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Farming Fast Five: Ben Butterick

Farming Fast Five: Ben Butterick
Ben Butterick. Photo supplied

The Farming Fast Five: Where we ask a farmer five quick questions about farming, and what agriculture means to them. Today we talk to Banks Peninsula farmer Ben Butterick.

What did your journey into farming look like?

I was lucky that my family owns a farm at Kaituna, on Banks peninsula.

I lived in town during the week with mum but I spent every minute I could at the farm during weekends and school holidays.

I loved helping my father and grandparents, it’s all I ever wanted to do was work with animals.

I was allowed a dog at 10 and some sheep at 12 so I guess I’ve been invested in it my whole life, I went to Telford and then work at various places around the South Island before moving back home for a while.

Tell us a little bit about your farming operation.

I am now managing a farm Ahuriri just out of Tai Tapu, running 3500 ewes plus replacements and 200 cows plus replacements.

All lambs except the replacement ewe lambs are sold at the end of November at our lamb sale which is a great system as we are prone to dry summers.

All the calves apart from replacement heifers are sold in the autumn at the weaner fair at Canterbury Park.

Alongside the commercial stock I’m running 240 stud ewes made up of Hampshire and Poll Dorsets.

We  sell around 70 rams a year at our on farm ram sale.

What challenges have you faced in your farming business, and how have you tackled those challenges?

Prolonged dry spells I find can be a big challenge not only financially but they can be quite hard on the mind at times.

Now I’ve been through a couple you just have to accept you can’t control weather but you can make early decisions that help the outcome.

I make sure I always talk to older more experienced farmers that have been through  alot worse and that certainly helps

Also getting off farm for a day’s dog trialing in the weekend or a beer with some mates, makes you realise you’re not in it alone there’s always other farmers struggling as well.

What has been a major highlight for you in your farming journey?

Starting our on farm ram sale and also the Ahuriri lamb sale is a real highlight.

Putting your year’s work and breeding direction in front of the public, the people we have meet and the relationships we have built as a result of these two sales is really rewarding.

What advice would you have for the next generation of farmers?

Build good relationships.

Get a couple of older people that you respect for what they have or are achieving whether it be how they train dogs or run their farm and soak up what they have to say they have been through it all before.

Work for the best people you can and be open to learning new ways of doing things, and lastly work hard.