Waikato Farming Lifestyles, January 2024 by Integrity Community Media

January 2024 Edition

Another year is underway

Welcome to Waikato Farming Lifestyles 2024. We trust that the summer season so far has been a positive one as we reflect on stories we told last year, such as that of Nicky Brzeska, who spoke of her fascination with gardening and her Raglan flower farm. You can review her story on page 4. We trust this year will continue to be positive and look forward to engaging with you, our readers, each month.

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January 2024

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Are your ﬁrearms safe The Firearms Safety Authority ended the year reminding people of the importance of considering how firearms and ammunition are transported, stored and used safely.

January 2024

Agricultural governance journey As chairperson of the New Zealand Young Farmers, Jessie Waite told us she was focussing on seeing the movement grow into a sustainable organisation.

Jessie Waite became the New Zealand Young Farmers chairperson Mike McIlraith encourages people to be aware of firearm safety and rules

Safety and security tips to have in mind include never leaving firearms in a vehicle overnight. “Firearms must be transported out of sight,” said director of partnerships Mike McIlraith. “Dedicate a spot in the vehicle where they can’t be seen if someone looks through the window. They must either be inoperable (bolt out or trigger lock in) or in a locked container when travelling. Do both where you can.

“Ammunition must be transported separately to the firearm and in a locked container if practical. Firearms can only be left unattended in a locked vehicle for 60 minutes (while you’re nearby). “Store firearms so they don’t get into the wrong hands. If you’re staying with friends and family who own firearms, ask to use their storage.”

Jessie joined NZYF almost 10 years ago and has gone on to hold several governance positions. Her governance journey began when she was appointed to Dairy Trust Taranaki as the NZYFappointed entity in 2019. “The following year, I was elected to the NZYF board, and this year, I was elected chair of the organisation,” she said. As NZYF chairperson, Jessie is looking forward to giving back to the

organisation. “Along with running the board meetings and representing the organisation, it’s also about ensuring that everyone’s thoughts on agenda items are heard. Having diverse thoughts around the table is so important. “I truly value the friendships I have made around the country through connections made at NZYF events and at club level.”

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WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

A flock of rarities

In July, heritage chicken breeder Owen Pratt spoke with us about breeding poultry at his lifestyle block south of Hamilton.

Growing into cultivation

Last February, Nicky Brzeska spoke of her fascination with gardening and her Raglan flower farm.

Owen and Tracy Pratt breed a wide range of chickens at their Hamilton property

“I grew up in Te Awamutu and moved to Hamilton in my mid-teenage years. My wife Tracy and I bought our own garden centre and ran that for 10 years. When we closed it, we began breeding rare breeds of poultry and started Hamilton Heritage Hens,” says Owen. Last April, he was rearing Orpingtons in four different colours, and Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Light

Sussex, Barnevelders, Golden Laced Wyandottes and Dawkins. “My favourite breed is the Black Orpingtons. They have flecks of greens and blues on their feathers, and the colours pop out in the sunshine. I have a 50/50 passion for animals and people. I love being with animals, and it doesn’t matter what sort of animal it is. I feel relaxed around them.”

Growing up in South Africa, Nicky Brzeska admired her grandmother’s gardens

“I was born in South Africa and first became interested in growing when exploring my grandmother’s magnificent gardens,” said Nicky. Nicky moved to New Zealand with her husband, Johnny and two sons, Jack and Finn. She asked for employment at the Raglan Flower Company. “One of the co-owners, Crystal, suggested that I grow flowers for them,

but I didn’t feel confident. One day, she arrived unannounced at my farm with metres of black landscape plastic and an abundance of dahlia tubers and seeds. “Crystal asked where I wanted it farmed and threw me in the deep end. It took me five months before I had my first crop ready. We always loved the outdoor lifestyle New Zealand offered. It feels like the land of possibility.”

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WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

January 2024

Love of the land

Embracing a rural lifestyle

In May, we wrote about Warwick Hutchinson and Coral Remiro growing nutritious food for the community and educating people about traditional gardening.

In June, we wrote about Dave Rowlands’ goat breeding endeavours, including creating a mini Anglo-Nubian in New Zealand.

Dave Rowlands and Richard Forsyth’s endeavours include creating a mini Anglo-Nubian in New Zealand

“My partner, Richard Forsyth, and I bought a lifestyle block, and I got back into goat breeding in a big way. I love their inquisitive nature. They are almost like dogs; even the hand-reared ones are quiet and easily managed,” said Dave. Dave had previously managed a dairy goat farm, and when the opportunity arose, he started breeding AngloNubian goats. He is trying to breed a miniature version of them, too.

“I brought some Nigerian Dwarf genetics from other breeders, and I am crossing that with my Anglo-Nubians. We are starting from scratch and breeding them to look like a Nubian but smaller and, hopefully, heartier than the Anglo-Nubians. Since doing that, we have begun establishing a new mini dairy goat club for registering them and creating a miniature Nubian in New Zealand.”

Warwick Hutchinson and Coral Remiro can often be found educating people about traditional gardening methods

“Twenty-eight years ago, my wife Clare and I began looking for land to create the Waikato Waldorf School. We found five and a half hectares of land, with two and a half hectares used for the school, and the rest exceeded our requirements,” said Warwick. One of the parents at school desired to set up a commercial organic farm on the spare land, and Earth Stewards Limited was created. Warwick employed

Coral Remiro as the head gardener of the operation. “I was born in Zaragoza, Spain. When I came to New Zealand, the idea was to travel for one year while I was completing a permaculture design certificate, and then I got the job here. I started under the umbrella of Warwick and the previous manager before becoming the head gardener,” said Coral.

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Sharing a traditional equine passion

A sustainable adventure

Yotam and Niva Kay relayed their love for regenerative farming in August, a journey that began in their late teens while doing their civil service in their home country Israel.

In October, Teresa Brownbridge shared her love for riding heavy horses and her desire to conserve them and the work they do.

Credit: Jane Ussher

Yotam and Niva Kay began Pakaraka Permaculture while exploring how to grow their own food based on organic systems

“We established Pakaraka Permaculture as Permaculture as a way to explore how we could grow food in an organic system that would improve the local services and the land. We moved to New Zealand in 2012. My grandfather moved from Auckland grandfather to Israel in the 1930s, and that is our connection to New Zealand,” Zealand,” said Yotam. Yotam.

Niva and Yotam released their second book last October and have always been passionate about sharing their organic knowledge. “While we haven’t grown up with organics in our family homes, we have been immersed in it for our whole adult lives, starting from 19 years old. We need more growers and more young people to come into farming,” Niva said.

Teresa Brownbridge has many years of experience riding heavy horses

“I always had a passion for horses,” says Teresa. “I am not a small girl myself, and I didn’t want to ride a dainty horse. I wanted to ride something chunky and fabulous. Our stallion is Mangakura Joseph, and he is a Fenton Hills stallion. We started breeding him. Now, we have a three-year-old colt called Sunrise, and we also have a filly born at the beginning of the year.”

Teresa loves riding heavy horses and wants to share her passion with other people. She does with her husband, Steve Curtis and her involvement at the Waikato Heavy Horse Association. “My desire is to conserve heavy horses and the work they do. We promote all aspects of them working on-farm, commercial and pleasure work and teach the care, handling and use of them in the art of showing.”

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Harvesting joy annually

Last year, Vanessa and Kevin Clarke had a busy December, making families happy from their Christmas tree farm.

January 2024

An excellent family lifestyle

Maria and Jim Paterson shared their poultry farm experience and that they are about to retire from the industry.

Kevin and Vanessa bring joy to families each year at their Christmas tree farm

“When I was growing up, I used to get branches from trees and decorate them. That was part of the fun. We would put it in water and stand it up,” said Kevin. The couple were dry stock farmers and working regular jobs. Kevin is an earthworks contractor and Vanessa works in local government. They work on their tree farm most weekends, and in December, they sell Christmas trees to families.

Jim and Maria Paterson are currently preparing to retire from the poultry farm industry

“I love getting ongoing compliments from people about how friendly our business is. We give chocolate out to all the children. Sometimes, I don’t know if they come for the trees or the treats,” said Vanessa. Keven says it is exciting to see a good-looking shaped tree, which is real, on display and that they enjoy the end products and love making people happy.

“I grew up on a caged hen farm in Papakura that my parents owned. When I left school, I managed my parent’s poultry farm for four years, but when I was 20 years old, I vowed I would never collect eggs again,” said Maria. After marrying Jim and having three children together, Maria was pulled back to her farming background, working on her brother’s Pukekohe poultry farm

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WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

A worthy cause

The year ended with Colin Hickey, the ambassador of the farmer-led charity Meat The Need NZ, North Waikato, thumbing his way from Auckland to Christchurch to help people through the recent live rural telethon and food bank drive.

Rural hearts support child

In November, we shared the story of Ngātea business owner Krystle Norman and her three daughters fundraising to get a Waikato family to Germany for medical care.

Colin Hickey encourages farmers to support Meat The Need NZ and help provide meat and milk for food banks

“The Meat The Need and the Feed Out fundraising drive do all they can to raise as many mince and milk meals as possible for more than 110 food banks nationwide,” says Colin. “I’m a sixth-generation farmer with roots going back to Ireland. Meat the Need is a fantastic cause. Farmers donate meat and milk, which is processed and distributed for free. It’s

so much better than giving food banks money because if you give them $1, they can only buy $1 worth of produce, which they may pay $20 a kilogram for. “If a farmer donates a cow, every penny goes to mince at less than wholesale. It’s an easy, efficient way to help charities help people, and they love it because their spend goes much further.”

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Maniyah, Krystle, Jayden and Brooklyn Norman made a difference to Sienna Callis and her family by fundraising to get her to Germany for medical care

“It is important for me to teach my children about the gift of giving. Every year, we do something special for somebody else for Christmas,” said Krystle. Krystle owns The Kai Can ice cream shop. Her older daughters Brooklyn, Maniyah and Jayden work there, and together, they had fundraising raffles to help 11-year-old Sienna with travel costs.

“I am a mother of seven, and if it were me in her position, I would do whatever I could to get my child there. I told my girls about Sienna. It has been my girls’ and my mission to raise all the proceeds to help. “The local people we have met have been incredibly welcoming. It is a tight-knit community, and it’s awesome to see them pull together for her.”

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WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

Pursuing a new path

Anna Turner told us how her journey working at Chamberlain Sheep near Te Awamutu began in July this year after a story on Country Calendar caught her interest.

Anna Turner has found a new passion through working at Chamberlain Sheep

“It was a new industry, and I thought it would be interesting to get involved in it, so I kept researching,” said Anna. “A family friend heard about the job here, so I applied and was accepted for the position. It took me a while to get used to milking the sheep as it is a different technique to milking cows. The farm has 920 Southern Cross ewes, which is a breed that Maui

Milk Ltd developed from a genetics programme to enable world-class milk yields in an all-outdoor pastoral farm system. “I had no idea how to milk sheep when I first arrived, so I’ve learned a lot. I enjoy that they are calm compared to cows and are easy to deal with being a smaller animal. With milking, there are certain techniques to be successful.”

January 2024

A legacy to encourage

The late Cynthia Collier, well known in the farming community as a passionate supporter of Rural Women New Zealand, was celebrated with her family, establishing a $5,000 grant in honour of her to assist projects and initiatives that support rural communities through RWNZ.

Cynthia and Henry Collier’s family have established a grant to help support rural community initiatives through Rural Women New Zealand

“October was mum’s birthday month, and this year marks the 10th anniversary since her passing,” says daughter Jo Romanes. “Sadly, my dad, Henry, passed away a couple of months ago, too. Mum and dad met as teenagers and married young. They were absolutely devoted to each other and had a very long, happy marriage. Mum supported everyone

around her with kindness and generosity. I think Mum would love to know that she’s being remembered through the continued work of people like her to build community connection and support. “To us, the grant is one way to bring her memory to the fore, as she was such a kind person and a passionate supporter of women, children and good causes.”

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WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

Farming, faith and politics

In June, we looked back at the life of Reverend John Morgan and his contributions to agriculture in Ōtāwhao and the Māori people. ‘Travellers found there, to their astonishment, many beautiful settlements, with large fields of wheat, potatoes and maize, and dwellings arranged in neat streets, shaded by groves of peach and apple trees,’ said James Cowan. In those early days, Morgan had genuinely wanted to see the people of his congregation thrive. Morgan thought he had brought deference to the British crown along with agricultural benefits. Still, the people of Ōtāwhao became some of the most solid supporters of the Māori King movement and King Pōtatau Te Wherowhero. Morgan, embittered, railed against the King Movement and later served as a spy and agent against it during the 1860s. By 1863, he was forced to leave the district, leaving behind a legacy of better farming practices and a breach of trust that was never reconciled.

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We wrote about the first Māori king Te Wherowhero, who hailed from the Waikato region and some of his pivotal moments in history. Te Wherowhero came from a prominent line of chiefs on both his mother’s and father’s side and was the firstborn son of Te Rauangaanga. During the Musket Wars, Te Wherowhero led attacks from 1807 to 1845. He refused to sign the treaty but remained friendly towards the European government and sold land to the Crown. However, he disagreed with the Crown about taking ownership of unoccupied or uncultivated land. In the 1850s, a movement to protect indigenous land led to Mātene Te Whiwhi seeking a high-standing chief to become king. Te Wherowhero was a wellsupported nominee and, although reluctant to take the role, gained the regal title in 1858. He died in 1860, with many tribes honouring their first king.

The first Māori king, Te Wherowhero, came from a prominent line of chiefs

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For the past 20 years, Chris Pellow has adopted state-of-theart cropping techniques at his family farm at Kaipo Flats to get the best crops possible from his land.

January 2024

Life on the river

In October, we wrote about Caesar Roose and his love of the water, it became a centre for his business ventures and hobbies in adulthood.

Caesar Roose’s love of the water became a centre for his business ventures and hobbies Chris Pellow is the fourth-generation family member to farm the land his great-grandfather purchased in 1900

Chris won the 2023 Ballance AgriNutrients Soil Management Award, Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award and Norwood Farming Efficiency Award. He uses his knowledge to carefully protect and enhance the soils while maximising production at Pellows Produce Ltd. “I am the fourth generation of my family to farm here,” says Chris. “The property has been in the family since my great-grandfather purchased

it in 1900. He cleared it and spent a lot of time developing the farm. It has been utilised in many ways over the years. “My grandfather and father continued the farm’s evolution and were milking cows before it was converted to sheep and beef. I returned to the farm in 1989 and changed tack again by growing vegetables for local and export markets.”

At five years old, Roose learned how to paddle a canoe. His early interest in the water led to hobbies like eeling, log rafting, duck shooting and white baiting. As a young man, he started his water empire in 1902 when he ordered his first ship. It was one of many from his various business ventures. Roose was also remembered for his generosity. He helped create children’s health camps, donated land to the Mercer Rowing Club and offered funding

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for a bridge project that would take the place of the Mercer ferry. His final resting place was next to the Waikato River at the Mercer public cemetery in 1967, and five years later, that bridge was opened as the Caesar Roose Bridge.

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January 2024

WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

For dairy and trees

Graham and Tess Smith of Miraka Farm explained how they are diversifying their small property in such a way that they have a variety of revenue streams, ensuring sustainability while nurturing the environment.

Ladies lead a shearing renaissance

We discussed how there’s been a wave of shearing record attempts listed for the New Zealand summer, with the World Sheep Shearing Records Society receiving seven applications for challenges in New Zealand until February 14.

Graham and Tess Smith are proud of their accomplishment of combining their dairy unit and tree-growing businesses

“Miraka is Māori for milk. The property is very special to us as it is Tess’s ancestral land, which strengthens our connection to it,” says Graham. “Tess is Raukawa, and all this land belonged to them before the Europeans settled here and purchased it. We run 80 cows across our 28ha dairy unit, forestry

across nine hectares, and grow Paulownia on 7.2ha. “Dairying with trees to enable diversification is the foundation of our farming approach at Miraka. My younger son Lance recently came home to run the farm, and we have a succession plan in place.”

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Otorohanga teenager Sonya Fagan (right) after winning the Corwen Shears Intermediate Woolhandling final and getting another Fagan name on to the honours board at one of the biggest shearing and woolhandling competitions in Wales

Sonya Fagan is now one of five King Country Fagans on the Corwen Shears honours board after capping a promising season in the UK with her first win. A daughter of Craig and Sarah Fagan of Otorohanga, it became a dream to be at the Royal Highland Show and 2023 Golden Shears World Shearing and

Woolhandling Championships, held in Scotland in June with competitors from more than 30 countries. “I’ve been in the shearing shed since I was, like, born, really,” she said. “I did my first main shear rousing when I was 11 and have done about 10 main shears in New Zealand.”

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WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

Innovation fuels farming future

The 2023 Fieldays Innovation Awards, which saw Waikato entrepreneurs punching above their weight, present a number of potentially high-impact advancements in the country’s primary sector.

Wilderlab received the Growth and Scale Award at the Fieldays last year

Wilderlab, a newcomer to the competition, received the Growth and Scale Award for their new ecological health index, which utilises the power of environmental DNA (eDNA) technology. Their taxon-independent community index (TICI) incorporates DNA sequence information from fish, insects, plants, mammals, birds and microorganisms living in an area to provide a score to gauge ecological

health and track small shifts in condition. “By using a comprehensive panel of tests, we can capture a picture of the larger ecosystem, not just the species we can find and identify visually,” says science lead Amy Gault. “The simplicity of the eDNA kits, requiring the user to filter a few cups of water, means it’s accessible to everyone, from ecologists to school children.”

January 2024

The power of Clydesdales

Te Puke dairy farmer Ross Wilson was born and raised in Morrinsville, where his dad introduced him to the Clydesdale horse breed and using them as a working horse.

Ross Wilson has worked with Clydesdale horses since he was a child, helping his father on the family farm

“Dad was one of the first Māori to be a registered breeder in the Clydesdale Society,” says Ross. “Dad and his father both had horses on the family farm and used them to do things like feed out the hay to the cows and other farm chores. “I brought my first Clydesdale 15 years ago and haven’t looked back. I

have milked cows for around 18 years and currently have six full-time working horses. We use them to tow a sledge to pick up calves on the back of the wagon, harrow, plough and disc the land for our crops. “Using horses to bring the cows in is very enjoyable, and a lot less pressure on the animals.”

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January 2024

WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

More than a century of shearing

With the world champion shearing competition providing plenty of international excitement last year in Scotland, the event marked a slice of farming history and more than a century of competition as a farm chore developed over many years into a recognised competitive sport.

The shearing community celebrated more than a century of industry success

The next industry milestone will be when New Zealand holds the 20th Golden Shears World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at the home of Golden Shears in Masterton in 2026. Kiwi shearing competitor Hugh McCarroll NNZM, who won intermediate fame at the 1967 Golden Shears, is one of about 12 people who’ve received

Royal NZ Honours for their involvement in shearing. He’s secretary of the World Sheep Shearing Records Society. He says New Zealand has been a world leader in establishing competition. “I guess the real contest in what is now an international competition circuit was the Golden Shears at Masterton,” he said.

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For the first time in the history of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower competition, three wāhine Māori were selected as finalists.

Grace Rehu, Alix Te Kere and Erica Henare at the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower competition

Grace Rehu was announced as the 2023 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower. Alix Te Kere and Erica Henare were also finalists. Grace, from Rangitāne, Taranaki, is a leading hand for Turners and Growers in Puketapu, Hawke’s Bay. Alix is Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tu, Ngāti Maru, and Ngāti Maniapoto is the Health and Safety adviser for Rockit Management Services and Erica, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Maniapoto, is the Pipfruit and Kiwifruit manager at Kono.

The announcement was made by Te Hāmua Nikora, Pou Tikanga and Te Tumu Paeroa at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner. “The way we see it at Te Tumu Paeroa is that if we help this younger generation, particularly the women in this business, then they are going to do better for the land. When the land is healthy, the people are healthy,” he said.

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

January 2024

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the animal. TechniPharm has a range of dedicated hoofcare and handling units. We introduced the first electric winchaided hoofcare systems in 2023. These are just a few examples of solutions that make farming easy. You can connect with us by phone at 0800 809 098, by email at sales@technipharm. co.nz, or at a regional field day.

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January 2024

WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

DAIRY & EFFLUENT

Dairy Expo ﬁrst of its kind by Andy Bryenton

New Zealand’s inaugural Dairy Expo is poised to kick off at Bedford Park in Matamata in February, marking a significant milestone for the local dairy industry. “The NZ Dairy Expo is reshaping the way we bring together dairy industry professionals, suppliers, and farmers for a unique and valuable experience,” says event co-organiser Amanda Hodgson. “The Expo prioritises simplicity, connection and affordability to foster a sense of community within the New Zealand dairy sector.” Amanda says she is delighted with the response and interest in the NZ Dairy Expo, articulating that it is not about size but purpose. She and her husband, Matt, affirm they are committed to creating a low-key, grassroots event where genuine connections and conversations take precedence over flashy exhibits. “Things are getting so expensive and out of hand these days, and it doesn’t need to be,” says Amanda. “Education and opportunity in the dairy sector should be accessible to all. That’s why it is nice to provide something of high quality in terms of exhibitors and no cost to our NZ farmers.” The Expo has a nine-year history, having initially been launched by the Waikato Regional Council and then taken on by Matt and Amanda in 2017. The event continued until 2019 under the name NZ Effluent Expo but has

naturally evolved over the years to cover a wide range of technologies and fields of expertise. “We all get sick of talking and hearing about Covid, but what the pandemic did was highlight our heavy reliance on staff,” says Amanda. “I think we have all witnessed a massive shift on farms towards technology as a response to the long period where overseas staff couldn’t join us. This reliance on technology often paves the way for other innovations,

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all in the mission of streamlining daily operations.” The subsequent wet weather and cyclone strike of 2023 brought its own challenges, likewise bringing forth innovative solutions. Amanda says that on-farm challenges like these and many others have prompted a continuous pursuit of improvement and simplification in farming practices. It’s in the nature of Kiwi farmers to be innovators, to be resilient,

to be problem solvers and to work smarter, after all. The NZ Dairy Expo encompasses this spirit of progress and indomitable ingenuity. A diverse line-up of industry leaders and innovative companies is set to be at the Expo, which will run from February 20–21. If you’re in the business of farming, you’re invited, too; mark your calendar and come down to Bedford Park in Matamata to see the latest and greatest in ideas and technologies.

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WAIKATO FarMInG LIFESTyLES

January 2024

DAIRY & EFFLUENT

Waikato dairy award winners

Breeding bulls for lease

We discovered that the major winner in the 2023 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards has a genuine passion for all things farming and believes there are many opportunities within the dairy industry for those willing to work hard and push themselves.

Jayd Queenin told us last year how, at Waikato Leasing Limited, he and his partner Zara McEwan came up with a solution for farmers to easily access breeding stock.

Jaydn Queenin and Zara McEwan breed a variety of bulls at Waikato Leasing Ltd to help other farmers

“Currently, we have 80 hectares at Parawera with a herd of 300 Jersey, Angus and Hereford bulls,” says Jayd. “We also own an asphalt tar sealing business in town. Originally, we decided to have a few Hereford bulls for our lifestyle block and ended up taking over the neighbour’s farm and grew the bull business.

“We mainly do Jersey, Hereford and Angus because they are the most predominant for dairy breeding. Jersey produces a smaller calf and is easy calving, while Angus and Hereford give you a crossbred beef animal. You get a white-faced Friesian cross or an AngusFriesian cross. Their offspring, rather than being a bobby calf, can be resold as a weaner for beef drystock.”

2023 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards winners — Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year Natasha Price, Waikato Share Farmer of the Year Aleisha Broomfield and Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year Sam Dodd

For the first time, a sole female farmer, Aleisha Broomfield, won the Waikato Share Farmer category. Aleisha is a 50/50 herd-owning share milker on the Dibble Family’s Tauhei Farms Ltd 86ha Te Aroha farm, milking 245 cows. The other big winners were Sam Dodd, who became the 2023 Waikato

Dairy Manager of the Year, and Natasha Price, the 2023 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year. “As well as learning more and improving my business, I enjoyed meeting the other entrants and regional teams,” Aleisha says. “It was great to have the recognition of hard work.”

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January 2024

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

*Ts & Cs apply. Limited stock available. To get in touch, complete the form via www.bpmnz.co.nz/contact-us, include your farm address and contact details for our rep discuss your on-farm needs. Magic Mud 250g Tube gift will be delivered to farm by our local rep. Available only to Waikato and King Country farms in New Zealand. 1 per person. Only available between 25 January - 25 February 2024