Southland boy combines love of numbers and farming

Southland boy Peter McIntyre’s rural upbringing has led him to develop a love for numbers and graphs. 

A national chess champion Peter lives with his four siblings and parents on a 95-hectare farm in Longbush, about 15 minutes north of Invercargill. The farm has been in his family for four generations.

A Year-7 at James Hargest College student, Peter has a condition which makes it hard for him to be in the classroom all the time. 

On the days he struggles to learn, he stays home and studies the Farmers Weekly, AgriHQ (Market) section and helps on the farm.

“I look forward to when the Farmers Weekly turns up in the mailbox on a Tuesday,” he said.

“I cut out the price graphs and file them in a clear file to keep a track of them.”

Peter says that he enjoys discussing the graphs with his Dad.

“I thought it was unfair that the North Island gets paid more per kilogram for meat than the South Island.

“I talked about it that much, my parents told me to write a letter to the meat works and the AgriHQ market analysis. 

“The meat works told me it was because the grass grows faster down here so they need to make it fair for everyone.”

Peter’s sister bought herself a new phone. Peter thought he might also buy one with the birthday and Christmas money that he had been saving. However, he decided he was not going to waste his money on a phone but would buy a calf instead and make some money.

“I just didn’t see the point in a phone, it wasn’t going to make me money,” he said.

So, Peter arranged to meet with the neighbour to discuss buying a calf.

“He was very helpful; he broke down all of the costs and gave me a variety of options.”

Peter then went and researched the cost of calf muesli, milk powder and teats.

“I tried to get the best product I could while keeping my costs down.

“I kept a tally of all my costs, down to the very last cent.”

Peter was able to choose from a range of calves at his neighbour’s and he selected one born on his birthday.

“I called it Ida; it is short for I don’t know because I didn’t know what to call it!”

Peter’s parents also brought a couple more calves to keep Ida company.

When Peter leaves school, he wants to combine his interest in numbers and farming into a career.