Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Survive by diversifying
Hill country farmers Noel and Debbie Moleta had a long interest in converting to organic farming before switching over 10 years ago.
The couple farm the isolated Waitui Farm at Titirangi Bay, in the outer Marlborough Sounds, a three-hour drive from Blenheim, with their two adult children, Laura and Braden, and their respective partners Shaun and Nici.
Waitui Farm is 1470 hectares, of which 1100ha is farmed, comprising mainly of exposed, steep hill country with spectacular views over Cook Strait and out to d’Urville Island where Noel grew up.
The farm is an entrant in the farming category of the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards.
Annual rainfall is 1600 millimetres but recent weather patterns in the past four or five seasons have directed most of the moisture away from autumn when growth is most needed.
A herd of 135 mixed-aged angus cows with calves at foot, and 54 rising 3-year-old heifers keep the weeds out.
Diversification is the key to maintaining income levels with a mussel farm nearby in Port Gore, and a developing hop farm in Tapawera, to go with the traditional sheep farming.
Because of the isolation the family live a self-sufficient lifestyle, sourcing their own meat and vegetables.
The farming operation has changed significantly since the conversion to be Assure Quality certified organic with less fertiliser applied, and far fewer bales of wool produced.
The switch coincided with a shift from romney sheep to a selfshedding breed, wiltshire.
The wiltshires are selfmanaging and produce a less greasier wool, and not susceptible to fly strike.
- Mike Watson