Grassland awards made

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 25

Grassland awards made

PA Wellington Marlborough grassland farmers have won annual Grassland Memorial Trus't awards. The awards, announced by the. trust's chairman, Dr R. W. Brougham, will be presented at the Grassland Association’s conference, held at Blenheim next week. Mr Graham Black, of the Upper Awatere Valley, has won an award for high-coun-try farming, and Mr John Peter, of Cape Campbell, an award for dry hill-country farming.

Mr Martin Shand and Mr Timothy Shand have won an award for moist hill-country farming, and Mr lan Jordan an award for mixed farming. Mr Black has developed his 7000 ha block, and a smaller 380 ha block, through oversowing and topdressing. Wool production is up from 128 bales to 207 bales in 16 years. When Mr Peter took over his 860 ha property on Cape Campbell it was mostly under scrub and noxious weeds. Today the property carries about three stock units a hectare, with 112 per

cent lambing and a gross return per ewe of about $46. In the 12 years in which the Shands have farmed Port Ligar, a 1147 ha hill-country farm in outer Pelorus Sound, carrying capacity has doubled to about six stock units a hectare, Mr Jordan has a 180 ha farm with a sophisticated cash-cropping programme. As well he runs a small seeds programme, a chaffing and conservation programme, has a CorriedaleBorder Leicester-cross ewe flock, a Southdown stud, and a pedigree Jersey stud.