PERENNIAL Pasture Systems group hosted two successful New Zealand farmers who paid a visit to the Ararat district in July.
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Matt and Lynley Wyeth from Kaituna, North West of Masterton on New Zealand’s North Island spent two days visiting farms.
The couple are well known in New Zealand for their passion for agriculture and the environment.
They have won numerous awards including the Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Award, eBeef+Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award, the Hill Laboratories Harvest Award, the Massey University Innovation Award and the PGG Wrightson Land and Life Award.
Perennial Pasture Systems President Wayne Burton said it was great to showcase some of Ararat’s leading farms to give Lynley and Matt an idea of the complexity of farming in the region.
Matt and Lynley run a family farm with a heavy focus on breeding and finishing sheep, wintering approximately 6850 ewes and 2500 hoggets, along with 220 breeding cows and replacement heifers, 200 R1 cattle and 150 R2 cattle.
About 2500 ewe lambs are also farmed on contract on other family properties.
The most innovative practice they have adopted is in lambing down around 1000 ewes that have scanned with triplets in a lambing shed.
There is a huge contrast to the Ararat region in rainfall with the Wyeth’s receiving an annual average rainfall of 1800 millimetres, often with snowfalls.
In comparison the Overdale property at Concongella has only received on average 350 millimetres for the last four years.
Overdale was one of the properties the Wyeth’s visited and owners George Holden, Sue Holden and Mal Nicholson explained their livestock and pasture management.
Lynley and Matt were driven around the district by Charles de Fegely and project manager Rob Shea.
The tour visited South Glengownan at Joel Joel owned by Ken, Cheryl and Justin Hall.
The visitors inspected the lucerne pastures, the modern woolshed and sheep handling facilities as well as being involved with a discussion on cropping systems.
The final stop for the day was at the Harrington family property “Tirranna” at Mt Cole Creek where new phalaris and arrowleaf clover pastures.
Barton manager Rob Cooper from the Hassad Australia property near Moyston gave the visiting New Zealanders an insight into large corporate farming and the plans for Barton.
A visit to Simon and Yvette Brady’s Rhymney property “Jallukar Park” completed the farm tours.
Day one was completed with a social evening for the pair at Salinger’s Cafe in Great Western.
