FEATURE
Farm diversification pays dividends
Joining viticulture with sheep and beef 20 years ago has dramatically changed the dynamics of a Marlborough farm but has also helped to secure its future. BY KATE TAYLOR Tyntesfield was previously a 2,800ha sheep and beef farm in the Waihopai Valley with fattening country at the front and running into some very rugged country at the back. “Early development, particularly with tractor work and fencing had dramatic changes in the first 10 years. Stock numbers went up and peaked at 13,000 stock units. By then we could see little upside in the livestock operation and grapes were a timely addition to the enterprise. The river flats grew good lucerne but were stony—perfect grape land,” says David Ensor, who at the time was farming with his brother Edward (having taken over from their father Harold and their grandfather, also Edward).
“We took the plunge 20 years ago (1995) and planted the first paddock into vines. When we got the first cheque off that it blew us away. We thought we better have some more of this stuff. The first grape cheque off 12ha was the same as the wool cheque off 2,800ha. “We suddenly realised that world was passing us by so we have been progressively planting since then and now have 100ha of vines. We’ve been getting drier years and we seem to be getting diminishing returns for sheep wool and cattle. It was a Godsend that we made that change 20 years ago when we could still financially do it. We still need both aspects of the farm though—there are good profits in grapes but there are also risks. One frost can ruin the lot.”
RE A L FA RM E R
3