Neil Cullen, Glen Omaru Valley, Balclutha, South Otago branch July 2014
Neil Cullen describes his award-winning farm which includes sheep and beef enterprises, plantation forestry and native forest. Neil stresses the importance of good planning for successful forestry ventures, particularly thinking…
Eoin Garden, Avenel Station, Central Otago branch July 2014
The Garden family farm this 2000 hectare hill to high country station, producing sheep, beef, and venison. Some 200 ha is now planted as shelterbelts and woodlots with shelter a…
Donald Gordon, Crofthead, Milton, South Otago branch July 2014
Forty hectares of trees have been established on this Otago sheep and beef farm. Key species are radiata pine, macrocarpa and Douglas fir. The earliest plantings (planted in 1981) are…
Dennis Larsen, Clutha, South Otago branch July 2014
Dennis Larsen describes his large-scale sheep and beef unit in South Otago. trees were originally planted for erosion control, shade and shelter, and then timber production - some 92 hectares…
Alan Roulston, Hillend, South Otago branch July 2014
A 400-hectare rolling farm with sheep, cattle, outdoor pigs and cropping. Trees have been planted in riparian zones, for shelter, timber, wildlife, fruit and nuts, and aesthetics. Stock management, animal…
Ken Stephens, Balclutha, South Otago branch July 2014
Ken Stephens describes how, as a second-generation farm forester, he has carried on where his father Vic left off. The Stephens are now harvesting continuously so receiving a steady income…
Bill Wise, Balclutha, South Otago branch July 2014
Bill Wise has been planting trees for timber and shelter on his sheep and beef farm for 50 years on poorer, gorse-infested areas. He is now into the second rotation…
Developing a wood energy industry in Central Otago
Rhys Millar, August 2014
Wood energy for heating has been around for a long time and most New Zealanders will be familiar with drying and storing wood for winter, preparing and starting the fire,…
Bell Vue with Steve Robertson
Doug Lane, February 2013
This is one of the field day reports from the 2012 Balclutha conference. Alighting from the bus on the edge of Lawrence township we were reminded of the gold-mining history…
The gilded lily of Tuapeka West
Dennys Guild, August 2012
The road to Mark and Marjorie Hay’s farm, called Glenayr Farm, is very inappropriately called Athenaeum Road. Athenaeum is one of those odd words borrowed from the Romans by the…
Verterburn Station
James Barton, August 2012
On Friday 13 April four busloads of attendees of the conference visited Verterburn Station, where they were hosted by Robert, Jill and Andrew Reid. Located about 25 km west of…
Singing the Cullen song
Nick Ledgard, August 2012
While returning to Telford in the bus after a dinner during the recent conference in Balclutha, we sang songs and told jokes. With due respect to the fine voices of…
Conference visit to Chardale
Chester Holmes, August 2012
Chardale is a gem of a property at Hillend just north of Balclutha – and the South Pole. Owned by Allan Roulston, it has been in the family since 1919,…
Nothing fancy, nothing wasted
Neil Cullen, February 2011
Ron and Carol Alderton, along with sons Bruce and David and his partner Paula, were the Supreme winners of the Ballance Environment Awards for Otago for 2010. The family were…
Calder Stewart Industries forestry
Bruce Stewart, February 2011
The forestry division of construction and development company Calder Stewart Industries is the largest private forest owner in the Otago region. As company co-founder I was keenly interested in farm…
Skilbister forest farm
Graeme and Joy Flett, February 2011
Skilbister, named after the Orkney Island farm where the family originate, was taken up by Henry Flett in 1877. The farm was expanded by Henry and son Robert to become…
South Otago Branch President A bit more than a farm forester
Ken Jones, February 2011
If you stop making a profit in any venture you undertake, you should make changes to arrest the decline or you should get out of the venture. This is one…
The forestry scene in Otago
Mid Otago branch, February 2011
Otago has a rich forestry history, dating back 160 years. As early as 1849 a water-powered mill was operating on the Leith Stream to provide timber for the newly established…
Hidden gems of the south
Murray Harris, February 2011
This is an overview of the people, the geography and production capabilities of the area south of Dunedin to west Otago and inland to central Otgao. The colonising movement in…
EDS attack on forestry ignores threat of climate change Friday, September 17, 2021
The forest industry is calling a media statement from the Environmental Defence Society an ill-informed rant against forestry which ignores the threat of climate change. Forest Owners Association President, Phil…
Recognition for Forestry's Highest Achievers in 2021. Monday, August 23, 2021
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) has announced the winners of its prestigious 2021 awards. In what has been an exceptionally volatile year for many, the forestry sector remains a significant…
Forest Owners welcome Te Uru Rakau appointment Monday, August 09, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the appointment of Jason Wilson to head Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service, is absolutely appropriate for the huge challenges and opportunities facing…
Foresters say afforestation report raises more questions than it answers Wednesday, August 04, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the Beef+Lamb commissioned survey on forest planting rates is nowhere near robust nor detailed enough to draw a conclusion that the government should impose controls…
Forest Owners sharing primary sector concerns Thursday, July 15, 2021
The Forest Owners Association is sympathising with some farmer frustrations over the pace of regulations being imposed on the primary sector. Forest Owners Association President Phil Taylor says the time…
Forest Owners say production trees are potentially farming’s biggest friend Tuesday, July 06, 2021
The President of the Forest Owners Association has told delegates to the Primary Industries Summit in Christchurch that forestry offers many opportunities for farmers. He said trees versus food production…
Commission’s ETS change risks forest planting targets Tuesday, June 08, 2021
The forest industry says the Climate Change Commission is risking forest planting rates by stating that the current Emissions Trading Scheme ‘will incentivise more production forestry than needed.’ The final…
KTM Supreme Winner at Forestry Awards Monday, May 10, 2021
The best of best in the region’s forestry industry were toasted at a sell-out Southern North Island Wood Council Training Awards dinner last night. The supreme winner, found from the…
Greater role for a public forestry service Thursday, April 29, 2021
Media Statement from Hon Stuart Nash Minister of Forestry A greater role for a public forestry service has been outlined by the Forestry Minister, to drive the focus on regional…
Expansion of Forest Service role a vital move Thursday, April 29, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the just announced creation of Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service heralds the potential to fix vital bottlenecks in the initial stages of the forest industry…
Plantation forestry ranks best for land use Thursday, April 15, 2021
The just released Ministry for the Environment’s latest environmental report scores exotic forestry highly for its low impact on soils. The MfE report identified exotic forests as the land use by far…
The NZIF Foundation Awards & Scholarship Applications Now Open Thursday, April 15, 2021
The NZIF Foundation is offering the following awards in 2021: Future Forest Scholarship for post graduate research of up to $10,000 Up to two scholarships available Otago Southland Award One or…
Foresters celebrate scooping primary industry awards Wednesday, April 14, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says taking out three of the four category prizes in the Primary Industries’ Good Employer Awards this week is a sign the forest sector has come…
Log supply not the cause of timber shortage Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Forest organisations have joined to reject statements that the current shortage of framing timber is caused by foresters selling logs to China and not leaving enough timber to be processed…
Farm Foresters fired up to play a role in land use issues. Monday, March 29, 2021
Farm foresters are now excited and fully informed to play a role in helping role solve NZ land use issues says the incoming association president, Graham West. They have just…
Wairoa foresters forced to subsidise local meatworks Thursday, February 18, 2021
Foresters in the Wairoa District are appalled that a part of their recent rate increase will go to propping up the local meatworks. Wairoa District Council disclosed at a meeting…
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