Scheme makes new farms on Hakataramea

Press, 30 September 1988, Page 21

Scheme makes new farms on Hakataramea

A new scheme to get experienced farmers on to bigger properties has been started by Landcorp.

It has divided Hakataramea station, which it bought in December, into four separate units for its equity sharing scheme. Landcorp will have joint ownership of the units with farmers it chooses to run the new properties. Three of the four new joint owners have been chosen. Mr Brian Palmer, chairman of each of the new jointly owned farming businesses, said each of the new partners had to be “absolute experts in

farming.” Hakataramea was not first class land and needed to be farmed by people who knew what they were doing. Landcorp was also looking for a return on its investment. The scheme was started to help good farmers onto bigger properties. New technology meant a couple could look after a larger property without having to employ extra labour. Each of the new units could hold about 12,000 stock units, and ranged

from 2500 ha to 4000 ha. The capital value of the properties ranged from $1.6 million to $2.2 million. One set of equity shareholders, Peter and Ann Boys, owned a property next to the Hakataramea station. Part of the old station has been amalgamated with the Boys’ property under the scheme. “Our place is mainly tussock country and we always seemed to be a bit short on paddocks. We tend to have a lot of dark

country. This gives us lighter easier flats and a better opportunity to finish cattle and sheep." Mr and Mrs Boys have two sons wanting to farm and the opportunity to expand onto Hakataramea meant the family could "spread its wings a bit." Mr Boys had run 7500 s.u. but is expanding to

11,500 s.u. with the extra land. The stock comprises a Romney breeding flock, 1300 Romney ewe hoggets, a small Merino wether flock, 216 Angus cows and their replacements, and 456 dry Angus cattle.

lan and Janet McGregor sold their farm at Tahakopa, in South Otago,

to move onto part of the old Hakataramea station., “I have always liked the Hakataramea Valley and wanted to farm there. I applied for ballots to get on three years ago,” said Mr McGregor. Before owning a farm in South Otago, Mr McGregor worked on and managed properties simi-

lar to Hakataramea. He did have 3000 s.u. but will now have 13,000, comprising a CorriedaleRomney cross flock and some cattle. The third couple to move onto the old station will be Alec and Denise Bell, who have farmed in the Hakataramea Valley for about 15 years. .