Hinemoa Quality Producers Ltd

2012 WAIKATO
Chris and Vikki Nicholson
‘Hinemoa Quality Producers Ltd’
SUPREME AWARD WINNERS
ALSO WINNERS OF:
HILL LABORATORIES HARVEST AWARD
WATERFORCE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT AWARD
In the Pukekawa district, in sight of the last
reaches of the Waikato River, the Nicholsons
have established a thriving commercial growing
business producing onions, potatoes and barley.
Ballance Farm Environment Awards National Sponsors
Chris and Vikki represented, said the award judges emphatically,
“what’s great about New Zealand farmers”. Noted the judges:
“Chris and Vikki have developed a successful business in a
challenging sector while enhancing environmental values. This
has been achieved through productive family partnerships,
passionate dedication and clever business management. They
provide excellent role models for farmers while also being open
to new ideas and information.”
Chris is third generation on this land – the 200ha home property
and 60ha adjacent leased – which when he grew up was a sheep
and beef operation with a small portion periodically leased
to nearby Pukekohe growers. His parents John and Claire still
live on the farm ‘Hinemoa’. John manages the livestock, now
reduced to 150 cattle and also works in the growing operation
he established 35 years ago.
Contour on the property is easy rolling, with gullies. Currently
140ha is in crop. Onions are the largest area planted with 70
percent of these exported. Of the potatoes grown, 30 percent
are exported. The barley is a complementary, restorative crop,
harvested for the grain then the straw. Mustard is also grown as
a weed control and restorative and rotation crop.
Regional Partner

Chris and Vikki Nicholson
‘Hinemoa Quality Producers Ltd’
SUPREME AWARD WINNERS (continued)
The couple admit that when they began commercial growing
20 years ago they didn’t give their rich volcanic soil a lot of
consideration, but very quickly they became aware of it’s
importance. They credit the sustainable farming sub-committee
of the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers group with raising
awareness and accessing information. “Onions and potatoes
leave nothing so we are really conscious of trying to reload
the soil,” says Chris. “We have seen producers who haven’t put
anything back for years. The soil is mostly clay now, their crops
affected by low yields.”
Soil testing and nutrient budgeting is undertaken regularly and
an agronomist is contracted to advise on all aspects of the
growing. Weekly crop walks are made with him. Conventional
fertiliser is spread as required with mushroom compost and
poultry manure spread annually to all paddocks. Chris and Vikki
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
are proud that although the district average for organic matter
content in soil is two percent, their percentage is six, and rising.
Five years ago an 80,000 m 3 winter catchment irrigation dam was
built. With the changing weather patterns, Chris recognised that
water was an essential component in maintaining a sustainable
cropping operation. The dam surrounds have been planted in
natives, bird life has been attracted and a pleasant feature has
been added to the property.
Soil is carted from the lower reaches of the paddocks back to
the top and there is a network of silt traps to ensure a minimal
amount of soil leaves the property. The sight of the Waikato
River from much of the property is a constant reminder says
Vikki. “Because once it gets into the river it’s gone forever,” she
says.
The Nicholsons have a casual staff of about 20, most of whom
are from either Syria or Iraq, and they also employ four people
full-time. Their “number one man” is Jeff Billington. He has been
with the Nicholsons for 11 years. “Jeff is pivotal to our success,”
says Chris, “we are very very lucky to have him, he’s part of the
family.”
About 15 years ago they began what is now an ongoing project
fencing and planting gullies and remnant bush, and this year
they have added wetland areas into their care. There are QEII
covenants on 10ha of bush. Chris and Vikki say their children,
Julia (13) and Thomas (11), serve as constant reminders of the
importance of taking a long-term stewardship approach.
•
Soils highly valued, great understanding of physical and nutrient requirements; strong quality assurance performance.
•
Immense pride in product, huge passion for business; strong vertically integrated business; active community contribution.
•
Excellent understanding around water use and capture of nutrients; silt traps an integral part of sustainability of business.
Value long-term relationships gained within the industry; always looking for improvements within business.

Brian and Jacqui Wellington
BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND LIVESTOCK FARM AWARD
MASSEY UNIVERSITY DISCOVERY AWARD
Brian wears his passion for deer farming well,
and the award judges found it serving him well
too on his 620ha (600ha effective) family farm
southeast of Te Awamutu.
Brian and Jacqui are, according
to the judges, “enthusiastic
farmers with a clear long-term
vision”. The couple added deer
to the drystock mix at their
Wharepapa South property in
1978 and their commitment to
the deer industry has remained
steadfast since. “When people
were getting out of deer we
did the reverse, we increased
our numbers,” recalls Brian.
Since taking charge and purchasing the Wellington family
property 28 years ago, Brian and Jacqui have bought three
adjacent blocks of land. The original Wellington farm was a
sheep and beef property, Brian the third generation of his family
to farm it. But on Brian and Jacqui’s watch the business has
grown in size and evolved into the attractive, well developed
deer, sheep and dairy grazing unit it is today, a home base for
their children – Andrew, Susan, Christine and Robert – who
range in age from 23 to 18.
The judges commended the development Brian and Jacqui
have undertaken noting, “high standard internal access race, a
lot of thought gone into infrastructure, and excellent fencing
of waterways and planting of natives”. Brian lists facial eczema
as their “single biggest challenge”. “The climate is pretty good
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
here,” he says. “It’s not summer dry and doesn’t get too wet
in the winter either.” Last year 500 ewes, 250 lambs and 500
dairy grazers were wintered on the farm, but it is deer that is the
main focus, as the numbers illustrate: 1500 red deer hinds, 700
velveting stags and 1250 red and wapiti-cross fawns.
Contour is rolling with steep faces. Some of the steeper areas
were planted in pines but their intended use has altered. “They
were going to be woodlots for our retirement,” explains Brian,
“but instead we have found they have massive value for the
hinds. Those tree areas allow us to have 1000 hinds off the
pasture through the winter. The hinds love it in there and it
takes the pressure off everywhere else on the farm too.”
The management of the hinds in the pines is where Brian’s
observational skills and keen interest in deer behaviours are put
to excellent use. Every third day barriers on the self-feeding
silage pits are moved forward. Any hinds not able to get enough
food, or being picked on by more dominant hinds are spotted
and separated out during their monthly visit through the yards.
They are then run in a separate herd and, says Brian, “pick up
again really well”. There were just 30 (three percent) in this herd
when the hinds were brought out of the pines in September
last year.
The pines, high pruned up to eight metres, are an ideal
environment for the hinds, whatever the season. In addition to
winter, close to fawning they have open gate access from their
pasture to the tree cover. Brian has noted the behaviour of the
hinds is not dictated by space. In winter half are in a 10ha block
of trees and the other in two hectares. “But the smaller block
never has more picked on than the larger one.”
Silage in the pits is fine cut, so there is some wastage by the
deer. However, the Wellingtons have devised a way to ensure
•
Impressive innovation around deer farming practise; observation of behaviour, experimentation with fencing.
•
Well managed feed demand and surpluses for year round supply.
•
Very tidy well-presented farm with a lot of thought gone into infrastructure.
Always open to the sharing of new ideas and innovations.

•
Proactively
Good
Brian and Jacqui Wellington
...Continued
the deer waste is still used. Feed pit scrapings are regularly set
aside, lime is mixed in and the brew sits until March when it is
applied back onto pasture. “That’s fertiliser we don’t have to
buy,” says Brian.
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
looking for new innovations, finding solutions, trying new ideas.
•
mix of stock variety for land and soil types and to fit feed quality and demand.
•
Good work/leisure balance.
Excellent fencing of waterways and planting of natives.
Behavioural observation is put to good use throughout the
farm minimising the unproductive and destructive problem of
fence pacing by the deer. A number of measures are standard
practise explains Brian: “We always try to keep them fully fed,
we move them on if the weather is wet, so they aren’t eating
dirty pasture, we have electric outriggers on all fences, and we
always try to work it so we never have deer on both sides of
the fence.” This last measure is the most difficult to implement
he says. “Trying to put it in practise is the hardest part, it does
take a lot of planning, but it is worth it.”
Understanding the territorial nature of stags, particularly during
the four-month period around the roar, dictates how they are
managed. Once they get to around 3.5 years old, stags are set
stocked during the roar at five to a hectare on the rougher
ground. “Then you leave them alone and they find their own
spots and they are happy. You can’t move them once they start
to roar.”
Brian is positive about the bloodlines they are fostering. “We’ve
spent a lot of money on breeding stags at times and it is now
showing up, especially in our velveting stags.” The improvement
is clear when it is considered a two-year-old stag in the 1980s
producing 1.1kgs of velvet was a keeper, now that figure is 2.2kgs
and up. “This year we had a stag cut 10kgs and it’s only six, we
are thrilled.”
Apart from Brian and Jacqui there are two full-time employees
on the farm, a stock manager and a general hand.

Frank and Wendy Portegys
‘Braemar Lands Ltd’
BALLANCE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AWARD
LIC DAIRY FARM AWARD
The judges described this family-owned business, situated on Scotsman Valley Road north of
Cambridge, as “a very well run low input dairy farm”.
At the helm of this 140ha (135ha
effective) farm is Frank Portegys.
“Frank is a very enthusiastic
individual who is always trying
to think outside the square to
have a competitive advantage
over other farmers while staying
sustainable,” wrote the judges in
their feedback report.
The award judges were impressed with the effectiveness of
this family partnership, noting that Frank and Wendy were the
recognised entrants to these awards despite the collective
ownership of Braemar Lands by the Portegys’, Ben and Justine
Cameron and Chresten and Rachel Davis. Wendy, Ben and
Rachel are siblings. The judges described the business structure
as “a great working relationship between shareholders” who also
choose to spend time and holiday together.
Time management is clearly a well-honed skill in the Portegys
household. In addition to helping Frank run the farm Wendy is
a PE teacher at Morrinsville College and the couple have four
children, this year attending four schools. Nicolaas (15), Keeley
(13), Jack (11) and Mandi (8) all help out on the farm.
Cows are milked all year round with approximately two-thirds
of the herd spring calving and one third autumn calving. Dry
cows are wintered off to avoid having to feed supplements over
winter to the milkers. From December milking is once a day. “This
farm is three kilometres to the back, so once a day saves the
cows a long walk in the heat of the afternoon,” explains Frank, “it
also reduces workload
over summer and has a
positive impact on cow
condition.” The 378 cows
(peak milked) produced,
for the 12 months to the
end of January, 137,000
kg MS.
When the Braemar
partnership began with
the purchase of the flat
to rolling (with some
steeper sidings) property
in 2008, Frank was a long
time between milkings. He’d last milked cows as a university
student and upon graduating had spent eight years as a fertiliser
representative and six years working for Dairy NZ.
He believes that while he took longer to complete practical
farm tasks in his first year, his broad experience gained in agribusiness
is an asset. “I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t,”
he says.
The judges commended the Portegys’ encouragement of staff
into industry training and interest in their well-being. Employee
Darren Smith won the ‘Dairy Trainee of the Year’ in the 2011
Dairy Excellence Awards and is moving on to a lower order
sharemilking position in June. Relief milker Mike Smith is happily
stepping into Darren’s job.
•
Excellent low input system with all costs continuously monitored to ensure farm is sustainable at all payouts.
•
Very good understanding of soil science, soil processes and nutrient cycling; modest stocking rate and use of nitrogen.
Great start to riparian planting; good medium term targets and future goals.
use and monitoring of water in dairy shed; very well organised throughout the farm, has finger on the pulse.
• Efficient
JUDGES’ COMMENTS

• High
John and Jenny van Woerden
PGG WRIGHTSON LAND AND LIFE AWARD
The van Woerdens display “team work that inspires others” in the opinion of the award
judges, who also commended the couple’s strong sense of community and “wonderful
biodiversity work throughout the property”.
John and Jenny milk 220 cows on their 120ha dairy platform,
part of a much-loved 397ha property in the Waitekauri Valley
northwest of Waihi. Contour is rolling to steep, annual rainfall is
between 2000 to 2500mls and the property goes to the top of
the Coromandel Range. Alongside the dairy operation they have
approximately 100ha in mixed age mainly pines (first planted in
1984) and the balance is native and regenerating bush.
Their property is the result of the purchase of three adjoining
blocks, the first in 1978 and the last 14 years ago. John was just 21
when he bought the original 202ha block - a rough drystock farm
- and converted it to dairy, originally milking just 80 cows. John
was working on dairy farms and seeking a sharemilking position
“without much success because I wasn’t married!” when he saw
the farm advertised with vendor finance.
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
“I suppose it was a bit audacious,” he says with a typically quiet
sense of satisfaction. “I got money from the vendor for the land,
from the bank for the cows and from the dairy company for
the cowshed.” John’s parents helped him with the conversion,
including a 10-aside herringbone cobbled together with secondhand
materials. These days there is a 20-aside herringbone, the
cows are milked once a day. Production last year, the first on
OAD was 58,000 kg MS, this season they are heading for 65,000
kg MS.
Ironically, within months of buying the farm John and Jenny met.
They made a conscious choice to stay in their beloved valley,
bringing up their now adult children Tim and Irene. “I know we
could have made a lot more money sharemilking in the Waikato
but looking back, we are so happy we made the commitment
here.”
Their land has Coromandel State Forest on two sides. The
Waitekauri River is on one boundary, the Mangakara on the
other and springs and gullies run through the property. Historic
gold mining sites are still evident. They have propagated and
planted thousands of natives and enjoy the native bird life.
Hunters and trampers regularly enter the bush through their
property; motor bikers ride there. Active in their community
either currently or in the past in a range of church, music and
school activities, the couple warmly welcome others to share
their place. “It’s not just a farm, people love to come here, and
we love that,” says Jenny.
The van Woerdens were joint runners-up in the original Farm
Environment Awards in 1993.
•
net profit generated from low input farming; developed business viable to hand over to next generation of farmers.
•
Wonderful biodiversity work throughout; huge achievement tackling weeds like gorse and ragwort.
•
Strategic decisions made to get balance right between farming, forestry and native bush.
Strong sense of community, enjoy others coming onto the farm to enjoy it as well.

Ian and Judy Nelson (managers), Landcorp Farming Ltd and Wairakei Pastoral Ltd
‘Resolution Dairy Unit’
WAIKATO REGIONAL COUNCIL WATER PROTECTION AWARD
Resolution is situated between Taupo and
Reporoa on former forestry land, a 920 cow
Landcorp-operated dairy unit where, according
to the award judges, “very high standards are
expected and maintained through every aspect
of the business”.
The judges singled out the
Nelsons for high praise,
writing in their feedback
report: “The passion and
ownership shown by Ian and
Judy is a great example for all
managers. They are a real asset
to the industry.” The couple
are in their fifth season at
Resolution, they came from
lower order sharemilking in
the South Waikato at the time
of conversion.
Currently 410ha effective and producing 330,903 kg MS
annually, Resolution is one of six farms (five dairy) created so
far in the area from harvested forestry land owned by Wairakei
Pastoral and leased by Landcorp. Ian describes the ongoing
project as “a bold development of 25,000ha into state of the
art, environmentally sustainable pastoral farmland, combining
proven farming knowledge with experience and commitment”.
A forestry road used by forestry and transport companies
logging runs through the farm, an energy company is building
a geo-thermal power station on adjacent land and a steady
stream of recreational visitors pass through Resolution Dairy
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
making for what Ian terms “a unique situation”. “We are not just
farming the farm,” he says with a grin.
Judy – who also has an administrative position for a group of
Landcorp farms – and Ian appreciate the team culture they
are part of in working for Landcorp, and replicate that on
Resolution. Damien Watson, Andrea Ruff and Zeke Thompson
are full-time staff; Ian requested they be named. Casual relief
milkers are also employed to ensure off-farm activities can be
undertaken. All workers are valued, right down to the blanket
ruling that hi-visibility vests must be worn on the job. “Because
of all the other things going on, we have to have strict safety
procedures in place,” says Ian.
The climate, soil and former land use for forestry presents
a demanding set of circumstances for management to retain
integrity and promote pasture for grazing cows. A 50m wide
filter strip along the property’s Waikato River boundary is “an
excellent example of environmental stewardship by corporate
owners,” noted the judges. “These initiatives have full buy-in by
all staff.” Excluding run-off and pumice from entering waterways
is a priority with silt and sand traps in place and regularly checked.
Bore water is high in sulphur and iron. The judges described the
“significant” water cleaning process using a device developed in
Russia, as “easily managed, maintained and innovative”.
The Nelsons have a blended family of five teenagers. Brook
and Nathan (17) are both working on dairy farms, Peri (15) lives
in Melbourne, and Danielle (15) and Michaela (14) live at home
on Resolution.
•
Text book model corporate farm; manager who has a great team and achieves and betters set targets.
•
Water cleaning innovation; strong integrity around water and soil management.
•
Good staff management, housing, training and farm work accountability and data, documentation and information availability.
Soil and pasture managed to maintain moisture, drying occurs rapidly; innovative methods prevent run-off entering waterways.

William and Karen Oliver, Mark and Buffi Oliver
‘Motere Lands Ltd’
FINALIST 2012
At a time when others were grappling with new
environmental restrictions around agriculture
in the Taupo catchment, the Olivers saw an
opportunity and purchased land there.
THE AWARDS
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are designed to encourage farmers to support and adopt sustainable farming practices. The
awards are now held in Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Manawatu/Whanganui, Wellington, Canterbury, Southland
and Otago.
The awards have been running in the Waikato region since 1993.
FIELD DAY
The field day will be held at the
2012 Supreme Winners property.
Name: Chris and Vikki Nicholson,
Hinemoa Quality Producers Ltd
When: Wednesday 9th May, 2012
Time: 10.00am to 2.00pm
Where: 363 Murray Road, Pukekawa
For more information, contact Tracy Brown.
Phone: (07) 888-5949 or (027) 291-1716
Email: waikato@bfea.org.nz
Part of an established King
Country farming family William
and Mark, through the family’s
Waerenga Trust, in 2008
bought 2783ha in the Western
Bays district, overlooking
Lake Taupo. By last year they
had increased their holding
to 4356ha (2600ha effective
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.bfea.org.nz
pasture, 1100ha carbon forest, 250ha production forest) above
Waihaha Bay and they leased a 714ha block (this year being
planted in trees by the owners), wintering a total of 32,692 su.
The description of the Olivers’ business type for this award entry
as ‘sheep, beef and deer, and forest/carbon trading’ is telling.
Praising William and Mark’s confidence the award judges wrote
in their feedback report: “We commend both William and Mark
on embracing what many would see as a difficult challenge in a
sensitive farming environment.”
The judges highlighted the Olivers for, “being focused on the
positive and not the negative with good sound forward planning
and the ability to act quickly to both market and environmental
change along with good stewardship of the land, and working
closely with other catchment stakeholders.”
Ballance Farm Environment Awards National Sponsors Regional Partner