Friday, March 29, 2024

Harvesting the benefits of diversity

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A Northland couple run a diverse operation consisting of three business units. Jenny Ling reports.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Northland farmers Shane and Dot Dromgool already run a successful dairy and beef operation but recently branched out into the world of viticulture in a bold bid to diversify their business.

The couple run a robust operation, Longview Shorthorns, farming pedigree beef Shorthorn cattle on the outskirts of Kerikeri. It consists of a 300ha beef unit and a 200ha dairy operation.

They run 250 Shorthorn breeding cows on the beef unit along with dairy-beef cattle born on the dairy unit where they milk 500 dairy cows including 100 Milking Shorthorns.

Though the beef breeding herd is strong and thriving – it’s the largest registered beef Shorthorn herd in New Zealand – low returns on the dairy front have prompted the couple to rethink their farming strategy and land use.

When their eldest son Jake finished his international business and marketing degree at Auckland University of Technology several years ago they decided to capitalise on his love of viticulture and try their luck growing grapes.

“Since the conception of Fonterra we seem to be working harder for less,” Shane says.

“Due to the inconsistency of dairy returns over the last 10-12 years we’ve been looking at ways to branch out and spread the risk.

Jake has always had a passion for viticulture and after graduating he decided to return home to pursue that. 

“He was fortunate enough to land a job in Northland’s largest vineyard The Landing,” Shane says.

“He gave us the inspiration to start planting our own vineyard.”

In 2015 they planted 0.75ha with several grape varieties to find those most suitable for their area and climate.

They have planted 1ha a year ever since and now have 5ha of grapes. 

Grape varieties include sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, semillon, syrah, pinot gris and albarino, which are processed at Marsden Estate, which also makes wine for up to 30 other growers in the area. 

“It’s all a big learning curve at the moment but the outlook is very promising,” Shane says.

“We plan to carry on and increase it to an 8ha vineyard. At that size, it will create full-time employment for Jake and other staff at certain times of the year.” 

The Dromgools have a 5ha vineyard with several grape varieties planted, which are processed at Marsden Estate.

If it works out and the returns are worth it, the couple might expand the vineyard even further and reduce the dairy operation. 

They are also looking at other crops that could suit the climate including tamarillo, a crop with high demand for its fruit, which also gets high returns.

So far they’ve had two vintages under the 144 Islands label, a name that reflects the number of islands in the Bay. 

This year the weather has been great for growers all over Northland with very little rain from December to March. 

“It’s been a fantastic year for the grapes,” Shane says. 

“The quality of the juice pressed this year would have to be right up with the very best that the area has produced. 

“Though, for the dairy side of things, it was challenging. Which is one of the advantages of having a vineyard in combination with the dairy farm. 

“Once the processes are aligned and level out it really could work quite nicely.” 

Farm Facts

Owners: Shane and Dot Dromgool

Location: Kerikeri, Northland

Farm size: 500ha including 300ha of Crown lease, 20ha runoff

Cows: 400 Friesian and 100 crossbred and Milking Shorthorn

Production: 2017-18: 150,000kg MS

Target 2018-19: 150,000kg MS

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