Sheldon and Nicola Martin have been farming their 585ha property nestled in the heart of Rangiwahia since 2001. Sheldon is fourth generation to do so after his great-grandfather settled on the same farm 125 years ago.

Sheldon & Nicola Martin

The natural summer-safe landscape is a clash of extremes with 465ha of medium-to-steep hill country looming over the 120ha of flats out the front.

The Martin’s property is a Meat and Wool survey farm and, through this connection, the facilitator told Sheldon and Nicola all the best-performing farms on his books were using Hatuma Dicalcic Phosphate®. Eight years ago Sheldon and Nicola decided to try it for themselves. ‘The biggest change has been how evenly the place is grazed,’ says Sheldon. ‘It might not seem like we’re growing as much but, at the same time, there isn’t the surplus rank grass as there was before because the stock eat everything. Over the winter we graze the grass right down and the stock always look content.’

‘The stock are easier to handle and happier now and that helps with our time management. Clover growth has improved all over the farm. The regrowth is good; it might not look like much from a distance, but it’s a lot more dense than it used to be and is a better quality. After a drought, it bounces back very quickly.

‘The results we’re getting and the cost of the product speak for themselves. The customer service we get from Roger, our Hatuma Field Representative, is great. He’s familiar with the history of the place and knows how to get the best results from the product.’