National Lamb Day: Central Otago farmer Emma Crutchley celebrates on The Country Fast Five

Maniototo sheep and beef farmer Emma Crutchley wants others to celebrating National Lamb Day this Saturday.

New Zealanders often hear about farmers being the backbone of the country but do we really know what makes the primary industries tick?

With that in mind, The Country’s Kem Ormond has compiled a list of questions for everyday Kiwis in agriculture.

We thought answering five questions would be a good way to get to know those who work in the rural sector a little better.

This week it’s the turn of Emma Crutchley, a sheep and beef farmer, alongside her husband Kyle and their children, from the Maniototo, in Central Otago.

“We have been farming here for 15 years at ‘Puketoi’ where I grew up,” Crutchley said.

She is also a committee member for the National Lamb Day Campaign.

After school, I studied agriculture at Lincoln, an appealing option because there are so many different career pathways, nationally and internationally.

“It’s not only a celebration of lamb, but a time to recognise and consider all aspects of our food system and the importance of primary production,” she said.

“This Saturday is a great chance to get alongside this event and invite your friends and family for a barbecue.”

• If you would like to be part of The Country Fast Five series get in touch with Kem at kem.ormond@nzme.co.nz or fill in the form here.

What drew you to agriculture?

I grew up on the farm and enjoyed working outside with livestock as well as the physical challenge and variation of farm life.

After school, I studied Agriculture at Lincoln, an appealing option because there are so many different career pathways, nationally and internationally.

I enjoyed some years working around NZ as a rural professional before returning to the farm.

I love the complexity and constant challenge and there is no better place to raise a family.

What excites you about each day? What gets you up in the morning?

No day is the same on the farm, we roll with a whole bucketload of unpredictability.

This includes the weather, markets, consumers and many other challenges but with them, there are also many opportunities.

Alongside the ability to get outside and get stuck in, there is constant change that keeps you looking forward to what’s next.

Sometimes that can be hard, but without it, I think it would be boring.

What’s the biggest challenge your industry is facing – right now, or into the future?

For me, a big one is “who pays?”

In NZ we have the climate and resources to produce world-class protein for export. But we are at the mercy of intermediaries in the supply chain (wholesalers, exporters and retailers) all of whom take a portion of the price as part of their own business goals.

Today, these businesses face increased risk and cost from factors such as geopolitics, climate-related disruptions and scope three emissions.

All of these can easily be passed back down the line to farmers and growers at the beginning of the supply chain with little ability to recover additional costs.

This challenges the sustainable and resilient farming business model in New Zealand.

What is the moment/memory that makes you most proud to be a farmer?

As a red meat producer, there are many moments in history that make me exceptionally proud.

As we are in the build-up to National Lamb Day, I reflect on the 15th of February 1882 when 4909 frozen mutton and lamb carcasses were shipped from Port Chalmers on the Dunedin bound for England.

When this ship hit the tropics, Captain Whitson noticed that the cold air was not diffusing in the upper chambers of the shipment, so he crawled down the main air trunk sawing openings to enable the air to circulate.

He became so numb from the cold that his crew had to attach a rope to his feet and pull him out.

His ingenuity saved the shipment that arrived in London with only one spoiled carcass after 98 days at sea.

The initiative could have easily failed, but instead, the success of this shipment opened red meat exports to the world, bringing much-needed returns to farmers, and creating the foundation for the innovative agricultural-based economy that defines New Zealand.

Captain Whitson’s actions were not just about overcoming the immediate obstacle, but also about shaping the long-term future, setting the sheep industry up to adapt and innovate over the past 140 years.

A resilience worth celebrating and something we need to continue embracing if we are to meet today’s challenges.

What is your wish for agriculture?

As a farmer, I have mixed feelings when reading headlines like ‘NZ farmers are the best in the world’ or ‘Farmers are the backbone of our economy’.

I feel privileged and proud to be part of this sector but is my greatest wish to see some honesty and realism, messaging that might not be popular, but realistic of the long game we need to play to ensure sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Often with a bit of discomfort comes our best solutions, innovation and pathways forward, as seen with that first export of frozen lamb in 1882.

Something to ponder over a celebratory chop this Saturday the 15th on National Lamb Day!