[ref. d56975101] Shepherd General

Seeking a competent and friendly person to work alongside David in the running of the farm, and Jo with finances and audit management. You would work with two part-time shepherds.

Very competitive pay, with a great combo of rural lifestyle and urban services (house 15 minutes from Blenheim).

• Shepherding: at least 4 working dogs, excellent mustering ability and stockmanship, you need hill fitness. The higher country has scattered bush and bluffs, some blocks are up to 330ha and we move young stock through the 1600ha native forest in the center of the property.
• Competence in animal health procedures including crutching and vaccinating, as well as condition scoring stock. Proactive in identifying animal health issues and the pasture conditions/management that bring them on.
• Understanding of dryland farming/drought feeding and assessing pasture covers and quality. We do some hill break feeding over winter, with 95% direct pasture grazing. Minimal feeding out in winter, some in autumn.
• You will be involved in doing a pre-winter and pre-lambing feed budget with the team.
• Water system knowledge is an advantage. Tempello has good sub-division over 600ha of hill, with a reticulated water scheme.
• Skills in infrastructure maintenance: R&M fencing, grading tracks (tractor).
• Experience in knapsack and truck spray unit spraying for barberry, and nassella, although two contractors are also employed for weeds.
• Experience in digital recording (we use Resolution) and an open attitude to using farm technologies.
• Good people skills: Winter time we finish merino lambs in other peoples vineyards. We have 17 neighbours.
• Knowledge of fine wool is an advantage.
• Tractor work skills: cultivation, drilling and mowing the vineyard at times. Only 1.5% of the farm is suitable for cultivation.

Tempello values: teamwork, enjoying what we do - especially stock work, improving the land.

We offer a 3 bedroom 1960s house with new kitchen, and tidy garden, primary and secondary school bus is 2 minute drive down the road. The package includes working dog veterinary insurance, meat and firewood allowance. We encourage taking some time for further training in an area that interests you e.g. fine wool sheep classing, feed budgeting.

For more about sub-clover at Tempello (it's a few years old) see https://www.ruraldelivery.net.nz/stories/Tempello-Station

Please apply to tempello@xtra.co.nz and include references. A Job Description is available. Enquiries to David Grigg 027 602 4000. Applications close 29th May