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The Rural Voice, 2000-02, Page 14Robert Mercer Low cost sheep on high cost land Born in New Zealand, Julie Mathews had a dream — and that dream has come true. She found her home away from home on Lopes Island in the Straights between Seattle and Victoria, B.C. Her dream project has grown to 600 ewes. Her approach is low cost on land that would cost $10,000 (U.S.) an acre to buy. Julie Mathews rents all her land including the house and the small barn. She pays rent for some of the land. some she does not. She says that now she would not be surprised if she were to be paid to graze sheep on other people's land. People on the island have seen how her approach can improve the fields and the landscape. Julie told a capacity audience at the Forage Seminar in Naniamo, B.C., in mid-January, that she has reached her limit of physical expansion at 600 ewes on 600 acres. This is due to the time constraints of moving electric fencing to adhere to the New Zealand method of subdivisions in the pasture program. After a slow start to her dream on Lopes Island, people now believe that sheep can co -exist in their lifestyles. Most of her land base is rented from landowners who have only used the land for hay. They now find the land greener with fewer weeds and in some cases reclaimed from the wild roses and shrubs. They are also able to claim tax status as farmers. Sometirpes the rent is even paid in kind with dressed Iamb for the freezer. The basic management program calls for the sheep to be on the move between the paddocks all year, except during the concentrated lambing period which is timed to coincide with the flush of the spring growth grass. She manages to maintain a 12- 2000 Grey Count Environment y al Farm plan �YW orkslops 2 -Day Workshop Location Mon., Jan. 24 & 31 Keady Community Centre Mon., Feb. 14 & 21 Participation Lodge, Holland Township Tues., Feb. 22 & 29 Carnegie Hall (Below Library) Mount Forest Fri., Mar. 3 & 10 Rocklyn Community Centre Tues., Mar. 7 & 14 To Be Confirmed Wed., Mar. 8 & 15 Durham (Location to be Confirmed) Thurs., Mar. 23 & 30 Swinton Park Community Hall Fri., Mar. 24 & 31 To Be Confirmed • Mon., Mar. 13 ' Tues., Mar. 14 * Wed., Mar. 22 * 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Boardroom, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food & Rural Affairs, Markdale Farmers are urged to enrol in one of the above workshops. A maximum o120 farmers per workshop are accepted, so please register while there is still a choice. Hot lunch served at all day workshops • compliments of Agri -Businesses in Grey County To enrol in a workshop or for further information, phone Ray Robertson, Program Representative - OMAFRA Office, Markdale Phone (519) 986-2040 or 1-800-265-9152 • Please Note: Evening Workshops.- 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. All other workshops 10:00 a.m. • 4:00 p.m. 10 THE RURAL VOICE month grazing season by going back over hayfields after the last cut, by shorter rotations and careful management. There is very little grain fed and only when medication is needed. The annual purchased feed runs to about one bale of hay per animal per year. Her management approach is that there is no need to do anything more than you have to as capital costs must be kept to as close to zero as possible on rented lands. Her barn is just big enough, and the sheep are never housed. The shearing shed she manages by herself and she administers all the veterinary needs. When possible, she will sell lamb locally to individuals, and butcher, cut and wrap for a fee applied to the bill, and not as part of the per pound cost. Her help is two well trained sheep dogs. The approach to rental agreements is to get them for as long as possible, for the landowner to pay for the perimeter fence, and she will maintain the electric subdivision fences. Fertility costs are shared, depending on the length of the lease but normally the first two years are paid for by the landowner. The lease terms also depend on who actually owns the sheep as some landowners wish to own their sheep with Julie managing the flock. Lambing is also low key. She will walk around and if there is no trouble she will leave well alone. The lambing percentage runs between 150 - 160 per cent which she says could be improv- ed but finds the time and effort not worth the cost. Ewes must lamb with- out assistance and produce twins or triplets to stay in the Clock. They must have good legs and feet and udder. This New Zealand approach is only possible where pasture is available in part or total for the whole year. She does stress that she could not have done it, had she had to own the land. She says don't do more than you have to and keep all costs down. It is also important to keep communication open with the landowners, and then to do as much as possible yourself.0 Robert Mercer was editor of the Broadwater Market Letter and a farm commentator in Ontario for 25 years.