To Get The Most, Waste Nothing

Herby oversees the conservation aspect of the operation and cultivates tomatoes as a paying hobby, while his sons run the farm.

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20years ago This father-and-son team integrated a remarkably diverse farming concern with an active conservation programme.

Herby Uhlmann and his sons, Vic and Rupert, farm to maintain what they have built up and to provide for the future. They therefore place strong emphasis on conservation and the full utilisation of their farm, Hopewell, in Dalton.

In order to use the farm to its full potential, they have diversified, with sugar cane being the main source of income. The original farm of 700ha, bought in 1969, was planted mainly to timber. Today, the farm is 11 000ha, with 120ha under timber, 85ha under pastures, 15ha under maize, 10ha under dry beans, 1ha of tomatoes and the remainder under sugar cane.

These Dalton farmers are noted conservationists, and their farm is a testimony to their sterling efforts. In 1989, Herby won the Themeda Award and, prior to this, the Ian Sclater Memorial Trophy, for soil and water conservation and land utilisation.

Although this father-and-son team are constantly eradicating noxious weeds using chemicals, they are also striving to improve indigenous bird and plant life on the farm.

COMMERCIAL HERDS

Vic is in charge of the cattle. Their Deep Valley Sussex Stud consists of 45 breeding cows. It was started in 1991 with 10 breeding cows, with the aim of breeding bulls for their own use in the commercial herd.

The commercial herd, consisting of Brahman, Hereford, Sussex and Simmentaler crosses, comprises 125 breeding cows.