Friday, March 29, 2024

Farming outside the square

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Fifth-generation farmers Pete and Ally Apthorp are constrained by legacy – their farm will never be for sale – but the young couple are striving to lift the bar by making the most of what they have. The Apthorps think outside the square and are willing to try new things, an attitude that has helped them win the Tararua Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year for 2016. Innovation and calculation are hallmarks of their semi-finishing sheep and beef farming business near Pahiatua that is a textbook example of farm succession done well. Recent development includes an irrigation system installed in 2014, subdivision, a water system and plant species improvements. The farm is 320ha (294ha effective) with a good mix of intensive river flats, and hill-country breeding country. It is classed as summer-wet, with an average rainfall of 1450mm. Over the past three years they have averaged 8500kg DM/ha harvested over their whole farm, and this year they expect it to be 9.5 tonnes. Pete doesn’t define himself as a sheep and beef farmer. “I think of it as farming plants and soil and maximising production by growing as much high quality feed as we can and converting that feed into saleable product.”
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He is constantly analysing the markets and trading according to what he sees, he is not focused on running a certain class of stock but rather working out what will convert feed most efficiently and add value to the bottom line.

The farm has been in the family for 116 years, handed down through Pete’s mother Mary’s side.

Pete is a Smedley graduate and Ally, originally from Australia, has a background in fertiliser having worked for Ravensdown. The couple met while studying at Massey University and have travelled and worked on farms overseas.

In 2012 Pete’s parents moved off the farm and Pete and Ally took over. The couple were in their mid-20s and were given the opportunity to run the property while they are young. A company, Riverview Mangahao, was formed.

The company owns all land, stock and plant. Initial shareholdings were Pete with 33% and his parents Martyn and Mary holding 33% each. Personal trusts owned most of the shares. The company bought a 50ha block at Feilding for Martyn and Mary, and leases it back.

The stock underpass It was put in 2005 as there was a dip in the road that the council were going to fill so culverts were bought for about $50,000 to allow stock to be shifted between hills and flats without going along the road. When the gorge was closed there were 10,000 cars a day on the road.

The Apthorps completed a whole farm plan in 2011 and have 42.7ha retired from grazing for either waterway or erosion protection.

A large amount of waterways have been fenced off and they plan to plant these areas. They received a 50% subsidy to fence the waterways, with the added benefit of helping with subdivision in some paddocks, and did all the work themselves.

Pete and Ally took on a well-farmed property, with many improvements already well under way, but they have taken it to the next level.

They have made a large investment in feed and fodder crops – an average of $41,265 spent over the past three years – but the investment is starting to pay dividends. The couple stress they are not done yet, however.

The platform has been created to capitalise on increased productivity and they are just starting to reap the benefits.

They have a three-year average gross farm revenue (GFR) of $1464/ha and economic farm surplus of $575. For the 2015-16 year their income from sheep was $128/su and for cattle it was $133/su. The GFR was $1635/ha and $154.79/su.

BakerAg consultant and Tararua Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year field day facilitator Sully Alsop said this placed the Apthorps well inside the top 10% of farmers across the board in their benchmarking.

KEY POINTS

  • 320ha (294 ha effective)
  • Good mix of intensive river flats and hill country
  • Three-year average gross farm revenue – $1464/ha
  • Economic farm surplus – $575/ha
  • 2016 Tararua Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year
  • Small amounts of urea used often as a cheap way to grow feed
Related information:  Riverview-tables.pdf
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