From Highgrounds: Meet PGG Wrightson's Angela Cottle

Since her childhood in Bega, New South Wales, Angela Cottle knew agriculture was her future. It was during her first year at Sydney University that she found her focus – soil. 

“When I was studying for my Bachelor of Farm Management, I completed work experience with the Department of Agriculture’s local agronomist, and then later at the Orange Combined Rural Traders (CRT) store where I was able to see what customer facing agronomy and extension work was like. This led to a full-time before moving to Canda for a year to work and travel. The skills I picked up in my first job at CRT have stayed with me. I still use those skills in my job today!” says Angela. 

In March 2021, she joined the PGG Wrightson’s Technical Team as a soil specialist, where she works alongside our Technical Field Representatives (TFR). 

“Together, we create opportunities for our farming clients to help them grow and thrive. I am here to extend the work of our TFRs by joining them in the field to assist our clients,” explains Angela. 

The farmer’s journey is one she knows well. Angela and her husband, Hamish, run Highgrounds Farming. It is a 340-ha farm between Timaru and Waimate, where they raise sheep, beef, and free-range pigs. 

“Hamish partnered with his parents in 2007 to run a Texal stud and commercial flock through Highgrounds Texels. Our sheep numbers total around 2,000.”

In 2012, the Cottles added pigs to their farm. 

“Highgrounds Free Range Pork is a farrow to finish pig farming operation. The pigs are run on a continuous rotation on the property using a three-week batch farrow system. Our pigs, around 7,000 a year, are supplied to Harmony. They supply My Food Bag, so if you are getting one of their Christmas hampers, you enjoyed products from our farm,” says Angela. 

Less than 40 percent of the pork available to the consumer is from New Zealand, and labels can be confusing. The Cottles are advocating for change.

“Consumers need to understand where their food comes from. Hand on heart, New Zealand has the highest welfare standards for pork compared to other countries. We are very proud of this. However, it is hard to compete with imported products produced with a lower welfare standard,” explains Angela. 

In February, they will feature on the iconic television programme, Country Calendar.

“Country Calendar wants to tell our story of informing consumers so they can make an educated choice. For instance, people may not realise imported pork use sow crates – a practice banned in New Zealand nearly a decade ago,” she says. 

PGG Wrightson clients benefit from Angela’s work at the coal face. 

“I feel working on both sides of the farm gate allows me to understand the opportunities and changes which are coming to the agriculture sector. I can give advice based on real world experience,” Angela says. 

For this soil specialist, she has some good advice for farmers. 

“Soil is the breadbasket of life; without soil we have nothing. But you do not need to be a soil scientist to understand the soil on your farm. Simple techniques, like visual soil assessments, to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your soil type and regularly testing your fertility will greatly influence your farming decisions.”