North Canterbury News: June 15, 2023
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RURAL LIFE<br />
The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>June</strong> <strong>15</strong>, <strong>2023</strong><br />
Award winning Glenmark Springs open day<br />
By ROBYN BRISTOW<br />
25<br />
Glenmark Springs will openits gates next<br />
Thursday, <strong>June</strong> 22, to showcasehow Ian<br />
Knowles has achieved abalance between<br />
profitabilityand lifestyle on his Waipara<br />
farm.<br />
Ian was the Supreme winner of the<br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong> Ballance Farm Environment<br />
Awardsearlier this year, and his property<br />
will be showcased to visitors at theopen<br />
day.<br />
Run by the NZ Farm Environment<br />
Trust,the awardwas recognition of Ian’s<br />
focus on increasing productionwhile<br />
reducing the farms environmental<br />
footprint.<br />
The judges said in awarding Ian the top<br />
award,that the822 hectare(790 effective),<br />
property in the Weka Pass was agreat<br />
example of continually gatheringdata and<br />
information aboutthe property, and<br />
implementing strategies, practices,<br />
pasture, and livestocktofit the business.<br />
He achieves this through careful stock<br />
breeding,wellconsidered soil<br />
management, tree planting for shelter,<br />
biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and<br />
activepest control.<br />
The property is predominately asheep<br />
breeding and finishingoperation, with<br />
about 30% of its income derived fromdairy<br />
support.<br />
Ian runs 4000 composite ewes, 1000<br />
hoggets, alongwith 350 dairy cows. As a<br />
side interest he also has adiverse<br />
selectionofother animals, including<br />
alpacas, ostriches, peacocks, deer,<br />
turkeys, partridges, and quail.<br />
He started leasing and buyinginto the<br />
farm in 20<strong>15</strong>, and since then he has<br />
invested significantly to increase the<br />
farms efficiency and profitability.<br />
Development is guided by research and<br />
onfarm trials, resulting in big changes to<br />
the farmsinfrastructure, stocking rateand<br />
performance.<br />
There’safocus on increasing<br />
production while reducing the farms<br />
environmental footprint, all through<br />
simple systems that enableIan to manage<br />
the farm efficiently.<br />
Stock are carefully bred for specific<br />
genetictraits, while winter feeding is<br />
closelymanaged, soilsare well cared for,<br />
and nutrientuse is tailored to seasons and<br />
soil and pasture requirements.<br />
Numerous treeshave been planted,<br />
providing stock shade and shelter plus<br />
enhancing biodiversity and carbon<br />
sequestration. The areas microclimate has<br />
been harnessed by planting afruit orchard<br />
with about <strong>15</strong> different varieties.<br />
To reduceerosion, boost shade and<br />
protect waterways, 3000poplar poles have<br />
been planted, while about2km of<br />
shelterbelts have been established.<br />
Waterways are beingfencedand riparian<br />
plantingisunder way, supported by the<br />
active control of pests.<br />
Ian sees thefarm as special, and enjoys<br />
sharingits space and produce withvisitors<br />
and friends alike.<br />
Topics to be covered on the day, which<br />
includes guestspeakers, are: stock and<br />
forage genetics, profitable farm<br />
development,the bestuse of natural<br />
resources, putting technologytowork, and<br />
turning green. The day willalso offer an<br />
insight intothe researchand onfarm<br />
trials thatguidethe development of this<br />
sheepand dairy supportoperation.<br />
The daysstarts at 1pm, at 775 Glenmark<br />
Drive. There will be abarbecue to end the<br />
day, following a4WD farmtour.<br />
Open day ... Ian Knowles of Glenmark Springs, who won the regional Supreme title in<br />
the <strong>Canterbury</strong> Ballance Farm Environment Award, is holding an open day at Glenmark<br />
Springs on <strong>June</strong> 22, in conjunction with Ballance.<br />
PHOTO SUPPLIED<br />
Glenmark Springs<br />
SUPREME WINNER’S OPEN DAY<br />
Thursday 22 nd <strong>June</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Come and see why Glenmark Springs won the<br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Supreme Award. Learn first-hand<br />
how Ian Knowles’s data driven strategy guided by<br />
research and on-farm trials has achieved abalance<br />
between profitability and lifestyle. Ian and guest<br />
speakers will touch on various topics and the event<br />
will include an on-farm tour of the property.<br />
All welcome –please join us!<br />
CONTACT -Kaylene Fenton<br />
Email: canterbury@bfea.org.nz<br />
WHERE<br />
775 Glenmark Drive,<br />
RD 3, Waipara 7483<br />
SCHEDULE<br />
1.00pm<br />
(Rain or Shine)<br />
Registration,<br />
Finger Food &<br />
Refreshments<br />
4:30pm<br />
BBQ to conclude<br />
2588809<br />
Rural<br />
subdivisions<br />
made easy<br />
Find outhow to<br />
increase your farm’s<br />
valuethrough clever<br />
subdivision options.<br />
Call 0800 787775 forachat<br />
hello@survusrural.co.nz<br />
www.survusrural.co.nz<br />
YEAR OF THE<br />
FARMER<br />
Did you know..?<br />
Food and fibre exports made up 81.4 percent<br />
of New Zealand’s total exports in the year to<br />
30 <strong>June</strong> 2022.<br />
https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/food-exports-increase-in-2022<br />
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