Frank Martin has always been quick to back new technology. In 1987 he came home from a course at Lincoln College with a computer and a basic accounting package. In December 2019 he moved Martin Pastoral’s books from Cash Manager RURAL to cloud-based Farm Focus, and when we spoke with him in 2020, his advice to other farmers was simple: just do it.
“Moving from RURAL to Farm Focus was a simple, self-explanatory process and, if you do have questions, the Support Team are right there to help.”
Frank, his brother Joe and son David own and operate Martin Pastoral Ltd in the Wairoa district. They run Angus and Hereford cows and Romney ewes on a large, steep hill block, and use a 170 ha flat block for winter finishing and summer cash and forage crops. Frank is based at Eskdale, near Napier. David is an hour and a half away at Wairoa.
Frank has always backed technology that saves time and money.
“Back in 1987 I attended a weeklong Kellogg run course at Lincoln College and came home with a computer and a basic accounting package. It was very new technology then, but I was sold – could see the benefits from the start.”
He kept up with each step forward, including Cash Manager RURAL, and then the move to the cloud.
“We started using Apple in 2011 and kept pestering for access to an accounting package that didn’t involve the costs associated with a third party. I got the breakthrough we needed and moved to Farm Focus which suits us down to the ground.”
Distance used to be the biggest headache.
“I’m based at Eskdale (near Napier) while David is an hour and a half away up at Wairoa. The distance between us has caused frustration especially the regular travel and sometimes forgetting a vital piece of paper but moving to Farm Focus has solved that issue completely. We can now talk and go through budgets and plans online without either of us leaving home.”
With four other staff on the property, everyone needs to stay in sync.
“We’re able to change tack on budgets and plans and talk to managers from the car or paddock using several devices. This direct communication ensures no surprises because we know what each other is doing or needs. Just this real-time information sharing alone has made a real difference for us as a team.”
In 2020, automated invoice scanning was new, and Frank was quick to use it.
“We don’t use much paper now because the information is saved securely online. I send invoices to the scanning address and it’s matched with receipts and saved for me – no more bits of paper to look for or large print outs. Our accountant has online access too so can check in if needed which saves a trip to town.”
Stock schedules, weather and transport can change daily, so Frank needs to tweak a budget or reschedule contractors quickly.
“With our budget I just scan across online and change it while we’re on the phone with no download required or time wasted.”
Martin Pastoral has kept building on its Farm Focus setup since 2019. Today both farms run bank feeds and live budgets, invoices go through the Invoice Scanner, Farmlands is connected, and payroll on one farm runs through PaySauce. Their accountant works alongside them in a Farm Focus workspace, and the team each have their own login. Since July 2026, every Farm Focus subscriber also has the AI Farm Assistant for quick answers about actuals, plans and reports.
For Frank, it’s the same idea he backed in 1987: use technology to save time and keep everyone on the same page.
Every Farm Focus customer gets free onboarding and phone support from a team that knows farming, in New Zealand and Australia.
