Tony and Lynda Gray, Manawatu

Tony and Lynda Gray own Kinross - a sheep, beef and deer farm nestled under the Ruahine Ranges in the Pohangina Valley, northern Manawatū. 

It is 411.8 hectares in total, of which 265 hectares is effective. The farm runs a mix of sheep (38%), beef (22%) and deer (30%). All are breeding flocks/herds, with the sheep and cattle progeny generally finished on-farm and weaner/hinds/stags sold at weaning. The farm achieves high levels of reproductive performance, with the 2022/23 season showing 161% lambing, 90% calving and 96% fawning. 

Over the last few years, stock numbers have changed slightly with sheep and deer numbers reducing and cattle increasing. All stock numbers have reduced in 2023 compared with 2022. Table 1 shows these changes at Kinross from 2020 through to 2023. 

Table 1: Kinross Partnership physical parameters

The farm has a total of 19 hectares planted in forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), 6 hectares in douglas fir, 4 hectares in poplars for erosion control, and 6 hectares of regenerating native forest. 

Of the remaining non-pastoral area, 125 hectares is in QEII covenant.

Total biological greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 2% across the farm from 2020 levels, rising to a 2.4% reduction when offsetting from forestry is incorporated. 

Table 2: Kinross total greenhouse gas emissions by gas

Tony and Lynda are focused on maximising returns in an environmentally sustainable way. A key farm system change has been the concentration on improving farm efficiency, particularly reproductive performance.

Pregnancy scanning ewes at Kinross (Photo: Dave Allen Photography)

Latterly, they have also decreased the following, which has reduced their methane and nitrous oxide emissions: 

• Pasture intake reduced 7.7% from 2022 to 2023
• Total stock units reduced 6.4% from 2022 to 2023
• Total sheep RSU reduced 9.8% from 2022 to 2023
• Nitrogen fertiliser reduced 36% from 2020 to 2023
• Swede and kale crop areas reduced by 3ha from 2020 to 2023 
• Imported fodder supplements reduced by 38.2% and imported other supplements by 77.8% from 2020 to 2023

Alongside these farm system changes, Tony and Lynda have undertaken a significant tree-planting programme. This was in response to the severe damage the farm sustained in the 2004 just as they took ownership. 

As well as lowering emissions, the changes they have implemented have improved water quality results and the stability of their hills.

To read more about what actions to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, see our Current Actions page. 

The extensive damage the farm suffered in the floods of 2004 was a trigger for the Grays to develop a farm plan. They did this in conjunction with Horizons Regional Council, becoming the first farm in the area with a Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) plan.

This plan mapped out their soils and land classes and gave them options for compatible land uses, aiming to combat sediment and erosion. This helped the couple identify land management options would help support the environment and potentially increase their profit.

Tony and Lynda have continued honing their approach over the years of supporting the environment while remaining profitable. This has encouraged a focus on appropriate stocking rates and improving individual animal performance while not over-using the land. It has also underpinned their extensive planting programme. 

From 2024, Tony and Lynda are planning implement system changes to allow them to finish cattle earlier. Currently, they are finishing Wagyu x Angus cattle at 24-30 months of age and carcass weights of 360-400kg.

Bulls at Kinross (Photo: Dave Allen Photography)

The change is to finish them at a carcass weight around 300kg, at 18-20 months, through a breed change. This change will reduce biological greenhouse gas emissions within the beef enterprise by 48% and for the whole farm by 1%.

There is more poplar planting to do for erosion control, which will also be entered into the ETS. Following Cyclone Gabrielle, the Grays also have a lot of repair work to happen. 

Having been through several major storm events in their time on the farm, Tony and Lynda also have climate change adaptation front of mind. Below are some of the things they are doing to improve the farm's resilience to a changing climate: 

• Ensuring that paddocks are not over-grazed and the farm is not over-stocked. 
• Allowing buffer for dry years (in particular).
• Using data and information to make decisions early. For example, a few years ago, NIWA was predicting El Nino so the Grays planted more greenfeed crops than usual and fortunately that got them through.
• Using shade, shelter and water to ensure stock are healthy and to maintain good utilisation and quality of feed. 
• Retiring areas of land to native so that inputs are not wasted. 

With Tony and Lynda nearing retirement, they have been thinking about their legacy. They hope that whoever is farming their land in future will value the work they have done to protect regenerating natives and can see how they've looked after the land at the same time as maintained a healthy and productive system. 

Tony and Lynda with some of their deer. (Photo credit: Dave Allen Photography)

They know that looking after the environment can be daunting and many farmers put it in the "too hard" basket. They encourage those farmers to break down the challenge into smaller pieces. "You don't need to do it all at once," says Lynda. "Start small, get that working and then start the next piece." 

Tony and Lynda are also firm believers in enjoying what you do and trying to keep a positive attitude. Seeing how things could work and how a challenge can be turned into an opportunity can then make a big difference to feeling able to do something about it. 

"I think farmers need to plan more and make use of technology," says Tony. "With the weather patterns we're starting to see now, we need to find ways to take pressure off the land. Think about planting a few trees every year, maybe reduce your stocking rate a little bit, get a plan if you haven't got one."