Learn how the technical expertise from our Technical Field Representatives adds value to farming operations. 

Under the gaze of Mount Ruapehu in the Waimarino area in the central North Island lies the Ātihau Whanganui Incorporation (known as ‘Awhi’) farming operation.

Awhi is an extensive operation comprising sheep and beef, a dairy farm, forestry and an apiary. The operation incorporates eight stations with a total land area of 42,000 hectares (ha).

Awhi Business Manager Farming Siwan Shaw said, “we run a large operation with many moving parts, so we need to partner with technical experts who understand the complexity of our operation. We have been working with PGW for many years, across a number of business units, but primarily with the rural supplies (agronomy, pasture and cropping technical expertise) and livestock teams.”

PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative Nathaniel Turner has worked with Siwan and the station managers for over four years. Nathaniel said, “located within the Central Plateau area, Awhi has the advantage of nutrient rich volcanic soil, however the topography ranges from flat highly productive land including Whanganui river flats (100 metres above sea level) through to hard hill country (with an altitude of up to 700 metres above sea level). I work with the team to plan and support a crop and agronomy programme to suit the variation in growing conditions across the farming operation. Climatic conditions can be extreme with very challenging summers and wet, cold winters, so that’s another factor we need to consider.”

“In early June every year, we start preparing a crop management plan for all eight stations for the year ahead. The programme includes pasture and winter cropping, along with trial crops. In mid/ late spring we sow pasture and in late spring we sow winter feed including brassica and fodder beet.”

“Collectively the eight stations annually sow 900 ha of both short and long-term pasture, and sow 650 ha of winter feed (brassica and fodder beet). So, it’s busy all year round.”

“Pasture and summer forages are grown to increase livestock performance. Chicory and clover swards provide a source of high-quality feed which has the ability to achieve higher growth rates in livestock compared with a straight grass-based system. A plantain/clover mix has been adapted for a rich source of feed for lambing and lactation to increase yields at weaning (it is also used in the finishing/ fattening system).”

“Brassicas and fodder beet are sown for high quality bulk winter feed where feed demand is at its highest in periods of pasture feed deficit. Cropping is also part of Awhi’s pasture renewal process which involves a two-year rotation from existing under-performing pasture back into a high performing pasture, which contributes to an overall lift in farm productivity,” said Nathaniel.

Siwan Shaw said, “Nathaniel understands our business and provides technical expertise that we don’t have within our team. However, due to the scale and complexity of our operation we don’t expect Nathaniel to have all of the answers. So, it’s great that PGW have a team of technical experts who provide Nathaniel with support when he needs it, so he is able to draw on that expertise and can come back to us with a solution quickly.”

Nathaniel concludes, “Awhi’s team are innovative and future focused, so we are always planning ahead and thinking of ways to further enhance what is already a high performing operation. This makes my job both challenging and rewarding and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Pictured: PGW Technical Field Representative Nathaniel Turner inspects a crop of Sovereign kale at Awhi’s Tawanui Station in May 2019. The crop is thriving at 700 metres above sea level in the Station’s nutrient rich volcanic soil. The crop was sown in early January and will be utilised as winter feed in late July 2019.

This article was profiled in our 2019 Annual Report.