Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle – Lone Star Farms

2024 Otago Finalists: Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle – Lone Star Farms – Sheep and Beef

The team behind this sheep and cattle business doesn’t believe in maintaining the status quo – constantly changing and developing the farming system to create efficiencies.

Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer have been managing The Wandle since 2020, and are focused on producing quality over quantity while caring for the land.

The Wandle, which is located in the Strath Taieri area, is one of seven farms which is owned or leased by Lone Star Farms. This sheep and cattle, breeding and finishing operation uses a flexible cropping and re–grassing system. The 2,550ha (2,400ha effective) property features 700ha of irrigated land, along with 500ha of tussock country on the iconic Rock and Pillar Range conservation area.

They run 4,000 ewes, and 270 Angus cows, producing both premium and commodity beef and lamb, along with wool products. They are continually tweaking their farming system to balance production, premium stock, financial profit, and their environmental footprint.

Farming practices are guided by different technologies including farm management software, and soil monitoring. They’re actively working to earn carbon credits and reduce methane emissions. The judges were impressed with the many soil protection measures that have been implemented to avoid damage.

An animal welfare lens is applied to all management decisions, ensuring the stock are happy and healthy. The judges commended the excellent farm infrastructure, including a quality stock water reticulation system that features at least one trough in each paddock.

In terms of caring for the environment, Angus and Tara are striving to improve the protection of the area’s native habitats. The judges were impressed with the extensive fencing to exclude stock from waterways and wet areas and the amount of riparian plants – ultimately contributing to the excellent freshwater management.

Looking after their large, high-performing farm team is another priority.  Angus and Tara support their eight staff by offering them opportunities to gain valuable experience – for example, involving them in strategic planning – and this will no doubt contribute to the farm’s success in the future.