As published in Business Rural North Summer 2023
Fergus Rural Agribusiness, based in Gisborne, has evolved from its initial livestock consultancy and trading company into providing farmers with a package of environmental solutions, tailored to their individual circumstance. For Rob Fergus, the opportunity to bring in an experienced farm environmentalist and create a new stream of business just made sense on a number of fronts.
“We have been around for a long time as livestock marketers and over time you get to know your clients really well. You learn about their farm’s situation and where they may need advice and project management to improve overall environmental outcomes. So when Tim Petro joined our team carrying these skills it opened up a whole other activity base for the business and it’s been great,” Rob says.
While Rob continues to concentrate on all aspects of stock trading, Fergus Rural’s Environmental Solutions is really gaining traction in the Gisborne, Tairawhiti region, as more and more farmers attend, as they can, to developing and furthering farm plans, enhancing their farms with native and exotic tree plantings that also offer additional income sources.
Planting the right tree in the right place not only helps farmers meet any compliances impacting their properties but it also improves land production and performance. “A farm environmental plan is very much a living document. We’re hear to help farmers understand what their land has the potential to become. We can take care of all the project management, sourcing trees, planting and ongoing maintenance,” says Tim.
A template for environmental plan development can be accessed from Gisborne District Council or Beef & Lamb NZ, with a focus often on controlling sediment and marginal land movement on hill country.
Tim has also assisted farmers with resource consents to clear scrub, irrigation water take and afforest marginal areas. A number of farmers already have plantations which need managing, Tim will plan and organise the silviculture operations right to the harvest planning phase.
The company employs six stock agents, with a new team member currently in training. Rob’s been in the business of trading stock many years and in 2013 established Fergus Rural Ltd, re branding the business in to Fergus Rural Agribusiness in 2021, to better describe its broader reach of farming services.
As to be expected the livestock sector has undergone evolutions in how it operates, but something Rob makes clear is that the core values farmer clients seek in their livestock agent don’t change.
“They want someone they can trust and get to know well. They want best value, best selling market and ultimately the best buyers and its done on a shake of the hand which I find is something this sector really values.”
Changes in technology and how Rob and the other agents conduct business may have changed, from the days when most nights he would be on the phone talking to clients, busy on their farms during the day.
“That’s been a big change with the internet used to communicate through.”
The ram buying season was looming extending to December, when Rural North spoke with Rob. This is followed by the Bull season and new lambs from the end of October and November.
“The relationship you build up with clients and with other agents makes it a great career if you love livestock. It takes a long time to train someone fresh into understanding all that goes into assessing each animal. A company has to be prepared to invest up to 3 years in a new agent.”
As an independent Livestock business Rob says a benefit is that the company can change quickly, with no layers of management above the team working on the ground.
“We create our own culture and it gives us greater control.”
Cyclone Gabrielle was an awful experience with Rob and the team busy because a lot of farmers had to unload stock.
“Really sad situation to witness. The truckies were fantastic and support from the wider region in buying stock was outstanding.”
On a somewhat happier note, a Harvest Ball was put on by some local businesses to give farmers impacted the opportunity to socialise, be off the farm, and be among others.
“That was a great event, but you get that kind of thing happening in rural communities when things are tough.”
