New management broom for St James Station

The destocking of St James Station, the lease of which was purchased by the Crown last year for $40 million, continues apace today at the Canterbury Park sales, where 1,000 ewes and their lambs are being sold. Destocking is standard practice by the Department of Conservation (DoC), but a practice Federated Farmers says it should reconsider.

 

“If DoC is to prevent the further spread of noxious weeds on St James, including broom, then listening to Federated Farmers and particularly high country farmers is a must,” argues Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers High Country chairman.

 

“The Federation’s prime concern is to ensure the high country does not go backwards.

 

“We are aware that all budgets are tight right now and DoC is probably doing a line by line review of expenditure. Weed control on St James is probably less a priority than the Kakapo for example.

 

“Yet the control of pests and weeds is not something you can defer even for one season. They are noxious for good reason. Given half a chance noxious weeds will out compete and smother all other vegetation, posing a future fire risk as well.

 

“DoC needs to think smarter about how to control noxious weeds and pests. Destocking St James will see the cost to the taxpayer explode as the only viable solution will be expensive chemicals.

 

“That’s why Federated Farmers High Country is particularly concerned about the future management of St James. We know from experience the positive role pastoral farming plays in controlling noxious weeds in the High Country.

 

“Landcorp’s Molesworth Station is a classic example where farming and the conservation estate happily coexist.

 

“Frankly I am surprised DoC has failed to recognise the role grazing plays in the control of young noxious seedlings, such as broom. Especially as Molesworth neighbours St James Station.

 

“Throughout New Zealand, goats along with dairy, sheep, beef and deer all represent non-chemical solutions to weed control that can be farmed on a low intensity basis.

 

“Rather than DoC’s Chief Executive, Al Morrison, having to become chemical Al to control noxious weeds he can achieve the same result as farmer Al instead. Federated Farmers is happy to sit down with DoC to explain how this could be achieved,” Mr Aubrey concluded.