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Farmer Jones’ business model PHOTOS DONNA WYLIE 190315-DW-081
Michelle Nelson
RURAL EDITOR
It’s been a tough year, but if anyone knows how to cope with a scorching Mid Canterbury summer it’s Wyvern Jones – whose family have farmed in the district for the past century. Today he runs two businesses on the Carew property, together with his wife Beth. “Dad bought the top block of 400 acres for £7 10s an acre on a returned servicemen’s loan. “The soil was so cropped out it ran through your fingers like sand – it’s very easy to forget how dry and desolate it was here,” Wyvern said. “There’s a whole generation who don’t know how dry Mid Canterbury can be – this year has just been a practice run.” By the turn of the century
Above – Heifers on Aberystwyth Farm. Right – Wyvern Jones.
the winds of change were blowing across the Canterbury Plains, sweeping aside fences and trees to make way for the centre pivot irrigators required to produce milk and increase crop yields. “The transition from borderdykes to spray was a
190315-DW-067
revelation – it was all farmer driven, we got no hand-outs or government subsidies – farmers saw the benefits and got on with it,” Wyvern said. The Jones put in the first water storage pond on the Mayfield Hinds Irrigation Scheme – which now counts
FODDER BEET HARVESTING
120 ponds, and made the decision to venture into dairying. “In the first six years we pulled out 857 kilometres of fencing – some of which had only been in for four years, to make way for centre pivot irrigators.
“There’s no point in being sentimental about a fence. Trees also had to come out – you don’t compromise a good irrigation system.” Besides, configuring centre pivots around the 17 pylons marching across the farm was complicated enough. Today 10 centre pivots, most on 180 degree rotations to accommodate the pylons, complemented by two laterals, operate across the property. “I have had more fun doing these developments over the past 10 years than ever before.” In 2008, following an interview lasting just a couple of hours, Wyvern and Beth formed an equity partnership with Jeff and Kelly Gould, creating two inter-dependent but independent businesses – Clontarf Farm Aberystwyth Dairies. Supplements and winterfeed are grown on the original 350ha home block. A weigh bridge has been installed - everything that goes to the dairy farm is weighed and sold at the commercial rate. continued over page
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