody when it comes to looking out for the environment – he would know, running a 600-hectare sheep and beef farm which has been in his family since 1948.

Farm plans, which will become mandatory from 2025, have traditionally been done in analogue form with inconsistent standards, helping neither the producer the regulator or the customer.

The technology has been waiting in the wings and was now caught up to what farmers are being asked to do, he says.

MyEnviro digitally records data of key metrics like soil health, water quality,

greenhouse gas emissions, and pasture growth, feeding this into the farm plan.

Documenting the information this way also allows farmers to protect their productivity right, whilst promoting their position to the market.

“For example, if we had the whole of the Hawke’s Bay on the system, we could consolidate a report and tell the market there’s ‘x’ number of fences gone in to protect the waterways.”

MyEnviro is working with not just HBRC but many councils across the country to help all parties share agreed information while protecting the farmers data to their own businesses.

“The best way to build relationships is to share information,” Brent says.

Brent says the platform features strong visuals, as well as analytical reporting capabilities and he hopes to integrate satellite imagery in the near future.

“We are excited about the next stage.

With MyEnviro, the team have made a complicated resource

management process, quite simple and elegant.

“There’s a real industry problem. If we can help convert that to a solution, then that’s what we’ve built it for. To be able to provide another solution is really exciting.”

The BWR Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Innovation Award BWR Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Innovation Award identifies those in Hawke’s Bay who have made a significant contribution to improve the performance of the primary industries.The award will recognise and celebrate innovation in farming, fisheries, horticulture, forestry, applied agricultural research and the companies that service those sectors.

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Pushing boundaries - Kate Radburnd K ate Radburnd has always been something of a pioneer.

The Adelaide native is this year’s Hastings District Council Industry Leader of the Year.

In 1983 she was the only woman in her graduating year at her hometown’s Roseworthy College and has been pushing boundaries ever since.

She came to New Zealand at the end of her course because Vidal Wines chief George Fistonich offered her a job.

“It was terrific. I never expected to stay in New Zealand but the work was fabulous and the country was in the early stages of building its wine industry.

“Unsuitable vines had been pulled out and new, site-specific varieties planted.

The world was at our feet.”

“Now I’ve been here 38 years with a New Zealand husband and New Zealand children and I became a New Zealand citizen last year; the highlight of my year.”

In 1991 Kate started work at CJ Pask wines where she was for 26 years as head winemaker.

Within two years she was a part-owner of the Gimblett Gravels company and managing director by 1999.

In September 2017 Kate took a big step and with three business partners opened Radburnd Cellars at Bay View.

Their business plan is to produce “tiny volumes of ultra-premium wines from various sites and elevations around Hawke’s Bay.” They produce about 2500 cases a year of chardonnay, syrah and a Hawke’s Bay Blend of cabernet and merlot.

“They are three wine styles that age well and showcase what Hawke’s Bay is capable of.

“Quality and ageability are the aims.”

She believes firmly that Hawke’s Bay needs to lead the way to show that New Zealand can make wines that age beautifully.

“I love the fact that Hawke’s Bay is aiming for the top of the market with varieties that we are so good at growing.”

“New Zealand can never compete on price in the world market so we need to focus on getting the best price per litre.”

Her CV is impressive. She was on the board of New Zealand Winegrowers

for 14 years as well as being chair of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand playing a big role in spreading the programme throughout the industry. It is aimed at reducing vineyard spraying by using softer, targeted, sprays used only when necessary and companion planting between the rows to attract predator bugs. The winery programme focus is on reducing power and water use and identifying best practice.

The annual wine auction for Cranford Hospice is another cause dear to her heart. The auctions have over the years raised almost $4-million for the hospice.

She was asked to serve on the council of EIT which she did from 2001 to 2013, some of that as deputy chair. She was also on the New Zealand Qualification Authority assessment body for the institute’s viticulture degree. That degree is now one of the body’s flagship degrees.

In 2010 she was awarded the Sir George Fistonich Medal for services to the wine industry and in 2015 she was the

first woman winemaker to be inducted as Fellow of New Zealand Winemakers for her contribution to the industry.

She is also a Fellow of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers On top of all that she has been a national and international wine judge for many years and was chair of the judging panel at the Royal Easter Show in Auckland for 10 years.

“Judging is a good way to keep up with emerging trends and quality as well as training new judges.”

In 2107 the industry launched Women in Wine and she was one of the first to encourage women to enter the industry and to encourage support women seeking leadership roles. She is current chair of the programme.

As always she is focussed on winegrowing and making in New Zealand reaching what she sees at its place at the top of the world.

The Hastings District Council Primary Sector Industry Leader Hastings District Council Hawke’sBay Primary Sector Industry Leader award recognises outstanding leadership within the primary sector while demonstrating a wider commitment to Hawke’s Bay.This person will have significantly contributed to the primary sector through innovation, determination, growth and leadership to the primary sector industry and is seen as a ‘primary sector’ figurehead.

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Passionate about education - Rex Newman F or Rex Newman, being recognised as this year’s Primary Sector Professional of theYear made him realise how many other people there were in Hawke’s Bay passionate about education opportunities in the primary sector.

The Napier Boy’s High School agriculture teacher and department head says he was humbled by the experience.

“I still can’t believe it.

“You do your job to make a difference, but you don’t expect to be recognised in such a way.”

Growing up on a beef and cropping property north of Seddon, near Marlborough, he first went to Lincoln where he gained a degree in Commerce and Agriculture.

He gained milking experience both here and abroad and also spent time working for Ravensdown and PGG Wrightson.

This industry experience proved helpful when he decided to become a teacher and started at Napier Boys in 2010.

“I wanted a job where I could talk to people and still work in ag whilst having involvement in sport.”

Of the 1200 students at the school, 200 are enrolled in the Agriculture courses.

He describes it as a “dynamic and flexible” subject – it has to be as farmers battle droughts in one year and changeable export prices the next.

A mixture of academic and practical modules, there are a range of future opportunities in agriculture.

From business and marketing, to science and technology, it’s about more than just the land, he says.

“The stereotype is that they are just going to end up on a farm somewhere.

That can be frustrating.”

Some of his students have never been around livestock on a working farm, while others have grown up with family in the industry. Rex says there is no shortage of keen kids getting into it and there are a lot of good programmes coming out of the industry. This includes cadetships offered

by Growing Future Farmers, Smedley Station and other on-farm training programmes and shearing courses.

“It’s the kind of stuff I didn’t have when I was going through high school.”

Whilst busy coaching rugby in the winter, most of his spare time is spent helping with the 80-strong agriculture club or Young Farmer’s programme at the school.

He thanked the local rural and school community for the support they have given to our subject.

“There’s such amazing potential in Hawke’s Bay with all that’s here.

“There’s some bloody good Ag teachers out there and we need more of them.”

The BWR Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Professional of the year Unison Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Professional of theYear is a peernominated award which recognises an individual providing professional services to the primary sector in addition to taking into account a wider commitment to Hawke’s Bay.The award is open to any professional who is providing services to improve the economic, social and sustainability of the Hawke’s Bay Primary industries.

CONGRATULATIONS

REX NEWMAN

THE E2 2021 PRIMARY SECTOR PROFESSIONAL OF THE P YEAR AWARD WINNER

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A year of recognition - Marie Taylor I t’s been a year of recognition for Marie Taylor of Plant Hawke’s Bay who received the Laurie Dowling Memorial Award.

Last year she was also awarded the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in recognition of her contribution to horticulture and native revegetation.

Raised on a Southland farm just down the road from a nursery, she became interested in horticulture early on, going on to study horticulture at Lincoln University.

She later split her time working for the QEII National Trust, which partners with private landowners to protect natural and cultural heritage sites through creating covenants, and as a rural reporter.

A restoration project to re-establish forest on a tough, two-hectare cliff face at her former home in Bay View led to the creation of a new business, with strong demand for hardy, locally sourced and grown plants.

“I learnt what likes to grow where in this area and how to keep things alive.”

In 2005, she started a nursey near the Hawke’s Bay Airport in Napier and demand has grown since then.

“When I started it was all about the plants, but now it’s all about the business.

“That’s been really challenging. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle and trying to get all the pieces to fit together.”

She says it was nice that people had faith in the business and that her work was valuable to the community.

“People want to look after their land better and planting trees ticks a lot of boxes.

Many of her clients had been purchasing plants for 15 years, taking a long-term view to their environmental management.

“They are the ones doing the planting. They’re not rushing out to do it because it’s trendy.”

She hopes to see more people take the 100-year view with their projects.

Hawke’s Bay is home to a wide variety of native plants which provided many benefits, she says.

Most of the 200,000 or so plants she stocks have been eco sourced, meaning the seeds are taken from local wild populations.

One of the biggest challenges to regenerating native vegetation was the region’s feral deer population.

She’s currently working on plans to help raise funds for a deer fence around the 130-ha podocarp forest, Puahanui Bush at Gwavas near Tikokino.

“We want to keep the browsers out as they cause a lot of damage.”

The other big project she’s working on is expanding the nursery at a new site in Omarunui Road, Waiohiki.

“It’s quite an exciting time.” She says she was rapt with being recognised in the awards, especially as there are some very special people on that list.

Laurie Dowling Memorial Award Laurie Dowling Memorial Award is given to a person who has contributed significantly through their work or voluntarily for the betterment of agriculture in Hawke’s Bay.This is in keeping with the ideals of the late Laurie Dowling who was a man of the land passionate about agriculture in Hawke’s Bay, and who worked unselfishly to advance farming throughout his consultancy career.

EPD Ltd would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ron and the team at RJ Flowers, for winning the Horticulturist of the Year award and continuing to demonstrate true leadership in the Industry. We take pride in having worked with Ron for more than two decades, providing electrical and automation support during this time, as well as telemetry around his orchards.

Perfect background - William MacDonald A

farm upbringing made a perfect background for William MacDonald’s veterinary studies.

William, 21, is this year’s winner of the $3000 Lawson Robinson scholarship.

And like last year’s winner Megan Hassall he is in his fifth and last year of a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University.

He grew up on the family sheep and beef farm at Patoka west of Napier and was educated at Napier Boys’ High School before he went off to Massey.

He was not sure he wanted to go farming so decided on veterinary studies as a way to have a life in the primary sector by combining his farm experience and love of animals with the academic challenge of veterinary work.

“I also read an article about the shortage of vets in New Zealand so I thought I would give it a go.”

William also gives full credit to his “really passionate” high school agriculture teacher Rex Newman.

“He got a few boys passionate about the primary industry himself.”

The last year of the degree involves a lot of practical hands-on work. He has spent time in the dairy industry in Waikato and Taranaki and Waihi which he enjoyed because, he says, it’s different from sheep and beef but similar enough.

He does not yet have a job lined up for next year but is not too concerned because the shortage of vets around the country should mean it’s not likely to be a problem.

He’s also not sure which area he would like to specialise in but is looking forward to getting out into the real world of work and putting all his learning into practice.

He is thinking Waikato or Taranaki would be a good place to start but after that he’s not certain.

Lockdown proved a challenge for him.

He chose to stay in Palmerston North because the internet at home on the farm was not good enough for on-line learning.

“There weren’t many people left in town.”

Fortunately the on-line study was mostly theory. “We came out of it to lots of practical learning.”

When he’s not hard at work with his studies William enjoys running and competed in this year’s Triple Peak race.

“That was hard.”

William and his proud family looked forward to his presentation but unfortunately his father Grant could not be there. He had the cows booked in for Tb testing the next morning and had to be up early.

Promoting Business Excellence in Hawke’s Bay and the Primary Sector

73 Raffles Street, Napier 4110 PO Box 45, Napier 4140 P 06 833 5012 F 06 833 5014 www.lawsonrobinson.co.nz

The Lawson Robinson Hawke’s Bay Scholarship Lawson Robinson Hawke’s Bay Scholarship aims to recognise outstanding academic and leadership qualities in a student currently enrolled in a full time land based production industries programme at a New ZealandTertiary institute.This award helps towards course fees and is awarded to an individual who shows drive and ambition to make a difference within the agriculture industry through their chosen course

Rural Directions Hawke’s Bay Shepherd of the Year Finalists JOSEPH McCASH

LARA SMITH

Joseph McCash entered the Rural Directions young shepherd contest to grow his CV and show the judges “an all-round keen young fella.”

Joseph, 25, is a shepherd at Te Aratipi Station, Maraetotara, where he has been since November 2019.

He grew up on the family farm at Patangata, Central Hawke’s Bay, and says he has been hooked on farming since he was a child. His mother came from a farm at Raetihi which added to his determination.

He has since worked on farms from Pahiatua to Hunterville, increasing his experience and knowledge.

He has worked on all sorts of farms from flat to hilly, from cropping to finishing to breeding and finishing.

“I definitely prefer the sheep breeding side. It’s more interesting.”

The only farming he has not done yet is deer farming “apart from hunting them.”

He has a friend nearby who farms deer and thinks he will be there on his days off to learn more about them.

He has a programme in mind to progress to possible eventual farm ownership. He would like to move in time to farm manager and then perhaps leasing a farm.

“Buying a farm is a distant goal at the moment.”

At the moment he has his hands full with two-year-old son Jake and partner Danielle who was about to give birth to their second child just before the competition judging and awards dinner.

For Lara Smith entering the Rural Directions shepherd of the Year was an opportunity to be taken with both hands.

Lara, 24, is a shepherd on Waitere Station, far up the Pohukura Rd in the Tutira area. It is a 2200ha Pamu sheep and beef breeding operation.

Lara already has an impressive CV with a Diploma of Agriculture from Lincoln University and six years of work experience.

Her love of farming and animals came from a childhood of living on farms her father managed around the lower North Island.

A career as a vet was on her radar when she left school but she didn’t like the idea of five years in a classroom. She hasn’t written off the idea but for now shepherding is her passion.

The amazing scenery of the Mohaka district is her favourite part of working at Waitere and the westerly wind the least favourite. “it’s so hard to talk to my dogs.”

Working her 11 dogs is her favourite part of her job. That number includes six in her main team, a couple of pups, a couple of “semi-retirees” and Tama, her black labrador.

Her goal is to “get better and better” at what she does and to improve her ability to work her dogs to help with mustering and the day to day work on the farm.

Her goal, apart from having a family, is to manage a farm. “I would love to invite schoo9l students to come to the farm to work and see if they like it.

“Many of them don’t have the opportunity to try it and would love it if they did.”

T

he Rural Directions Hawke’s Bay Shepherd of the Year Award was created to showcase the up and coming talent and future leaders of the food and fibre industry.

This award will be presented to an individual that shows drive, leadership, community involvement and a strong

understanding of their on-farm systems and applications.

Anyone working on farm within the Hawke’s Bay region that holds a Shepherding job title is eligible to enter.

This year’s applicants were representative of the very high calibre of shepherds in Hawke’s Bay and we will continue to build

the profile of the award in the coming years to attract more of the same.

The winner will be recognised as a future leader of our industry, who is also helping to raise the profile of shepherding in Hawke’s Bay as a great career option.

We want our Shepherds to be proud and

stand tall; because today’s Shepherds are tomorrow’s Managers.

We look forward to joining you at the Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year Field Day where we will announce the winner of the Rural Directions HB Shepherd of the Year Award.

‘Proud Sponsor of the Hawke’s Bay Shepherd of the Year Award 2021’

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