Farm Discussion Group travels away

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 14, 6 September 1983, Page 14

Farm Discussion Group travels away

Members of the Waimarino Farm Discussion Group accompanied by Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries farm advisor, Will Wilson, recently spent an interesting three days in the Manawatu and Wanganui regions. On the first day a visit was paid to Ballantrae Research Station. Here research is being undertaken on phosphate and nitrogen application and benefits in pasture management, various grazing management systems and the use of goats in gorse control. High profit In the morning of the second day the group went to Highden, a bull beef unit owned and operated by Marist Brothers. This unit was a real eye-opener for members of the Discussion Group. The property is extremely well managed and makes extensive use of electric fences for stock management. Showing a nett return of $600 per acre, Highden would have to be one of the most profitable pastoral farming units around. Later that day the group visited Massey Deer Farm. An innovative feature here was the use of strip grazing. Members also visited the Massey Fat Lamb Unit which successfully operates a commercial 2,400 Coopworth ewe flock along with 100 Friesian bulls. The final visit that day was to an advisory unit run by M.A.F. where grazing trials are being conducted.

Fitch Farming On the third and last day, visits were made to several farm industry operations in Wanganui such as the Crown Wool Store, Imlay Freezing Works, and Ravensdown Fertilizer Works. Many members of the group were particularly impressed by a visit to a fitch farm at Waitotara. Here 3,500 fitches are being farmed very profitably. We hope to bring further information on both the fitch farming and bull beef units to you in future issues of the Bulletin. Apart from making members aware of what else is happening in the farming world, the purpose of these visits by the Waimarino Farm Discussion Group is to make members more aware of the potential profit there can be in alternative farming methods.