Words by Annie Studholme
Wakanui-based mixed arable and dairy farmer Matthew Paton's decision to run for the Ruralco Board of Directors was motivated by watching previous generations of local farmers contribute their time and knowledge to ensure the co-operative’s continued success.
“Looking around the district, there are a lot of farmers who have been on the Board, and I’m thankful for what they have done. To respect their efforts, it is important to join in and step up and do your part by standing. I’m grateful to shareholders for their support and want to see a strong Ruralco for years to come. If I can contribute to that going forward, it would be good.”
He values the co-operative model, seeing Ruralco as an integral part of farmers’ ongoing success across the district. “There is no such thing as an individual farmer; modern farming is a team effort,” he says. “Farmers need a strong team around them to succeed, involving everyone from mechanics, engineers, electricians, to bankers, veterinarians, advisors, local businesses and co-operatives. When farmers succeed, the whole community flourishes. It all comes down to people and relationships.”
Matthew was elected to the Board at the co-operatives' 62nd Annual General Meeting last November, filling the vacant spot left by Tony Coltman’s resignation in February. Current board member Rhea Booker retired by rotation (as per the Society’s constitution) and was re-elected.
A long-time Shareholder, Matthew brings a wealth of practical farming experience, a first-hand understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing local farmers, and previous governorship experience to the table.
Matthew farms at Wakanui with wife Julia, and sons Hamish (19) and Will (17). Having originally grown up in Broadfields in the Selwyn area on a cropping and blackcurrant farm, his parents later moved south to a 200-hectare sheep and crop property near Rakaia, eventually buying 250 hectares at Wakanui in the 1990s. After finishing school, Matthew completed a Diploma of Agriculture at Lincoln University before heading overseas, working in Western Australia, then the UK and Europe.
He and Julia returned in 2000 to go farming, and with his parents’ support they were able to complete a dairy conversion nearby, creating some equity to help with family succession on the cropping farm. The dairy farm milks 600 cows.
Over the years, they have expanded their farming operation by developing the cropping farm, purchasing additional cropping land, and leasing neighbouring properties. Everything is fully irrigated. Alongside growing traditional crops like wheat, barley, oats, grass seed, clover, brassicas such as kale and Chinese cabbage, they also lease out land for onions, share-farm potatoes, and grow process crops for Talley’s like peas and sweet corn. In addition, they graze cows, heifers and replacements for the dairy farm, and finish lambs during the winter months.
Having been involved in the Wakanui Young Farmers Club in his younger days, Matthew has most recently served seven years on the Lauriston Farm Improvement Club (LFIC) executive. Established in the mid-1960s, the LFIC is an Ashburton-based farm advisory organisation operating in Mid and Central Canterbury, currently serving 150 arable, mixed, dairy, and dairy support clients with four full-time advisors. This type of advisory service is unique to New Zealand. He also currently chairman of the Wakanui Education Support Charitable Trust.
His diverse farming operation and governance experiences have sharpened his understanding of how board decisions impact not only individual farms but the rural economy.
While heartened by the noises coming from central Government around strengthening private property rights, he’s looking forward to seeing much-needed changes simplifying and reducing compliance, hopefully for all New Zealanders.
For agriculture to be successful, the rules can’t be too prescriptive; otherwise, how will the next generation repay the debt from succession? They must be flexible enough to upskill the land and make improvements, he said. “The ideology of dividing a family farming asset equally sounds good, but the reality is different with arable, future generations need to have the option of flexible land use. We cannot lock in the future, out in the northeastern corner of Mid Canterbury an Apple orchard is being planted over a dairy farm. We are just the caretakers for the next generation.”
Looking forward, beyond the current wet summer, agriculture is well positioned in Mid Canterbury to continue to strengthen our local economy and provide opportunities for all members of our community, both urban and rural. Supporting and enabling our district’s farming successes is the team at Ruralco, said Matthew.