Riverside Farm

Massey University's Riverside Farm works to expand knowledge about pastoral sheep and beef farming in summer-dry areas (particularly Wairarapa). The farm also provides a facility for quality research, teaching and extension in sheep and beef farming.

Riverside Farm is owned by the Sydney Campbell Foundation. Massey University has leased the land since 1978 based on a 99-year term (with right of renewal). Sydney Campbell Undergraduate Scholarship

Riverside Farm platform

• Area – 686ha Main block: 650ha  Mikimiki block 75ha.
• Soils – Main block: Kohinui series and Tauherenikau series(intergraded yellow-brown loam and yellow-brown earth) dominate the terrace between the river and the State Highway, with recent soils (Greytown series) surrounding the current river bed. Soils of the Kohinui series also occur on the western side of the river, bounding with the Konini hill soils that mantle the hills on the north of Mikimiki Road (with a small proportion of Mikimiki steepland soil also occurring).
• Paddocks – 100 main paddocks ranging from 2 to 14.9 ha.
  Conventional post and batten fences with electric outriggers, plus some 3-wire permanent electric.
  
• Animals – 3200 Romney breeding ewes, 950 Romney breeding hoggets, 30 Romney rams, 10 blackface terminal rams, 300-350 trade steers
• Pasture – Typical hill country pastures consisting of browntop, crested dogstail with perennial ryegrass and white clover present on the flatter regions of the farm.
• Infrastructure –Three sets of yards on the main block. The main set are covered and attached to the eight-stand woolshed (1500 ewe nightpen).
  The second set of yards is attached to an old woolshed in the north-eastern part of the farm.
  The third set is on the southern limestone part of the farm.  
  There is also a set of permanent holding pens for the purposes of docking on the main block and a set of cattle yards.  A set of sheep yards on the Mikimiki block.

Research on Riverside Farm

Riverside Farm is located in the Wairarapa, giving researchers an opportunity to study aspects of farming under drier conditions than in the Manawatu. Projects on this farm tend to focus on sheep, with current research looking at the impact of alternative herbages on productivity of ewes and their lambs.

• Research on Riverside Farm

Page authorised by Director, Agricultural Services
Last updated on Monday 04 May 2020