MUCH has changed at the Johnston family farm since Neal Johnston went into business with his father and brother in 1955. What was a dairy and potato operation has grown to include lamb and beef production, poppy and hazelnut crops, an area of plantation forest and a commercial gravel pit. The Meander Valley property has grown from 60 hectares to more than 485 hectares spread across four different sites. Neal was the first to buy a tractor for the farm, rendering horses largely redundant. His son, Wayne, was the first to buy a four-wheel-drive tractor - its 80 horsepower engine was cutting edge at the time. Today the farm has a small fleet of 200 horsepower tractors. The Johnstons' property is one of a huge number of family farms operating across the state during the International Year of Family Farming. Neal, 79, said what gave him the most satisfaction was being able to work the land with son Wayne and grandson Brayden. "I take great pride in what they are achieving," he said. Wayne Johnston, who took ownership of the farm in 1995, said there had been significant shifts in the farming industry in recent years. "Once upon a time, farming was a lifestyle, but now you've got to think of it as a business," Wayne said. "There's increasing pressure on farms to make profits and we're getting less and less dollars for what we produce." Wayne said operating the farm with his father and 20-year-old son had its challenges. "With three generations on the farm, we often get three different ideas of what we should do and how we should do it," he said. Wayne said he was trying to teach Brayden farming skills and techniques in the hope of one day passing on the baton. "It's up to my boys, Brayden and Ryan, whether they want to take over one day," he said. "You do sometimes wonder what drives people to continue farming with all the modern pressures surrounding it, but I suppose it's just something that's in your blood."
Three generations of farmers - Wayne, 46, Neal, 79, and Brayden Johnston, 20, on their Meander Valley farm.
MUCH has changed at the Johnston family farm since Neal Johnston went into business with his father and brother in 1955.
What was a dairy and potato operation has grown to include lamb and beef production, poppy and hazelnut crops, an area of plantation forest and a commercial gravel pit.
The Meander Valley property has grown from 60 hectares to more than 485 hectares spread across four different sites.
Neal was the first to buy a tractor for the farm, rendering horses largely redundant.
His son, Wayne, was the first to buy a four-wheel-drive tractor - its 80 horsepower engine was cutting edge at the time. Today the farm has a small fleet of 200 horsepower tractors.
The Johnstons' property is one of a huge number of family farms operating across the state during the International Year of Family Farming.
Neal, 79, said what gave him the most satisfaction was being able to work the land with son Wayne and grandson Brayden.
"I take great pride in what they are achieving," he said.
Wayne Johnston, who took ownership of the farm in 1995, said there had been significant shifts in the farming industry in recent years.
"Once upon a time, farming was a lifestyle, but now you've got to think of it as a business," Wayne said.
"There's increasing pressure on farms to make profits and we're getting less and less dollars for what we produce."
Wayne said operating the farm with his father and 20-year-old son had its challenges.
"With three generations on the farm, we often get three different ideas of what we should do and how we should do it," he said.
Wayne said he was trying to teach Brayden farming skills and techniques in the hope of one day passing on the baton.
"It's up to my boys, Brayden and Ryan, whether they want to take over one day," he said.
"You do sometimes wonder what drives people to continue farming with all the modern pressures surrounding it, but I suppose it's just something that's in your blood."
