Ag 09 september, 2016

Page 1

Friday, September 9, 2016

Since Sept 27, 1879

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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY

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Saleyards to close P4

Pleased to meat you: Chris Allen checks newborn lambs born in yesterday’s polar blast. PHOTO AMANDA KONYN 080916-AK-045

Plate to Pasture award to Mid Canty BY MICHELLE NELSON

MICHELLE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

IN TODAY’S GUARDIAN

Mid Canterbury farmer Chris Allen was up against the elements yesterday on the first day of his lambing calendar. But while the weather threw everything it had at stock on the Ashburton Forks property, Chris and his wife AnnMarie had plenty to smile about as recent recipients of the 2016 Silver Fern Farms Plate to Pasture award. The couple were surprised to learn they had taken the annual award created to recognise suppliers who consistently delivered stock in line with consumer demands. Five national finalists were selected for on-farm judging where all aspects of their business, industry knowledge and commitment to the environment

and local community were under the microscope. Surrounded by dairy and arable farms the Allens have held out on the 360ha irrigated farm which they purchased in 1994, sticking with sheep and beef. Over the years the border-dyked irrigation setup was replaced with shallow wells and Roto-Rainers which have now been superseded by centre-pivot irrigators. Two new centre-pivots will be operational this summer bringing the number up to four. Five years ago a water storage pond was built to help get around the dry summer months. Annadale currently runs 1800 annual draft breeding ewes, 400 hoggets and finishes about 5500 lambs.

The property also runs 700 rising one and two-year-old beef cattle. Chris is a member of the national board of Federated Farmers with responsibility for the environment and the Recourse Management Act. He also sits on the Ashburton Water Management Zone Committee. Yesterday’s weather bomb was not unexpected at his time of year, Chris said. And in terms of timing it was not too bad, with just a handful of lambs on the ground. The other Plate to Pasture finalists were Don and Cecily Syme, Hawke’s Bay, Cam and Rachel McKelvie, Manawatu, Bruce, Pauline, Richard and Sue Sisam, Whakatane, and Alan, Jean, Richard and Abby Hore, Central Otago.

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Weather: High 10˚ - Overnight -2˚ Page 30

Puzzles: Page 29

Television: Page 31

Family Notices: Page 30

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