Business
Reviewing the farm business
Most of you will have a farm business plan of some description either in your head, jotted down maybe in a piecemeal way or formally written in consultation with a rural professional. No matter what form your plan takes, an important requirement is regular reviewing and updating. By Dr Ken Geenty
A simple yet strong system
A highly efficient sheep flock, underpinned by an exceptional weaning weight, is the engine room of Richard and Becks Tosswill’s award-winning Te Awaawa Farm in Gladstone. Rebecca Greaves went to their field day. Photos by Brad Hanson.
Industry advocacy crucial for ag’s future
By Jim van der Poel, DairyNZ; Andrew Morrison, Beef + Lamb NZ
Never too old to learn
Not content to do the same thing, veteran beef farmers Stephen and Jane Hayes are still refining their farming systems after 44 years. Glenys Christian paid them a visit. Photos by Rob Owens.
A winning formula
Breeding and feeding. That’s the motto at Damien Humphrey’s Manawatu beef cattle trading operation. Farming in conjunction with his father on a second nearby farm, Damien is finishing up to 1400 R2 heifers annually. Rebecca Greaves visited him. Photo by Brad Hanson.
Once-bred-heifer renaissance
Bob Thomson extols the benefits of once-bred-heifers and reasons why it could be a good fit for farmers especially those who don’t like running bulls, as they are more predictable, less risky, and highly profitable.
The marginal difference
Opting to finish dairy beef bulls came down to price for Central Otago-based couple Ben and Rebecca Trotter. Story and photo by Lynda Gray.
