17. Logan: Higher lambing survival rates from paddocks protected by trees

Logan was previously owned and managed by the Peltzer family - from 1950 until early 2026. The Peltzer's' established shelterbelts over their 70 years of managing the land, including demonstration site plantings with PFT. In 2026 the property was purchased by 40 South Dairies.

This information is based on the Integrated Farm Forestry Demonstration sites planting in 2021.

At a glance

Soil type	Loamy to clay loamy
Owner	Clare Peltzer & family
Enterprise	Prime lambs
Forested area	20ha P.radiata shelterbelts, 45ha of 25 year old P.radiata and 160ha of remnant vegetation
Property size	2,683ha
Rainfall	650mm
Property Name	Logan
Location	Evandale, Northern Midlands

Key points

Maximising primary production through the integration of trees
Increasing lamb survivability by creating a microclimate
Using less irrigation by slowing down the north-westerly
Sheltering your soil to maintain moisture levels
Leaving the land in a better condition

Site preparation

Pre cultivation weed control
Fencing
Ripping & mounding (up to 3 passes on ex pasture due to cloddy soils)
Post cultivation weed control
Planting (pottiputki)
Post planting weed control
Browsing management

Planting

Planting was done in winter 2021 with some infill plantings in 2022.

Species & area

Based on the previous successful integration of P.radiata into the landscape, the Peltzers decided to plant more of this species. Given its ability to provide multiple benefits to the farm including the potential of diversifying income. The configuration of the plantings are all shelterbelts with a survival rate of 80% (as of 2023).

Stocking

1,200 SPH

Challenges

Cloddy soils meant that up to 3 passes were done, however this did not rectify all the clumps with some areas of turf still present. The post cultivation weed control was ‘patchy’ resulting in weed management being an issue where adequate application did not occur. The seedlings struggled when first planted due to not being hardened off enough for the conditions.