Mark Guscott
Mark Guscott
Location: Martinborough, Wairarapa Occupation: Sheep and beef farmer, diversified business owner
Farm Type: Mixed farming – lamb, cattle, breeding stock, arable, and tourism while maintaining high animal welfare standards in a premium supply chain.
For over 20 years, Mark and his wife Susannah have run their sixth-generation family farm in the Wairarapa, supplying high-value product to the likes of Atkins Ranch. Their 1400-hectare operation balances breeding stock, finishing lambs and cattle, and arable farming, while also leveraging tourism as a profitable side business.
Collaboration is central to their success, they work with trusted suppliers to maintain high levels of animal welfare and farm quality assurance standards, earning premium prices for their stock. By sourcing animals of known origin, they also reduce importing “bad” parasites and improve biosecurity, reinforcing their long-term, sustainable approach to farming.
After realising their drenching routine was failing, Mark took decisive action—overhauling their entire farm system to break the cycle of increasing parasite resistance. Moving away from ineffective drenches, they diversified their business, introduced crop rotations and increased cattle numbers, and started strategic parasite monitoring using faecal egg counts.
“You know, I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a quitter. So we just got into a whole change mode and turned the whole farm system upside down. Got a broom out essentially and just changed a whole lot because the whole system wasn’t working.”
By eliminating unnecessary drenching and sourcing stock from trusted suppliers, they’ve delayed further resistant parasite development while improving productivity. Now, with strict testing, tailored drenching cycles, and high-protein feed strategies, they’re staying ahead of drench resistance, proving that success comes from implementing change in farm management strategies, not just drenching
Their team’s on-the-ground insights and commitment to continuous learning ensure they remain agile in the face of evolving challenges, always aiming for excellence, not perfection.
In Mark’s view, farming is about adaptation, not repetition. Every season is different, and rigid systems won’t work in an environment that constantly shifts.
“I don’t think you can farm if you want to stick with that whole ‘we’re going to do the same thing every year.’ It just doesn’t work.”
Trusting the team’s instincts, questioning what’s happening in the paddock, and being willing to adapt when conditions change has been crucial. They rely on regular testing, learning from others, and working with experts to refine their approach— knowing that good nutrition and better farming practices can reduce reliance on drenches
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