Making Hard Country Work:
The Klifden Approach
Five years ago Jo and Vicki Shannon arrived in Central Otago's Ida Valley with a fresh start and a long game in mind. Today, Klifden Farm is steadily improving – grass holding on longer through summer, pastures bouncing back faster, lambs growing well, and ewes holding condition more consistently. The shift has been slow and deliberate. That is exactly the point.
A Fresh Start in the Valley
Five years ago, after losing their parents and selling the family farm in northern Manawatū, sisters Jo and Vicki Shannon packed up their lives and headed south in search of a fresh start. They landed in Central Otago's Ida Valley – country framed by big skies and even bigger winters – and began steadily shaping Klifden Farm into something of their own.
The farm is 489ha plus 30ha of lease land and is still very much a work in progress – but a satisfying one. Vicki and Jo's daughter Catherine runs the day-to-day operation, with Jo helping out when needed and handling the business admin. They run around 2,400 stock units, mostly sheep, with South Devon cattle bred on the farm.
"When we arrived, we started with the basics. New cattle yards, a new lane, splitting a paddock, and just fixing things to how we wanted them. Every little job made the place feel more like ours."
– Jo Shannon, Klifden Farm
A Clean Slate – and a Decision to Use AgriSea
Both sisters had used maxicrop years ago. When they arrived in the valley they decided to start fresh and give AgriSea a go. New farm, new soil, new climate – it was a clean slate, and an opportunity to do things from the ground up.
Since then, they've applied AgriSea Soil Nutrition and Pasture Nutrition annually, alongside their lime programme. Last winter, they ran the combination through the drill on their crop paddocks too. The changes Jo describes have not been dramatic or instant – they have crept in over several seasons, which is precisely how she expected it to work.
"New farm, new soil, new climate – everything was a clean slate."
– Jo Shannon
Grass Holding on Longer Through Summer
One of the most consistent changes across multiple seasons has been how the grass holds on during summer. In dry Central Otago conditions, pasture persistence is a direct reflection of soil health – and it has steadily improved.
Pastures Bouncing Back More Quickly
Recovery rates after grazing have improved. Pastures that once took longer to come back are now quicker – a result Jo attributes to the sustained soil biology work built up over several seasons.
Spring Growth Lift on the Hill Country
Encouraged by results on their 200ha of productive land, last autumn the Shannons extended the programme to an additional 100ha of hill country. They noticed a clear difference in spring growth as a result.
Better Stock Health Across the Board
Lambs are growing well, ewes are holding condition more consistently, and there are fewer dag issues. Improved pasture quality flows directly through to animal performance – and it has been a consistent improvement, not a one-season event.
"We noticed that the grass hangs on longer during the summer and that pastures bounce back more quickly. Last autumn we put more on the hill – another 100ha. We noticed the difference in growth in the spring."
– Jo Shannon
The Long Game – Why It Works in Central Otago
Central Otago demands forward planning. Winters are long and sharp, crops are essential, and the country does not reward impatience. Jo and Vicki have brought the same long-view thinking to how they look after their soil. For them, the biggest shift has been in mindset rather than a single standout paddock – and they are clear about the philosophy that guides everything.
"People want things to work straight away, but farming's a long game. You've got to stick with something for five or six years before you really know what it's going to do."
– Jo Shannon
"We're always thinking ahead to winter. Ewes on moata, a bit of turnip and rape, cows on kale, lots of baleage and hay over winter."
"We finish as many lambs as we can to over 18kg, but when it dries out, the store lambs go. Everything flexes around the season."
"Lighter stocking, slow but steady infrastructure improvements, a long view on soil health, and a clear goal. That's the Klifden approach."
"We just want to leave this place better than we found it. That's it. Everything else follows from that."
Beyond the Farm Gate – Agritourism Grows
The Otago Central Rail Trail runs along the Klifden boundary, bringing a steady stream of cyclists past the gate. Noticing how often they slowed to admire the horses and the way the country opened out in front of them, Jo and Vicki asked themselves a simple question.
"We thought, why not? Let people walk through, bring the horses in, and offer something a bit different."
– Jo Shannon
That simple idea has grown into a small agritourism arm offering freedom horse treks, farm stays, and genuine farm experiences for curious visitors. Jo is now completing an AgriTourism NZ course to keep developing that side of the business – a confident extension of what five years of steady work on the land has made possible.
Freedom Horse Treks
The farm's horses and the Ida Valley landscape provide the draw. Treks sit naturally alongside the farm's character and the Rail Trail corridor that brings visitors to the gate.
Farm Stays
Visitors are welcomed into a genuine working farm environment – an experience that reflects the confidence Jo and Vicki have built in the land they have spent five years improving.
Klifden Farm in Action
South Devon cattle on pasture and productive land in the Ida Valley
Recommended Products
These AgriSea products were used at Klifden Farm to support soil health, pasture quality, and livestock performance in challenging Central Otago conditions.
See What AgriSea Can Do for Your Farm
Whether you're farming hard hill country or productive flats, talk to your local AgriSea Field Consultant about building a programme suited to your soil, your system and your long-term goals.
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