Tracy and Andrew Paterson have owned Matakanui Station, near Ōmakau in Central Otago, since 2014, and have worked on it since 2001. Photo / Alan Gibson
From gravity-fed hydro to cleaner waterways and smarter systems, Matakanui Station is the result of thinking well beyond the next season.
About 14 years ago, when Andrew and Tracy Paterson were laying irrigation pipes from a creek running down from the hills on their farm, they decided to overspec it.
When a second line of irrigation was installed, they did the same, knowing that one day they would have the capital to link the two gravity-fed pipes and add a hydro turbine.
That plan finally came to life early last year.
Paired with a complementary 100kW solar system, used when there isn’t enough water to both irrigate and run the turbine, the Patersons now feed energy back into the national grid most days.
The project required consents from the regional and district councils, as well as a green loan from ASB, but Andrew said the reduction in energy costs had significantly improved the farm’s long-term resilience.
It’s this thinking that is found in everything the couple do on Matakanui Station, near Ōmakau in Central Otago.
Water testing, which they have carried out for years, increasingly shows that the water leaving the farm is of higher quality than that coming in.
Their farming practices, combined with 34ha of mostly fenced, planted and regenerating wetlands, ensure the water is as clean as possible.
The couple have worked on the 8700ha station (3400ha in Crown lease) since 2001, owning it since 2014, with Andrew the third generation to farm the property in its almost 75-year history.
Matakanui Station won the Regional Supreme Award at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards last year.
The Patersons run 10,000 Polwarth ewes, including a stud of 800 ewes, and are proud of the family’s wool legacy.
“The sheep are three-quarters Merino, and if you looked at the wool, you would think it’s straight Merino,” Andrew said.
The other quarter of their polled sheep genetics comes from other breeds as required, allowing them to grow their lambs to an average of 21.5kg carcass weights.
The continual development of the hill country, including pivot irrigation on the flats, has allowed a change in farming practice, from selling stores on farm in summer to carrying all lambs through the winter on greenfeed cereal crops, and buying in fine wool stores.
Warmer winters have seen the cereals grow through the colder months, and breeding now must also focus on resistance to worm burden.
“There was a time we would have solid frosts for months, but it doesn’t happen anymore,” Andrew said.
“We’re lambing later, mid-October, to escape the spring snow.
“Last year we had no snow all winter, then over Labour Weekend we had three inches around the houses, six inches on the flats and more on the mountains.”
They’re pleased with their breeding goals.
With the lambs not sold as stores, their extra time on-farm means they can be shorn before leaving.
Andrew is a third-generation Owner Wool Classer, but when Tracy started helping in the shearing shed, she quickly realised it was a skill that needed to be shared.
“Andrew would disappear outside on the phone, and the wool would start piling up,” she said.
Not from a farming background, she completed a Certificate in Wool Technology from Lincoln University and now enjoys it.
In the days of Andrew’s grandfather, wool used to be 80% of the farm’s income. Now, it’s 25%.
The wool is sold on contract to Icebreaker and other premium brands locally and overseas.
As well as the sheep, 1000 Hereford cattle roam Matakanui Station, but they don’t get into the 132ha of alpine tōtara forest that spreads across the boundary and into the neighbouring property.
It’s the largest known stand of its kind in Central Otago, and when fencing is finished, it will be protected under a QEII Trust covenant.
Making sure the workload is manageable for the couple is farm manager Nick Gee.
Libby Miller is the stud shepherd.
Her partner Archie McRae joined her last year, but they will be off on their OE next month, so Sophie Wright is taking over.
Keeping everyone connected is a suite of farm apps, used for vehicle tracking, stock records, health and safety, irrigation control and soil-moisture monitoring.
App MyEROAD is used to keep accurate records of the farm vehicles’ off-road activity for claiming on tax and automatically buying diesel fuel miles, as well as for health and safety and staying in touch.
Mobble is used for stock records and making sure there is always enough drench and other animal health products on-farm to do the job.
The electric fencing and irrigation are controlled through other apps, along with the monitoring of soil moisture meters.
“It’s pretty cool technology, and it makes everything easier,” Andrew said.
They’re also looking into using virtual fencing technology with Halter to help the cattle graze the hills more effectively.
“Everyone is on the apps, so we can all see what is happening on-farm,” Andrew said.
“Even our kids are on them.”
Niamh and James are both studying at Lincoln University, while Ciara is beginning a marketing and geography degree at the University of Otago this year.
Niamh is completing a master’s in planning, while James, with a BComAg, hopes to return to farming once he graduates.
Like their parents, they’re thinking long-term and building for the future.
– By Karen Trebilcock for NZ Farm Environment Trust.