Canice O’Sullivan and Georgia Mischefski-Gray of Ywari Farms

2025 Bay of Plenty Finalists: Canice O’Sullivan and Georgia Mischefski-Gray of Ywari Farms – Beef

This family-owned beef finishing farm is setting a new standard for sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, preserving the land for future generations while maximising its potential. 

The Mischefski-Gray family has been farming in Whakatāne since 1990, with Llew Gray and Tania Mischefski starting with a 15ha block and slowly expanding it to today’s 350ha. They also lease 500ha of adjacent Māori Trust land, giving Ywari Farms a total effective area of 420ha. Since 2020, Georgia Mischefski-Gray and Canice O’Sullivan have managed the farm.  

The operation finishes up to 600 bulls and 200 heifers annually. Recently, the annual purchase of 100kg bulls has created a more reliable supply as the business moves to finishing year- round. The remainder of stock is bred from the farm’s primarily Angus beef herd. 

Ywari Farms’ focus on efficiency is evident in every aspect of its operation as the team strives to maximise production while minimising environmental impact. By carefully matching stock class to land use and adopting a closed-feed system, the farm optimises resources while reducing reliance on external inputs. 

Sustainability is at the heart of the team’s ethos. Ywari Farms is meticulously managed, with waterways and 314 ha of native bush areas fenced – with the majority being protected by QEII covenants or Ngā Whenua Rāhui. By embracing technology, such as weighing systems and water management sensors, the team is actively reducing the farm’s environmental footprint.  

To improve production, each year about 20ha of land is redeveloped into new pastures via helicopter cropping. Pests and weeds are actively controlled and the team has diversified by planting pine trees on steeper areas. 

The judges were impressed with the property’s subdivision, backed up by a calculated pasture renewal strategy that focuses on both soil health and water conservation. 

A commitment to innovation is evident in trials of new pasture varieties and breeding strategies – ultimately resulting in a thriving and resilient ecosystem.