Farm ownership becomes reality for young farmers
Based in Heriot, West Otago, Ash Kinaston always wanted to farm. After gaining shepherding experience and a Diploma in Farm Management from Lincoln University, Ash and his wife Tara decided to lease land and run trading stock. Now, with farm ownership a reality for them, Ash says he is pleased with the success they have had to date.
“The cost of building a farm business is high, so we leased a property and ran trading stock as this was the most cost-effective option,” explains Ash.
Advice from friends and more experienced farmers proved pivotal to Ash and Tara’s future.
“A farming friend told me about a property that was coming up for lease and he encouraged me to go for it, coming along to meet the owner and offering me ideas on how to get started. There are a lot of good people in the industry who are happy to share their advice and show their support to younger people,” says Ash.
Ash has been leasing since 2011, then in 2022 purchased their home place having Kinaston Farm Limited encompassing two properties – the 530 ha leased farm and the Kinaston’s own 160 ha farm. Ash says buying the farm is a highlight, a move he and Tara were able to do thanks to hard work and through diversifying their investment portfolio.
Five years ago, the Kinaston’s moved from trading stock to capital stock, breeding and finishing their own sheep and beef. Currently on the farms are 4,800 ewes who went to the ram, approximately 1,400 replacement ewe lambs, 1,000 winter lambs finished in spring, 30 in-calf beef cows and 30 R1 beef calves. This year Ash is also planning to purchase 50 R2 cattle over winter to finish in the summer.
Perendale is Ash’s preferred breed of sheep which he likes for their resilience. This year, he has chosen Romney Texel rams for his ewes to try and increase lamb weaning weights, so they can be sold before the dry affects feed availability in late summer.
Ash has built a successful cropping programme rotating between swedes, kale and pasture with the mix suiting local conditions. Soil testing forms an important part of the programme too, fixing any nutrient deficiencies ahead of new plantings. For advice on his cropping programme, Ash calls on the technical knowledge offered by PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative John Hellewell.
“I grow kale as a specialty crop for fattening lambs as it is versatile and I can get multiple grazings. Overall, I am happy with the yields I have achieved. The precision-grown swede sits between 18 to 22 tonne per ha and the kale, around 10 to 14 tonne per ha.”
“John monitors the crops, reporting back his findings and any recommendations. Every year we discuss new varieties to plant. I’m happy to give a new crop a go on John’s advice as he understands what is performing well locally. This year, I have planted Cleancrop Brassica System Sarge kale and Earnslaw swede and so far, both have performed well.”
With winter crops now multi-graze options, John says, before recommending a variety, he firstly understands when Ash wants the crops to be grazed and the yields he is after.
“Ash’s crops are for grazing ewes and for lamb finishing,” says John. “The Cleancrop Brassica System Sarge kale is a cost-effective option for helping manage willow weed on the farm’s flats. Earnslaw swede offers Ash more resistance to insect pests and disease. Aphids are increasingly an issue during dry autumns as they bring disease that affects leaf health and yield. Greasy cutworm has been an issue too in the second-year kale.”
Maintaining ewe and in-calf cow condition is a priority during winter. With no pasture growth over this time, winter crops are vital in providing much-needed nutrients and dry matter. Ash says his lambing percentage is 140 percent, with the lambs and any store lambs purchased, finished once they reach 19 kg carcass weight. The most challenging time on farm is during the dry periods in late summer and autumn when Ash says he is building ewe condition ready for tupping while managing a lack of feed and quality. To remedy this, Ash sells some lambs in early summer, creating more feed for ewes while feeding sheep nuts and balage, if needed.
With some drench resistance on farm, John brought in PGG Wrightson’s Technical Expert – Animal Production, Dr Andrew Dowling, to discuss strategies with Ash.
“Andrew was great,” says Ash. “I’ll be utilising my cropping programme to plant more specialty lamb fattening crops as this keeps lambs off wormy pastures. Plus, I’m introducing more cattle into the system to clean up the paddocks for youngstock.
“It is frustrating seeing resistance forming, as I know the stock is not doing as well as expected. Armed with strategies from Andrew, I can ensure the problem does not worsen.”
When in town, Ash visits the PGG Wrightson Heriot store for all his farm supplies.
“The local store team is awesome. Nothing is a problem; if a product is not in stock, they order it immediately. Heriot is a small rural town so we would be lost without the PGG Wrightson store. It is handy for whatever I might need including pipe fittings or other componentry needed for urgent repairs.
