Nicola Kelland
Nicola started with AgFirst Otago working for AgFirst Consultants Otago as an Agricultural Business Consultant in November 2010. Nicola has completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with First Class Honours at Lincoln University, and specialised in wool science and production in her final year. She completed her honours project in association with The New Zealand Merino Company, investigating aspects of length and strength measurement of Merino wool in New Zealand. She was awarded the Leading Graduate for Agriculture and Horticulture in 2008.
In 2009, Nicola was employed at Haddon Rig Merino Stud in New South Wales where she gained knowledge and experience in Merino Stud breeding and genetics. In 2010, Nicola received a scholarship from the Otago Merino Association to go on an exchange to the Monaro region of New South Wales, where she spent time visiting a number of Merino stud properties. Nicola is also a qualified woolclasser, and since returning to New Zealand has taken up classing a small run of properties in the Mackenzie Country and Central Otago. She has also worked on deer, dairy and organic sheep and beef properties, as well as at The New Zealand Merino Company, where she carried out a research project investigating the feasibility of organic Merino wool production in New Zealand.
Key Skills
- High Country Merino systems
- Wool production
- Organic sheep and beef production
- Animal breeding and genetics
- Farmax registered consultant
- Fonterra-approved DDT soil testing consultant
- Certificate in Sustainable Nutrient Management
Key Projects
- MAF Farm Monitoring - South Island High Country and Otago Dry Hill models
- MAF Policy reporting for Central Otago
- B+LNZ West Otago Monitor Farm facilitation
- Ida Valley Discussion Group facilitation
- Irrigation scheme feasibility analysis
- Individual client work - budgeting, farm modelling etc.
Contact Details
office : Central Otago
email : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
phone :
mobile : 027 610 2221