NZ Dairy Winter 2015

Winter 2015

www.waterfordpress.co.nz

Feed for cows to get their teeth into •Page 45

INSIDE

Maize profits beat beef - PAGE 13

Vietnam welcomes cattle exports - PAGE 20

PKW incorporates dry stock - PAGE 40

Presenting your farm for sale - PAGE 49

www.waterfordpress.co.nz

DAIRY PEOPLE » Bernie & Val Rye

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NZ Dairy

72 – and still milking jerseys Kelly Deeks Waikato dairy farmers and jersey stud owners Bernie and Valarie Rye are celebrating two years of farm ownership, having made an almost lifelong career out of sharemilking and not buying their own property until Bernie was 69 years old.

The Ryes’ sharemilking career began in 1967, the year they were married, with a 37 per cent job at Matamata.

Bernie Rye is a third-generation dairy farmer. He followed in his father’s footsteps in 1967 when he decided to buy a few pedigree friesians to milk in the jersey herd which was already on the farm.

“When I herd tested, these little jerseys were out-producing the friesians,” he says. “After a while, the friesians had to go. We went to jerseys and have been jersey ever since.”

In their second year of sharemilking, the Ryes bought a pedigree jersey bull from their neighbour, then they bought some jersey cows from Jack Davies and Fred Hanson, and by 1970 the jersey stud had begun.

They enjoyed some good days of family time and sharemilking through the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s when, Bernie says, you could quite easily change your sharemilking job every three years if you wanted to.

“Now they’re as scarce as hens’ teeth.”

So, in 2013 the couple left their final sharemilking job in Edendale, Southland and bought a 117-hectare (effective) dairy farm at Maihihi, just east of Otorohanga.

“We brought our cows from Edendale,” says Bernie.” They got held up for a couple of days on the way when they were snowed in, but they travelled up well and walked off the truck in really good condition.

“The first year we finished up with 130,351 kilograms of milksolids, beating the farm’s previous best production – 107,843kg milksolids in 2009.”

The Ryes were late-calving at Edendale and

PHOTOS Waikato farmers Bernie and Val Rye (top left) and grandchildren Emma (above) and Angela (left). in their first season at Maihihi; when they started ABing in that first season, they were still calving.

“I decided to take the bulls out early and

These little jerseys were out-producing the friesians.

After a while, the friesians had to go.

everything that didn’t get in calf would be empty,” he says. “We had a big empty rate of 72 cows out of 400, and we carried over all the younger ones as we were short on cow numbers.”

The Ryes have 100 heifers in the herd this season, and had bought another 50 in-calf jersey heifers from the South Island.

“With 150 heifers in the herd, we’re going to get to 160,000kg milksolids, so when we’ve got threeyear-olds we’ll make 170,000kg,” he says.

Rye is turning 72 in December, and says he still has a love of jersey cows – and he still gets up at 4am to go and milk them.

He has a couple working on the farm with him and looking after a 300-cow herd, while he looks after a 100-cow herd of older cows and latercalvers.

He can still be found shifting fences and doing everything else on the farm, while Val rears the calves and relief-milks.

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Feed for cows to get their teeth into •Page 45

INSIDE

Maize profits beat beef - PAGE 13

Vietnam welcomes cattle exports - PAGE 20

PKW incorporates dry stock - PAGE 40

Presenting your farm for sale - PAGE 49

www.waterfordpress.co.nz

NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Bryce & Kylie Baron

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Carterton dairy farmers Bryce and Kylie Baron.

Kickboxing helps in tough times Kelly Deeks

Farmers are pretty hardy. They’re good at looking after the

Carterton dairy farmers Bryce and Kylie Baron have expanded their operation this season while also giving one of their employees an opportunity to develop his own business.

They have taken on the lease of an 89-hectare (effective) dairy farm two kilometres away from the home farm and setting up former second-incommand Scott Dormer as a 50/50 sharemilker of 220 cows.

The Barons have been working on Patricia Smith’s Dalefield dairy farm for 11 years, starting out as lower-order sharemilkers and working their way to 50:50.

The original block was 115ha, which was eventually added to with some lease blocks.

Three years ago, the Barons were able to buy 48ha of the leased land, which they now lease back to Smith.

This year the Barons are case-study farmers for Dairy New Zealand’s Tactics for Tight Times programme.

“We wanted to get involved because we’re going to learn a lot,” Bryce Baron says.

land. the cows and the machinery, but they’re not good at looking after themselves. They need to look after their top paddock. I’ve also found out that today’s farmers are not very fit because of the technology we are using these days.

“We know we need to keep our finger on the pulse. We’ve had two farm days so far and we’ve already got quite a bit out of it.”

He says he is running a low-cost system, with low farm-working expenses and a low stocking rate, with 420 cows on 180ha.

“We came from a high-input system when we were 115ha. We were struggling to make a good profit, even in a high pay-out year.

“We thought that if we can’t get through with a high pay-out, we’ll never make it with a low payout. So, when we added the extra land, we changed

our system to low input and brought the stocking rate back from 3.3 cows to the hectare to 2.5 cows to the hectare.”

While profitability has improved, running a lowcost system also means that in tight times, there’s not a lot to be shaved off.

“Right now it is pretty gloomy times in the dairy industry,” Baron says.

“There are not a lot of positives at the moment, and we’ve just come off the worst drought we’ve had in probably 12 years. It has been tough.”

Bryce Baron recognises the need for New

Zealand dairy farmers to maintain their physical and mental health, and has become involved with a rural well-being programme, Farmstrong.

This programme aims to give Kiwi farmers the skills and resources to live well, farm well, and get the most out of life.

“Farmers are pretty hardy,” he says. They’re good at looking after the land, the cows and the machinery, but they’re not so good at looking after themselves. They need to look after their top paddock.

“I’ve also found out that today’s farmers are not very fit because of the technology we are using these days. They just need to do something physical off farm as well.”

Baron follows his own advice, and can be found at the gym most evenings. Formerly a competitive kickboxer, he now teaches kickboxing classes six nights a week, and has coached under-13 rugby.

The Baron family is still looking towards further expansion of the business.

Once they have the vulnerability of the low payout behind them, they hope to get stuck into paying off debt to get themselves into a position where they can take up opportunity.

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DAIRY PEOPLE » Johan and Theona Blom/James & Ceri Bourke

NZ Dairy

Data capture key for winners Kelly Deeks Named this year as Central Plateau Sharemilker/ Equity Farmers of the Year, Johan and Theona Blom have been entering the Dairy Industry Awards competitions since 2011 and say they have helped to fine-tune their business and find out where their limitations lay.

The Bloms immigrated to New Zealand from South Africa with their three children in 2008, keen to make the most of the sharemilking industry and the opportunities it could present them.

Johan was working as a dry-stock agricultural extension officer in South Africa, having obtained a Bachelor of Science majoring in agriculture, while Theona worked as an accountant.

The couple have progressed quickly through the dairy industry since arriving in New Zealand, with Johan starting as assistant herd manager in Tokoroa, then moving to Cambridge the following season for a herd-manager positon. The next season he was promoted to farm manager.

Then the couple started a 50:50 sharemilking job at Broadlands, where they stayed for three seasons before moving with 270 cows to Ron and Jan Hall’s Ngakuru 97-hectare dairy farm this season.

The Bloms entered the Waikato Farm Manager of the Year competition in 2011, and the Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year in 2013, before winning the title this year. They say the benefits of entering the awards are in fine-tuning their business and not getting complacent.

Johan Blom says feedback from competition judges as well as taking out the recording and productivity award and pasture performance awards show that the couple’s teamwork and attention to detail in capturing data through

Johan and Theona Blom, Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year. measuring and monitoring are their strengths.

“Having good information definitely helps to make proactive decisions, and we work very well when we put our individual strengths together,” he says.

The Bloms want to own their own piece of dirt one day, so continue to build cow numbers and cash equity.

They were on target to achieve record production of 107,000 kilograms of milksolids in

their first season on the Halls’ farm, ahead of the six year average of 104,000kg milksolids.

Blom says it has been a normal stop-start season in the Central Plateau, but pretty good compared to the previous couple of years, especially through January and February when the farm never got yellow, but did get dry green.

While the Bloms’ No.1 goal was automatically to improve milk production, this season’s low pay-out has meant they worked hard on managing their cost

structures while still fully feeding his cows. This meant they sought to buy in feed at a reasonable price.

They also concentrated on managing pastures and getting some grass cover ahead for the winter, as all the cows are wintered on farm.

And, because he wanted to put a bit of body condition on the cows before winter, he went down to once-a-day from April 17 after been doing 16 -hour milkings since the middle of February.

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A second shed has brought benefits for sharemilkers, staff, cows and farm-owner, say James and Ceri Bourke, who sharemilk on the property near Culverden.

“It has allowed us to create more senior roles on the farm for staff to move into,” says James. “It has also helped the farm-owner add more value to the property while allowing us to expand our business.

“The cows have benefited by having less distance to walk, which has helped feet and lameness issues.”

Staff member Damien Anderson, who had never milked cows until three seasons ago when he joined the Bourkes, has grown into the role of block manager and is in charge of one of the sheds.

The other shed is run by Roger Paragas, leaving James Bourke free to oversee the operation. Ceri Bourke rears the calves, looks after the financials, and fills in as needed. James is in charge of the other shed. The farm employs four full-time staff.

James Bourke comes off a dairy farm in Taranaki. After leaving school, he went to attended Telford for a year before heading into the workforce as a dairy assistant, working his way through the system on farms between Ashburton and Rangiora.

Ceri Bourke, who is originally from Wales, had no farming experience when the couple met.

A pivotal moment in their farming careers came while working for Mike and Anne Prattley as second-in-charge on a 1250-cow unit at Rangiora.

“They encouraged us to pursue sharemilking,” says James.

The couple’s next move was indeed a sharemilking job, between Lincoln and Lake Ellesmere.

They bought 200 cows and formed a sharemilking company with James’s parents, Rick and Dianna.

The farm milked 470 cows on a three-year contract.

They are now in their third season with Pete and Ruth Mossman, at Culverden. The Bourkes 50:50 sharemilk 800 cows and contract-milk a further 300 on a 520-hectare (515ha effective) property.

The herd is predominantly crossbred (a third of the herd are jerseys) and is milked through a new, 54-bail, rotary shed and a 50-bail rotary. Cows are all wintered on the property, with fodder beet a growing part of their autumn/winter feed.

“Compared with kale, fodder beet helps us to lower the total nitrogen output during autumn/ winter.,” says James Bourke. “It also brings feed costs down and increases cow body-condition quicker. We planted 14ha last year to feed 300 cows. This season we moved fully to fodder beet.”

The primary focus has been on converting to spray irrigation from a border-dyke system – 45ha is now under long laterals and k-line, with the balance of the farm irrigated by centre pivots.

The change has not only lifted production on the farm but also reduced the environmental footprint of the operation, he James. The Bourkes were on target to produce 650,000 kilograms of milksolids The new, 54-bail rotary shed has been good for everyone involved with the property, say James and Ceri Bourke.

NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Michael & Ruth Prankerd

|5

Training-campus legacy endures Kelly Deeks Taranaki sharemilkers Michael and Ruth Prankerd have headed south to a larger farm and a larger herd.

The Prankerds have spent the past three years 50:50 sharemilking 500 cows on a 170-hectare farm at Normanby farm. The property is run by Te Rua o Te Moko, an amalgam of four Maori trusts which combined five blocks of land five years ago to create a sustainable dairy operation.

Prankerd says they had some good experiences during their tenure, including helping to establish a Land-Based Training campus on the farm, which is now in its third season of training up to eight young people a year with dairy-farming knowledge and skills.

“The farm-owners got together to discuss what to do with these parcels of land, and they were keen to get people into training and on the farm for the future,” Michael Prankerd says.

“When we came along, we were asked if it was something we’d support. We were pretty keen because we all know the story behind a declining pool of talent in the agriculture sector, and any opportunity to get young people from other walks of life into dairy farming is worth taking.”

Then last year the farm won the Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award for Dairy.

“That was priceless and a rare opportunity for us,” Prankerd says. “It all comes back to a really strong team on the farm, including the administration side, ourselves, and my staff. We’ve

set an example for what might be replicated in Maori agribusiness.”

The Prankerds say that when they were looking for a new job, they wanted to find farm-owners they could create a good relationship with, and they feel they have found that with Graeme and Jan Appleby and their farm at Drummond, in Southland.

“They’re self-starters, they’re like-minded, and we felt they lead by example,” Michael Prankerd says. The Applebys are finalists in the 2015 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, which demonstrates to Prankerd they are owners prepared to do the right thing.

The Prankerds are also looking forward to getting back to a ‘mum and dad’ farm ownership system, having spent the past three years working for 1100 owners with Te Rua o Te Moko.

“It’s a confusing set-up, but once you get used to it, it works,” Michael says. “It has its strengths and weaknesses, and one thing that’s really strong is the level of administration skills that a lot of other farms don’t have.”

The couple stayed true to what they were trying to achieve on the Normanby farm, in terms of production targets and leaving the right amount of feed behind.

They sold their 500 cows and bought the Applebys’ 630-cow herd.

“It was sad to sell our girls as we’ve worked hard to get them where they are, but our new herd is purpose-bred for the conditions in Southland, weighing about 50-60 kilograms heavier than my crossbreds. Also, we won’t have to break in 630 brand-new cows to a shed, which can be a bit painful as a sharemilker.”

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Culverden sharemilkers James and Ceri Bourke and children Cate, 9, Charlotte, 5 and Kara, 10. in the 2014-15 season – up from 420,000kg when they came to the farm.

They have been taking part in the Dairy New Zealand Tactics for Tight Times field days, and James says they have found it beneficial. “It has been good to share ideas, especially with the lower pay-out this season. We’ve found it a good way to help focus our business and financials.”

Over the last three seasons they have concen-

trated on consolidating their herd and have been culling hard on productivity. The herd has an average production worth of 137.

The Bourkes have three children: Kara, 10; Cate, 9; and Charlotte, 5.

“We’re really enjoying where we are at the moment,” says James. “Our ultimate aim is to buy a 500-cow farm – we believe that financially, that will be possible in three years.”

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DAIRY PEOPLE » Hayden Lawrence

NZ Dairy

South Taranaki farmer Hayden Lawrence is expecting considerable savings in costs and other benefits through running an 18-month lactation.

Extended lactation a reality Kelly Deeks

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Hayden Lawrence has implemented a system change this season on the South Taranaki dairy farm he and his parents, Ray and Joyce Lawrence, own.

The family is running an 18-month lactation with a view to improving production and reducing costs over the next three years.

“Because we winter all the cows at home and because it is a high-producing herd, we have to really put the feed back into them over winter to get them back in condition to calve down again, and get them back in calf,” he says.

“Our most expensive feed was in the winter.

With an 18-month lactation, production will drop a little over winter, but really we won’t have to put in much more feed than what we were feeding to dry cows.”

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Because we winter all the cows at home and because it is a high-producing herd, we have to really put the feed back into them over winter to get them back in condition to calve down again, and get them back in calf. Our most expensive feed was in the winter. year period, Lawrence is expecting considerable savings in costs associated with trying to get cows in calf, health problems around calving, labour for calving and calf rearing, and empty cows.

There could also be benefits and savings around animal health, body condition, and replacement cows without the stress of a second pregnancy and calving.

Lawrence says while an extended lactation period has been done at research level, it is yet to be done commercially to the extent the family has taken it.

“We spent six months planning before we decided to go ahead,” he says.

“We looked at the cost of CIDRs, we looked at ways we felt were better for us and better for the cows. I’ve always thought winter is the most crucial time when the big mistakes happen. We were bringing cows home to the feed pad every day anyway, so in terms of walking, the cows are doing no more.”

Lawrence, who has a doctorate in precision

agricultural systems, says his research background means change isn’t something he is scared of.

He he is confident about putting his research plan into a commercial situation and then evaluating the results and the cost structures over the first 18 months, then again in the following 18 months.

“We’ve taken out a few insurance policies,” he says. “We mated a few empty cows and calved them down in autumn, so we could still do a bit of culling. I’m going to mate my rising ones to calve them down in October, then everything will be back into sequence by October next year.”

Lawrence is expecting production gains of 1015 per cent over the three-year period, with lower costs.

“We’ve budgeted on doing 1.3 kilograms of milksolids per cow per day during the winter, and at the moment the cows are producing 1.7kg per cow per day,” he says.

“That’s on winter feed. Fodder beet has been a game changer for us...being able to feed that out as a high-energy feed to milking cows.”

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NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Luke Haye

|7

Sharemilker Luke Haye milks a 310 cross-bred herd on this 118ha farm in South Hawkes Bay.

Sharemilker to the cowshed born Sue Russell Luke Haye grew up surrounded by the world of dairying on his parents’ farm at Norsewood, When his father died, his original thoughts to pursue farming were initially interrupted by the desire to go to university.

“I didn’t get there though because I changed my mind and went sharemilking instead, and that has been my life for 15 seasons now.”

Home base is a 118-hectare farm owned by Bernard and Christine Murphy, in Southern Hawke’s Bay – the milking platform accounts for 105ha. The farm is bordered by the Manawatu River and has a 55ha run-off 10 kilometres away under the ranges.

The run-off has been used for grazing younger stock for the past six years.

The herd has gradually changed from mainly jersey towards black cow breeds, something Luke Haye says has been a good decision.

“We quite like the black cow. They’re not too big an animal, but they’re big enough to handle themselves especially with the run-off under the ranges.”

While we all knew it (the pay-out) was going to be lower, I don’t think we really realised it was going to be this bad. We were told China was going to come back and start buying our powder, but it hasn’t happened.

Milk production has tracked up and down in the past three seasons. The current expectation is that the 310 crossbreds will produce 120,000 kilograms of milksolds. The 2013-14 season pipped this figure by 3000kg, significantly ahead of the 2012-13 figure season when the herd produced 104,000kg milksolids.

“It has been quite a tricky season, with weather conditions being quite cloudy through spring and the grass just didn’t grow so well. This was followed by a very dry patch and up until last week we have had only had 120ml of rain.”

Cow condition has been maintained by turning to additional feed. Six hectares were planted in turnips along with feeding out surplus balage.

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“We also applied some extra fertiliser to get a third cut and culled off the herd late February.”

From March 1, milking once a day, and the herd was dried off on May 10.

Luke belongs to the Norsewood area Dairy NZ discussion group and at most monthly meetings about 15 farmers attend.

A key topic recently has been managing the financial volatility of the dairying industry.

Coming off a record pay-out coupled with record production to this season has been hard, he says.

“While we all knew it was going to be lower, I don’t think we really realised it was going to be this bad. We were told China was going to come back and start buying our powder, but it hasn’t

happened.”The fixed-price system that has been introduced by Fonterra is something more and more farmers will look at seriously, he says.

Luke’s wife, Renee, comes from a sheep-andbeef farming background. Together, the couple have two children – 10-year-old Ruby and four-year-old Cullen.

The process of setting goals is one of the main attractions of farming for Luke.

“It’s a big confidence booster when you’ve set a goal and you achieve it. Not all the goals are financial, some of them are about how I feel personally.”

He is also very pleased with what he has achieved in terms of substantial reductions in the herd’s somatic cell count. Levels have traced down from an average of 150,000-180,000 to under 100,000 within a couple of seasons to the point where the figure is now sitting at 80,000.

His next goal is to do with in-calf rates.

“I am aiming to get 81 per cent in-calf in the first six weeks and to reduce the empty rate to 7%. We’ll achieve this through more proactive monitoring of cow condition and putting energy into growing our younger stock better.”

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DAIRY PEOPLE» Fleur & James Worker/Edwin & Fungai Mabonga

NZ Dairy

Performance reviews two-way street Karen Phelps Using 360-degree performance reviews in their farming business has helped Fleur and James Worker improve their own performances as well as help their staff get further ahead.

“It’s not obligatory for staff to undertake these reviews, but it’s to their benefit to do so as it helps them improve their performance,” says Fleur Worker.

“During the reviews staff complete a selfevaluation, we review their performance and they also review our performance as employers. We’ve been employing staff for only five years and we’re still learning too, so getting feedback helps us do things better.”

The reviews are comprehensive and cover skills and personal traits.

Questions include” Does the employee feel appreciated by the Workers? Do the Workers have clearly defined roles that the staff member can easily recognise? Do the Workers remain levelheaded during times of stress on the farm?

These reviews are just one aspect of a farming business that saw the Workers gain third place in the 2015 Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year Awards for the Southland/Otago region. They won the human resources and hygiene merit awards.

The Workers took on their first job together on a lower-order sharemilking position in Southland milking 570 cows. Within six months they were approached about entering an equity partnership by a neighbour who knew James from a previous job.

“We couldn’t turn the opportunity down,” says Fleur. “It was a great group of partners and a beautiful farm waiting to be converted to dairy.”

The partners in the equity partnership are Steve and Jenny Bevins, who owned the farm, Matthew and Vanessa Richards, Richard and Mandy Jones, and Phil and Karne Stirling, builders from Winton

We’re big on progression and helping people through the industry.

James and Fleur Worker with children Sam, 3 and Chloe, 1. who constructed the dairy shed on the farm.

The couples signed up for five years, and the partnership is now in its third season. The Workers are lower-order sharemilkers on the 370-hectare effective (400ha) total unit at Mokoreta on the edge of the Catlins.

The property has a 64-bail rotary dairy with automatic cup removers and automatic drafting, winters a herd of 910 friesian and friesian-cross cows, and peak-milks 880.

Although the farm is just 35 minutes from Gore,

it feels remote and has no cell-phone reception, says Fleur. This can make it challenging to find and retain good staff, hence the couple’s focus on ensuring they are the best employers they can be.

They employ three full-time staff.

“We’re big on progression and helping people through the industry,” says Fleur, who cites this as one of the ways they can attract the right people.

“We make sure we have good systems in place to teach them as much as we can while they are here.”

The biggest challenge though is the wet, with 1.9 metres of rain falling in the last 12 months.

They have a stand-off pad and have to plan where to put the animals (and remain flexible) to prevent pugging as much as possible. It is rolling country, which eliminates the risk of floods.

“Safety is also important in wet conditions,” says Fleur. “We make sure, for example, that everyone knows how to deal with tractors and motorbikes in the wet. We do training on this each year to show people how to work safely in this climate.”

They also concentrate on keeping their shed meticulously clean, partly because of the equity partnership.

“One of our partners built the shed, so we have to keep it spotless,” jokes Fleur. “Being in an equity partnership, the first place people go when they visit the farm is the shed; we don’t want to have to rush around cleaning it up before someone arrives, so we just keep it clean all the time. We want the shed to be something everyone can be proud of.”

The Workers have been grade-free for four consecutive years and have achieved low somatic cell count certificates from Fonterra every year since they started working together.

The Workers have signed up for a second sharemilking position. It’s on a 600-cow farm next door, owned by Steve and Jenny Bevins.

Zimbabweans discover new world on Kiwi soil Neil Grant It takes courage to emigrate from tropical Zimbabwe to New Zealand, and finish up on a dairy farm in Southland.

“It is best if you don’t think too much about it,” says Edwin Mabonga. “If you don’t analyse it, you don’t realise what you’ve done till you’ve done it.

We didn’t have preset expectations so everything was a positive.

“Apart from the snow.”

Mabonga and his wife, Fungai, came to New Zealand 12 years ago. He had been dairying in Zimbabwe since 1983, and Fungai was an acting school principal.

“Looking for a better life for our children brought us to New Zealand. I couldn’t give my children the lifestyle I wanted for them.”

When first here, he had a farm labourer’s job in Taranaki for a year, then went contracting for three years. Shifting to Riversdale in Southland, he was sharemilking for four years, then set up an equity partnership near Otautau. The Mabongas are sharemilkers for that partnership.

The partnership now owns 204 hectares of what were previously sheep farms, and leases a further 70ha.

Eight hundred friesian-cross cows pass through the 54-bail rotary milking shed equipped with Waikato plant, Protrack, and in-shed feeding system.

Mabonga, who oversaw the six-month conversion, says: “I designed it so that I can run the farm, and the kids can bring the cows to me.”

However, they have three staff, only one of whom is needed in the shed for milking.

The farm is all flat, a 50:50 split of free draining old riverbed and peat. They renew about 10 per cent of the pasture each year – sometimes grass to grass, sometimes summer turnips to grass,

PHOTOS Left: Edwin Mabonga – ‘If you think too much about something, you’ll never do it.’

Below: Fungai (far left) and Edwin (far right) Mabonga and their family on the Otautau property where they are equity partners and sharemilkers. depending on how much the pasture has been damaged or what particular needs are.

Farming is certainly a bit different for the Mabongas.

“In Zimbabwe, grass is a supplement. What New Zealanders call supplement was the main diet.

“We fed maize, grain and cottonseed. Most of it we grew, but we bought some. We grew a bit of pasture, but it cannot handle the dry periods. Wild grass grows in the rainy season, and we could harvest that.

“Coming to New Zealand, I did a lot of learning.

I had the theory of farming and the basics, but I had to pick up a lot of things to translate to the New Zealand system.

“I did the practical work and learned from farmers, and went to theoretical courses. They were helpful.

“The communities we have lived in have been brilliant. They make up for the cold weather.”

The Mabongas have put that learning to good effect. They have entered Southland-Otago

Sharemilker of the Year contests, and were runnersup in 2008, as well as wining some other awards.

“Fungai does our accounts and some relief teaching,” says Edwin. “She found the change hard.

She has done a lot more adjusting than I have. “ But she is happy now and likes the lifestyle.”

Their children – a 16-year-old daughter, and 13-year-old and eight-yearold sons – are all good at athletics and keen on other sports.

“It keeps them out of trouble,” says Edwin. “I was an athlete, but I believe they take after their mother. They make me proud.”

Skype and social media keep them in touch with family back in Zimbabwe, and the “vibrant” African

community in New Zealand stops them from getting too homesick.

“My only regret is that we should have done it sooner,” he says And a final piece of advice: “If you think too much about something, you’ll never do it.”

NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Shane & Judith Bertling

|9

Partnership stands test of time Karen Phelps Shane and Judith Bertling have spent their farming careers, which span more than 30 years, working for the same farm-owners, Michael and Edna-May Wood.

The partnership has been so successful that although the Bertlings are sharemilkers, they own a four-hectare block on the Woods’ farm and have built their own home.

“It is more than just an ordinary sharemilking job,” says Shane Bertling.

“We treat this farm as if it was our own. We get on pretty well with the farm-owners. We haven’t had a disagreement in 30 years. We are always discussing everything together and thinking what the next step is for the farm.”

He grew up on a dairy farm south of Cambridge.

His grandparents were also farmers so he admits farming is “in the blood”.

When he left school he went straight into farming and quickly took on a farm manager’s position on the Woods’ dairy farm. Along with his brother, Shane subsequently took on management of two dry-stock farms for the Woods.

When Shane and Judith got married, the Woods were so keen to keep them they went out and bought a dairy farm for them to sharemilk, which is where they still are.

That was around 20 years ago and the farm, located between Mercer and Mangatawhiri, has grown from milking 210 cows producing 55,000 kilograms of milksolids to a target this year of 160,000kg peak-milking a herd of 300 cows.

The farm is in the process of changing to autumn milking after split calving for 15 years.

“The farm dries out badly over summer and grows good grass from April to the end of December so it makes sense,” says Bertling.

“The winter milk quota also makes it an attractive thing to do. It will also give us a bit of a break during the year.”

They plan to dry off over the New Year and cull in March. A roof has been put over the farm’s concrete feedpad in preparation for the change.

They expect to see a slight drop in production but

A roof has been erected over the concrete feed pad in preparation for autumn milking. also predict a rise in profitability.

“We will drop cow numbers by about 30-40. We usually produce around 6000-8000kg milksolids over summer and are confident we can make this up over the winter.”

The Bertlings are one of just a handful of suppliers to achieve grade-free status for 12 years.

Shane Bertling says they have achieved this impressive result by constantly keeping their finger on the pulse and ensuring all staff are well trained. They milk their herd through a 40-a-side herringbone dairy with an automatic plant washing system.

While technology has assisted them in achieving grade-free status, he also stresses that staff need to be aware of what to look out for to ensure the plant is always working efficiently.

The Bertlings favour friesians and have used sire

It is more than just an ordinary sharemilking job. We treat this farm as if it was our own. We get on pretty well with the farm-owners.

proving with CRV Ambreed for around 20 years.

They have a cow in the current CRV Ambreed catalogue. Last season they moved to nominating bulls.

“We’ve got good genetics in the herd now so this was the next step for us. By using elite bulls, we hope to push up the protein levels and capacity of the cows even more.”

The farm is nearing the end of a long development phase, which was started not long after the couple arrived. The Bertlings have been working to transform peat areas into productive farmland by draining, removing stumps and ground chipping.

The couple employ one full-time staff member and a relief milker. Judith Bertling looks after the calf feeding, the bookwork and the animal recording. T The couple have two children – Claire, 16 and Sam, 13. Both enjoy helping out on the farm.

The Bertlings say they are aiming for more land ownership, but are open as to what that might mean – dairy, run-off or dry-stock land. There is also the possibility they may further enhance their productive relationship with the Woods and expand their businesses together in some way.

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10 |

DAIRY PEOPLE » Christine Finnigan/Kelvin & Heather McKay

NZ Dairy

‘Good decisions’ key to riding out tough times Sue Russell

Hamish on the cups milking the 225 cows on Christine Finnigan’s farm near Palmerston North.

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After growing up on a farm in the Manawatu and completing a degree in agricultural science at Massey, it isn’t surprising that Christine Finnigan’s life has been substantially connected to farming.

“Riki, my former husband, and I went sharemilking in Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Thames.

We did multiple herds at a time when that wasn’t so common,” she says.

She describes those years as “full-on, really busy ones”, sharemilking in three regions while bringing up a young family. Looking back, that time, balancing this somewhat hectic existence was an extremely valuable period of learning.

In 1995 Christine returned to the home farm which she owned with her mother. She took over the farm in her own right since 2007.

“This farm has given me and our three children stability.”

The farm carries 225 crossbred cows which are milked once a day. That’s been the routine for the past seven seasons. The move to once-a-day was a logical, she says...and a way of taking care of people as well as animals.

“My adviser Colin Homes, has been a real mentor and he suggested it. I joined a ‘milking once a day group’ started by a young couple just out of Eketahuna. It was a good thing to do.”

The 2013-14 season’s milksolids amounted to 73,000 kilograms, not a good year.

“Last season was exceptionally bad, I don’t think we peaked high enough in the spring and we also dried off early April, whereas we would normally dry off in May.” The farm operates with a feeding system three, bringing feed in for the autumn. More often than not, the stock has been wintered on the farm.

Helping Christine run the farming operation is Dale Pratt and Margaret McMillan, who is being trained up to manager level. After two years on the property, Pratt left on June 1 to take on a management position.

Finnigan’s partner, Hamish, helps out at times

– he is great with machinery and as a sounding board, she says.

She manages all the farm administration and makes all the culling decisions along with dealing with suppliers, though she no longer does the routine farm walks.

When asked what she enjoys most about her farming, the answer comes quickly.

“I love the outdoors and I like the decisionmaking; I love the rewards as well as taking the consequences for the decisions I make. I’ve learnt that even if things are tough, you can still make good decisions.”

She carries a healthy philosophy into her farming career, acknowledging that sometimes it is just a case of getting through, while at others, there are opportunities for good financial reward.

A Dairy New Zealand discussion group recently took the opportunity to visit the farm. Topics discussed included water systems, regrassing of the very dry, sandy, steep hills on the property, the value of maintaining farming reports, and managing in a financially challenging time with a substantially lower pay-out.

“It was good to talk about that, about building resilience and managing a bit of risk,” says Finnigan.

“I’m expecting not much more than $4000 in July, but we’ve been there before. When you know a month or so like that is coming your way, you just have to be really disciplined.”

She is working with Massey University, Colin Homes and Livestock improvement Corporation to develop a cow more genetically and practically suited to being milked once a day.

“One thing that seems to happen when you’ve got your cows on once a day, and they are suited to it, is that you achieve really good reproductive results.

“This means you have a greater opportunity to cull and improve your herd.”

She hopes this research will result in once-aday milking become much more understood and mainstreamed in the dairying industry.

Winning West Coasters Kelly Deeks When West Coast dairy farmers Kelvin and Heather McKay won this year’s West Coast/Top of the South Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title, it was a natural progression – they were third in 2013 and runners-up last year.

The couple also collected regional merit awards for dairy hygiene, farm environment, health and safety, and human resources, and two national merit awards for dairy hygiene, and recording and productivity.

The McKays have been equity farm managers milking 185 cows for New River Farming at Camerons, near Greymouth, for three seasons.

While Heather works off farm as a milk-supply manager for Westland Milk Products, she is involved in the financial and planning aspects of the farm. Kelvin, who has been in the dairy industry since he left school, concentrates on herd wellbeing, milk quality, and the overall farming systems.

“We combine our skills and experience quite well, and learn a lot from one another,” says Heather McKay. “We complement one another, and we work together to strive towards achieving our goals. We like to challenge ourselves and we seek continual improvement.”

This was reinforced by their success in winning the human resources merit award, despite having had no full-time staff until they took on one person

We complement one another and we work together. We like to challenge ourselves and we seek continual improvement. until December to get them through calving.

“It’s about managing ourselves as a resource, and our own learning and development,” she says.

“We’ve been involved in a Dairy New Zealand Progression Group, and this year we completed the Dairy NZ Mark and Measure course over the winter.

We go to all the discussion groups we can.”

The McKays have also been developing the farm. When they came three years ago, it had a cowshed and some roughly developed pastures.

“It was a working dairy farm, but it hadn’t been taken to its optimal level,” Heather says. “We got to work building a house and calf sheds, improving the pastures, and upgrading the lane ways.”

Now they are concentrating on fine-tuning

NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Brian & Kate Underwood

| 11

Pasture management is paramount for Linton sharemilker Brian Underwood.

‘One man band’ has fingers on pulse Karen Phelps As a one-man band Brian Underwood says he knows all his cows individually. This has helped him to increase production and further improve the reproductive performance of his herd.

This season Brian and Kate Underwood achieved a 78 per cent, six-week in-calf rate and an 11% empty rate. Although this is impressive, they did even better the year before with 79% six-week in-calf and 8% empty rates..

Underwood says the keys to their success have been doing the basics well – feeding the herd well in the spring, ensuring the trace elements are correct before mating, and focusing on cow condition over winter so that they calve with a five condition score.

Since the couple took on the sharemilking role on Derek and Kathleen (Brian’s parents) Underwood’s farm, production has increased dramatically.

The average has been 61,000 kilograms of milksolids. But last season the Linton farm was on target to achieve 87,000kg.

Brian Underwood says production has been increasing by five to 10% each year. and they were aiming for a 19% increase last year on the last two seasons.

He grew up on this farm, went to Massey University where he obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in agriculture, then worked at Landcorp for a decade in a management role.

He then went back to farming, taking on the 50:50 sharemilking position on his parents’ farm with Kate, who came off a lifestyle block near Rotorua.

The 128-hectare farm (90ha effective) has an 18-a-side herringbone shed, in which he milks 222 cows once a day for half the season, and twice a day for the other half.

Another 18ha has been leased and added to farm this season, and herd numbers increased by about 60 cows. Eighty cows will be milked on once-a-day and 200 on twice-a-day.

Underwood is hoping the shift will help him to increase production further and enhance reproductive performance.

Since coming to the property, the Underwoods have taken it from a system 1 to a system 2/3

farm, buying in 80 tonnes of feed, mainly palm kernel, each year. They also place great emphasis on pasture management, taking out paddocks for silage through spring as soon as they get a surplus to give them good-quality feed going into summer.

The farm has no irrigation, which can be challenging as the Underwoods have struck three dry summers in four years. They use summer crops such as chicory, plantain and turnips to fill in feed gaps and have planted 11ha of crops for this purpose.

They have not employed staff but with the increase in cow numbers, they plan to take on a full-timer. Derek and Kathleen Underwood are largely retired, but still help when necessary. Kate is the chief calf-rearer and does the farm bookwork.

She also takes care of their children: Blake, six months and Sienna, 3.

The Underwoods’ goal is to keep costs down and maximise profitability to build up equity and gradually buy out their parents over the next five years.

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Kelvin and Heather McKay: West Coast/Top of the South Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year. their system. They installed and commissioned a meal-feeding system in the cowshed last August.

Having started to feed palm kernel in troughs over the past season, they are now enjoying the ability to put higher-quality feed blends through the system and preferentially feed individual cows or groups of cows with the flick of a switch.

McKay says the in-shed feeding system was not about moving to a high-input system, rather being able to balance the peaks and troughs of the season.

With a lot of land on the farm still to be redeveloped, it can be hard to keep control of grass quality without the ability to top some paddocks, she says.

The McKays have improved production from just over 52,000 kilograms of milksolids in their first season, which was one of the West Coast’s rare drought years, to 66,300kg milksolids in 2013-14 and around 70,000kg last season. They are now aiming to push per cow production to above 400kg milksolids while continuing to reduce costs.

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12 |

DAIRY PEOPLE » Richard Ash

NZ Dairy

The Rangitikei River runs along the back boundary of this farm owned by David and Sarah Marshall. Equity sharemilker Richard Ash says fencing and planting of waterways has been a major focus. The farm, centred between Marton and Hunterville, also has an 11 million cubic litre effluent storage pond.

Longtime partnership prospers Karen Phelps

We are focused on growing as much grass on the farm as possible and making sure we utilise it effectively. This will be achieve through good monitoring and pasture management.

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First-time entrant and 2015 Manawatu Sharemilker/ Equity Farmer of the Year Richard Ash says he entered the competition because he was looking for a different challenge. He puts his success partly down to working for the same farm-owners – David and Sarah Marshall – for 11 years.

“It has allowed us to put systems in place and get organised. I’ve been fortunate; we have a great working relationship.”

Thirty-three-year-old Ash has been in an equity sharemilking partnership, Tutu Totara Farm Ltd, with the Marshalls since 2009. He started working on the farm as a manager after completing a Bachelor of Applied Science at Massey University and working on Fonterra’s Whareroa site at Hawera for two seasons.

For a start he milked a herd of 550 cows on the Marshalls’ farm, with the balance of the property carrying sheep and beef.

Over the last 10 years more of the farm, which is located between Marton and Hunterville, has been progressively converted.

The 700-hectare (550ha effective) unit now

milks 1400 crossbred cows through two sheds: a 40-a-side herringbone used for milking autumn cows, and a 60-bail rotary with automatic cup removers built in 2009 and used for spring cows.

The farm employs 10 full-time staff. Ash’s partner, Anna Trevathan, helps out part-time on the unit as well as working full-time as a receptionist in Hunterville.

David Marshall contributes his financial skills. An accountant, he works for My Farm in Feilding. Ash says that because Marshall travels to other farms, he brings back ideas.

Sarah Marshall assists with staff management, and Ash takes care of the day-to-day running of the farm.

Richard Ash says the farm has a great staff, many of them long serving. Continued training through AgITO is encouraged and many staff are in the process of completing courses.

He says there is a lot of emphasis on keeping costs down, particularly with the lower payout.

Another major focus is the environment, especially as the Rangitikei River runs along the back

• To page 13

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NZ Dairy

ON FARM » Shawn & Tracy Nichols

| 13

Maize growing, grazing more profitable Karen Phelps Moving from beef farming to maize growing has boosted profitability for the Nichols family, who farm 404 hectares at Dargaville. Six years or so ago, they decided to move from cattle to maize growing and dairy grazing.

“The dairy grazing provides cashflow and the overall business is more profitable now,” says Shawn Nichols, who farms the unit in an equity partnership with his parents, Wallace and Patricia.

They trade as Northern Wairoa Flax Company Ltd. Shawn grew up on the farm, which was bought, originally, by his grandfather when it was a sheepand-beef unit.

After leaving school Shawn studied at the Taratahi Agriculture Training Centre, then returned to the family farm to take on a general-farmhand position.

The farm is predominantly flat with the Awakino Creek running through it. Around 60ha is planted in maize for a local grain company. The Nichols do the ground preparation, the company plants the maize, the Nichols take care of it as it grows, and the company returns to harvest it.

The family also grows 10ha of maize for a relative’s farm. The Nichols are achieving some impressive results for their clients and have won the Pioneer brand seeds maize-for-grain yield competition in 2011, 2013 and 2014 for the Auckland province and North.

The competition recognises the grain growers achieving the highest yields with Pioneer brand maize hybrids. Shawn Nichols puts these achievements down to establishing good ground.

He says the biggest challenge facing the farm is the dairy pay-out, and how this might affect their business – they graze up to 230 dairy cows on the part of their farm that is not growing maize.

To provide additional cashflow through the spring and summer, the family runs Nichols Hay and Silage. It bales hay (conventional bale and round bales), makes silage, does cultivation and under-sowing in an area within a 40-kilometre radius of the farm.

Nichols looks after the day-to-day running of the farm, while his parents provide input from an

Maize grain harvest in April this year on the Nichols’ farm near Dargaville. operational perspective. Shawn’s wife, Tracey, works in town part-time in retail, has a part-time job as a rousie in a shearing gang, and helps on the farm when she can.

The couple have five children, some of whom are already showing interest in farming. Tara, 23, works on a dairy farm while her partner, Aaron, works full-time on the Nichols’ farm. Alexis, 21, is studying in Hamilton to become a midwife. Sasha, 19, is a full-time mum, Kyle, 17, is completing pre-trade automotive at polytechnic and helps on the farm when he can. Xanthea, 15, is at school but aims to go into farming.

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Richard Ash, 2015 Manawatu Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year.

From page 12 boundary of the farm. Waterways have been fenced off and planted.

The farm has an 11 million cubic-litre effluent storage pond and three centre pivots spread over 140ha. Around 180ha of the unit is under water irrigation.

The stocking rate is kept reasonably low – around 2.5 cows per hectare. Last season the farm produced 640,000 kilograms of milksolids. This

season the target is 660,000kg.

“We are focused on growing as much grass on the farm as possible and making sure we use it effectively,” says Ash. “This will be achieved through good monitoring and pasture management.”

Ash – who grew up in Hawera but had relatives, including his grandparents, who were farmers – has come a long way in a short time.

Farm ownership is his goal: “But for now I’m happy where I am and continuing to grow equity.”

DAIRY PEOPLE » Llew & Tania Gray

14 |

NZ Dairy

Whakatane couple Llew and Tania Gray (bottom) farm 700ha at Manawahe, near Whakatane (right).

They converted 190ha to dairy six years ago with the milking platform now standing at about 220ha.

A fine balance on Whakatane farm Kelly Deeks Bay of Plenty farmers Llew and Tania Gray are considering a drop in cow numbers on their dairy unit next season, hoping to offset the effects of a low milk pay out.

The Grays started farming at Manawahe, near Whakatane, more than 20 years ago, originally with a 20ha block where they ran dry stock and sheep.

They have been building up the family farm where they enjoy spending both working and recreation time with their three children, aged 16, 14, and 10.

The farm is now up to 700ha, which includes a 40ha block just purchased last year.

They converted 190ha to dairy six seasons ago, and now the milking platform totals about 220ha, but Gray says with no boundaries, this can change week to week depending on the weather and grass growth.

The Grays are milking 600 cows on the dairy platform, while on the dry stock side the farm is carrying about 400 yearlings, 200 rising two-yearolds, and 80 carry over cows, as well as lambing about 200 ewes.

That part of the farm is also growing a 60ha crop of maize silage.

Gray says of the 220ha dairy platform, there is

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about 25ha he can drive a tractor over, but the rest is too steep.

He had been milking one herd once a day and one herd twice a day until this season, when he decided to bring the whole farm back to once a day milking throughout the entire season.

“We encourage the family business feel amongst our three staff, and this was part of the motivation behind going once-a-day milking,” Gray says.

• To page 15

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NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Barney Wright

| 15

High input system gets high five Kelly Deeks With 32 years of dairy farming experience, Barney Wright of South Taranaki is finding the high input system he has run since 2008 so much more enjoyable, he would hate to go back to low input farming.

Wright has owned his farm near Hawera since 2004, originally a 46ha block with 130 cows it was run by a manager while Wright finished a 50/50 sharemilking job at Hawera until 2006.

By then he had grown the farm to 80ha and started milking 250 cows through a 12 a side herringbone dairy shed.

“By the time we cleaned up, milking was a four hour job,” he says. “In 2007 we built a 44 bale rotary shed which we got into in October, then by late February early March we were dry.”

Looking for an option to give him more control over the effects of the weather, Wright looked into in-shed feeding systems, deciding to combine that with the advice of a nutritionist, and took on Best Feed, now known as Allfarm NZ, moved to an input system 5, and has since made production gains from 82,000kg milksolids in 2006, to 156,000kg milksolids this season.

“It’s not any more intensive, we haven’t upped the stocking rate, and for the past two seasons we’ve had a summer dry with drought type conditions, and record seasons,” he says.

Wright is now milking 270 cows and was sitting 17,000kg milksolids ahead of last season at the

beginning of May, and will milk through until May 28.

“On a low input system I would have dried off May 1 to build up feed for the winter,” he says.

He has also tried to grow more on farm since switching to a high input system, this year replacing turnips with 11ha of chicory, which we will grow again next season, and 8ha of oats which will be ready to graze in July and will be used to calve on.

He is using a transition feed which has lowered the average pH level of the herd’s urine from 8-8.5 to 6-6.5. Wright says when the cows calve now they pretty much spit their calves out while his back is turned.

This season he had a 73% six-week in-calf rate, with 94% of the herd calved in six weeks, and 100% calved in nine weeks.

This season Wright and his wife Janine purchased a run off block 7kms away from the farm, which they have split into 11 paddocks of 1.5ha. He has made silage then hay on the run off, then got the weaner calves off the farm, which he will do a bit earlier next season.

“It makes a huge difference to the summer dry,” he says.

He will also bring the weaners down from his other dairy farm, a 58ha effective 185 cow farm at Rahotu, which is run by lower order sharemilker John Gilligan.

On the home farm Wright is assisted by Angela Booker and Connor Vincent, who have helped him to take a step back and be able to concentrate on the new run off block this season.

It’s not any more intensive, we haven’t upped the stocking rate, and for the past two seasons we’ve had a summer dry with drought type conditions, and record seasons.

PHOTOS: Silage making at Llew and Tania Gray’s mixed dairy and dry stock farm near Whakatane (top). Part of the 220ha dairy platform, about 25ha of which Llew says he can drive a tractor over, the rest being too steep.

Dry stock `propping up dairy’ • From page 14 “It allows for more freedom for everyone involved.”

Empty rates have dropped from up to 17% to 8.5% with no interventions and a 10 week mating, cow condition has improved with the average somatic cell count dropping by 100,000 cells/ mL, and production is up by 9% with 40 more cows being milked than last season. And to top it off, there has been no vet on the property with the Grays using homeopathic remedies as their preferred method of health treatment for all stock.

The Grays are now getting prepared for a whole new team of staff starting next season, with their previous two employees moving on to other positions.

Gray says one of his new employees is a `gun’ pasture manager, which is exactly what he needs with the hilly contour of his farm.

“If you’re two days going the wrong way you’ve lost it,” he says. “We can’t top the paddocks and we can’t shut a paddock up for silage. We’ve got to be right up and stay on top of it.”

The Grays’ new staff may be milking a smaller herd next season if the couple decide to drop dairy cow numbers due to the low payout.

“The dry stock is propping up the dairy at

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right up and stay on top of it. the moment, so we’re running the numbers and thinking about decreasing the milking herd.”

The Grays also employ a full time driver to operate their truck and trailer unit, which is used to work in conjunction with local maize silage contractors, as well as carting all resources to the farm without being reliant on cartage firms.

“This gives us more freedom with when, where, and what is coming on farm, and we also enjoy the partnerships with the contractors we work with,” Gray says.

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DAIRY PEOPLE » Brad & Lesley Roberts

16 |

NZ Dairy

Brad and Lesley Roberts, Northland Sharemilker/ Equity Farmers of the Year.

Awards galore for Northland couple Karen Phelps When the 2015 Northland Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year were announced it was hardly a surprise. Brad and Lesley Roberts had already been awarded six of the nine merit awards on offer.

“By the time the fourth award was announced we had to quickly jot down a speech because before that we weren’t expecting to win,” admits Brad.

“We did put a lot of work into it though. We’re pretty competitive people; we don’t like to lose.”

“We’re both very analytical and Brad is a great farmer. Our skills complement each other well,” adds Lesley.

The award booty the couple – who say their aim was to win two awards – took home was Human Resources, Farm Safety and Health, Recording and

By the time the fourth award was announced we had to quickly jot down a speech because before that we weren’t expecting to win.

Productivity, Farm Environment, Risk Management and Business Performance.

The Roberts are 25% sharemilking 900 cows for Brad’s parents, Lloyd and Kaye Roberts, at Riponui, north of Whangarei. Brad, 31, grew up on the neighbouring farm, also still owned by his parents.

“I was never pushed to go into farming but it was something I always wanted to do,” he says.

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After gaining a Diploma in Farm Management from Lincoln University he worked as a farm hand on a 1100 cow farm in Taupo and later a 1600 cow farm at Rakaia for Rakaia Island Dairies.

When his parents purchased the farm they are now sharemilking on he returned to take on a second in charge position for two years then managed the unit for four years.

Meanwhile Lesley, who grew up near Whangarei and spent childhood holidays on her grandparents’ dairy farm, had completed a Bachelor of Physical Education from Otago University and a graduate diploma of education from the Auckland College of Education. The couple met in 2008 and Lesley, now 34, joined the business when they took over the sharemilking position on Brad’s parents’ farm.

They are now in their third season on the 318ha effective/432ha total unit.

The couple milk a herd of 900 crossbreed and jerseys through a 50 bail rotary shed with automatic cup removers, automatic drafting system and new DAL milk meters, an investment made from the bumper payout last season. Milk meters are installed in every second bail meaning rather than

• To page 17

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DAIRY PEOPLE » Mike & Natalie Coyne

| 17

Farm ownership: `Aim high, work hard’ Sue Russell Northland couple Michael and Natalie Coyne have aimed high and worked hard to get to farm ownership at a young age. Since 2009, when Michael let go of his earlier career as a mechanic and Natalie left nursing, the energetic couple have had three moves in as many seasons gathering sufficient resources to purchase the farm they now call home at Hukerenui, just north of Whangarei.

“We started on a low input coastal farm with 550 spring calving jersey cows where we also winter milked the empties. Then in 2010 took on a high input farm at Hikurangi with 370 autumn calving friesian cows then in 2011 bought where we are now,” Michael explains.

Their 161 hectare effective property, a mix of flats (with a soil type of silt loam) and hills (with a soil type of pipe clay), had been run along semi-organic lines for 15-20 years. The farm was covered in rushes with very little good pasture to be seen, however the Coynes could see its potential.

After applying fertiliser, increasing the herd size, topping, weed wiping and with 30% of the farm now in new pastures the farm has started to come together.

With his mechanical skills Michael is able to take care of all servicing of machinery and since acquiring the farm there has been constant activity improving its infrastructure, including two new effluent ponds, capping every race, building new races, improving water supply and ensuring compliance with all regulations. The shed was upgraded from a 21 aside herringbone to a 24 aside herringbone last May and the pit was made deeper to help prevent sore backs.

Their farm is split by the state highway and train tracks, something Michael says is not the best situation and just recently an agreement has been reached with Transit who will use approximately 1 hectare of the farm as part of the highways development, a process which will take approximately three years to see through.

The Coynes put together several groups of cows to make a herd. The herd was below average for BW and PW, however milk production figures have significantly increased. The couple believe in feeding their cows and are achieving very good production from the herd.

“We’re operating between a feeding system three and four, giving each cow approximately a tonne of palm kernel. We’ve looked at the advantages and also trialled chicory verses turnips and we’ve found that chicory works best for our system. The aim is to be on a constant 21 day round on it.”

This season they peak milked 323 jersey/ jersey-cross cows. Natalie likes the jersey animal, describing them as having a much better temperament with the added benefit of much easier

Northland farmers Natalie and Mike Coyne with son Kyro. calving. Milk solids this season are expected to total 127,000 kg about 2% behind last year’s figures. The Coynes are targeting 400 kgms/cow and are increasing their stocking rate per hectare as the farm improves.

With a 10 months old son, Kyro, Natalie has had to pull out of full time work on the farm. She still takes care of the office work, paying the wages and helps when she can on farm and covers workers time off. In their first season the couple operated the farm themselves. These days they employ a full-time farm assistant along with a casual. Intelact consultant Paul Martin has worked with the Coynes since they purchased the farm and has contributed in decisions made on farm.

Michael and Natalie’s advice to those also at the start of their dairying career is to not let people tell you that you can’t do things when you know you can. “Aim high, work hard, strive to succeed and you will get there.”

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Creating a `more efficient cow’ • From page 16 herd testing four times a year, as they have in the past they new receive this information about the herd every day.

“There is nowhere now for poor performing cows to hide,” says Brad.

“We are aiming to create a more efficient cow and this allows us to breed only from the best of our stock. We can make better decisions about feeding as the system is linked to an in-shed feeding system so we can feed the better producers more and the worse producers less.”

With an average breeding worth of 90/100 and a production worth of 140/100 the Roberts consider their herd average. They plan to build it up by using sexed semen on their best cows.

The couple employ three full time staff. Lesley, who is kept busy taking care of the couple’s

children Mason, 3 ½ and Ollie, almost two, as well as taking on the farm accounts. Her background as a school teacher and attention to detail has helped the couple to keep good financial records.

Last season the farm produced 407,400 kilograms of milk solids or 468 kilograms per cow.

The farm is on target to produce a similar result this season even though the Roberts have sliced 10% off their feed bill.

The couple, whose primary goal this season is to lower costs, say they have managed to save well in the good payout seasons.

“We want to grow,” admits Brad. “We’ve been looking at small farms to purchase and aim to get a 50:50 sharemilking job next season.

“We are also looking to help our current staff progress into more senior roles so they could potentially grow with us as we progress in our careers.”

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DAIRY PEOPLE » Mike & Madelaine Moulds

18 |

NZ Dairy

Long hard slog behind green acres Sue Russell Mike and Madelaine Moulds and their close-knit, sporty family of three children have been farming in the Northland district of Ararua for more than 20 years.

It’s a lifestyle the couple have relished and the end of a long progression through the dairy industry, which for Mike began at 12 helping out doing farm chores on a neighbour’s farm.

“It is very much a case that you get helped along your farming career and I was lucky enough with my third farm-labouring job to have that experience with Karen and Steve Davie,” he says. “By the time I was 20, I had progressed from labouring to contract milking between Waimauku and Helensville with 300 cows.”

He remembers the contract then – 85 cents per kilogram of milkfat. The contract-milking position lasted a year, then another big step – to 50:50 sharemilking about 200 cows he managed to buy.

Despite a less than positive start, with a pay-out of $2.29kg of milksolid not even covering costs, he managed to “hang in there”.

“I had people help me in all sorts of ways, feeding me and generally looking out for me.

Without this support, it would well have been a very different story.”

When the couple married, they settled on a sharemilking position on a farm owned by Ralph and Kath Fotheringham at the South Kaipara Heads.

The Moulds stayed for five years, milking up to 300 cows. Over this time they scraped together enough money to take their biggest step - buying a farm at Awarua, which they’ve now been on for 22 years.

Their herd of 260 cows is a blend of friesiancross, though tending lately toward a little bit more jersey. They milk once a day, and Mike has observed definite benefits from the decision to change last season.

“It has improved our empty rates from up to 17 per cent to 4%, and production figures are back to where they were on the standard twice-a-day system.

He puts these results down to the cows being under much less pressure and not consuming food just to retain condition, instead turning their food intake into milksolids outputs.

“We have the cups on at 5.30am and finished by 8.30am, then we have the rest of the day to plan

I had people help me in all sorts of ways, feeding me and generally looking out for me. Without this support, it would well have been a very different story.

Mike and Madelaine Moulds have been farming at Ararua, Northland, for over 20 years. farm-work and off-the-farm activities.”

For Madelaine, who is equally connected to the daily farm-work rhythms, one of the off-the- farm activities is netball. Sport is strong in the family with two of their three children playing professionally.

Daughter Jess is a dietitian who plays netball for the Canterbury Tactix; son Matthew is a geologist who plays rugby for the Blues. Youngest daughter Elaina is a communications graduate at Air New Zealand.

Production this season is up a positive 18% on

last year, back to where Mike says they were before the droughts that have plagued the district for the last five years.

The mainly grass-based feeding system is supplemented with 60-70 tonnes of palm kernel: “I think it has become an easy way for farmers to get out of a bit of a hole,” he says. ”They feed because they can, not necessarily making a profit, and I wonder whether farmers’ pasture-management skills have been whittled away because of the

accessibility of alternative feeds.”

He is also philosophical about the hole Fonterra is in at the moment. He is convinced it will come out of it, but says some of the regulations the Government has created around the operation of the giant company are unfair.

“Interference by politicians has been a big issue for Fonterra. It would be the only privately owned company in the world forced to subsidise its own competitors. Politicians claim Fonterra is in a privileged position, but I think New Zealand is in a privileged position to have a company like it.”

He also thinks there is too much interference and compliance brought into farming, citing the 2016 refrigeration standards and water metering of dams as examples.

His one regret about his long, farming career is that he picked hard farms to work on at the start.

But this is balanced by many positives: “All the way along, good neighbours have been the biggest help as far as moving along. It is so important to engender good relationships with friends and neighbours.”

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Glenn and Lynne Johnstone are moving into their second season as equity partners on a 200-effective-hectare farm near Outram, in Otago.

Achieving 30 per cent equity partnership status was the result of taking up opportunities and being adaptable to change over a dozen years they say.

“It’s best to say we’ve had a very, very, very wet spring followed, within two weeks, by very dry,” Lynne Johnstone says of their first season. “This, coupled with commodity prices, means we have some challenges to face. But it is good to be here.”

An 85ha (effective) run-off four kilometres away supports the main property. All but 10 per cent of the farm is flat, and it carries 560 crossbred cows.

There are plans to increase capacity by another 20 head for the coming season.

“We have a 40-a-side herringbone, a very basic model, which is 20 years old and it will be able to handle the increase.”

The shareholder board has eight members, with the Johnstones owning the greatest chunk of shares. To support governance and keep the stakeholders up to date, a farm consultant is employed to report regularly.

“We have a formal agenda and we follow it at our meetings. Any matters that come up for attention are thoroughly reviewed and the structure works very well,” says Lynne Johnstone.

Roles within the board have been clearly

defined, with Glenn and the farm consultant on the management team. Lynne is the board’s health and safety officer and also carries responsibilities towards the board’s banking and legal requirements. She also rears the calves.

The farm operates a fairly basic feeding system; it is grass based with additional silage as needed.

Supplementing this is proliq, a whey by-product of cheese production which is fed to the stock year round.

“We winter almost all our cows on the farm as well and I’m planning to introduce more palm kernel next season to support cow condition,” says Glenn Johnstone.

The farm is also a monitor farm for the Otago Regional Council in terms of assessing nitrate leaching levels. Tests on the performance of the new effluent system have come back very positively.

“At the moment the council want farmers to do all their own water testing and, in total, there are five monitor farms in Otago.”

While Glenn is in the shed milking for the first half of the season, he tends to do more development and management related work in the second part.

Meanwhile Lynne has taken on the role of Otago convener for the Dairy Women’s Network.

“We are just getting activity going again,” she says. “The first step is that I’m collaborating with RD1 in Balclutha and a rep from Fonterra to take

NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Rowan McGilvray

| 19

Bumper spring `carried us through’ Kelly Deeks A focus on having really good grass covers for winter and cows in the right condition for calving has seen Featherston farm manager Rowan McGilvray achieve his best ever spring in the six seasons he has been working on Kaiwaiai Dairies, setting him up for the rest of the season.

McGilvray has got so good at managing his grass and his cow condition he says those two things were a key factor in his winning the title of 2015 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Farm Manager of the Year at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

“I came third last year, and runner up the year before, so it’s taken me three years but every time a judging came around, I learned more and was able to put a better presentation forward,” he says.

“I think it’s probably due to the fact I’ve got much better at getting cows into the right condition for calving, and having the right grass covers at critical times of the year. This last spring was the best I’ve had on this farm, most probably because of those two things.”

He says even though this year was a bad year, including no significant rainfall from Christmas until nearly the end of April, the farm will still achieve close to its yearly budget of 360,000kg milksolids.

“It was so dry we kept drying cows off because we didn’t have enough supplement to milk too many cows, with a real bad payout and a real bad drought,” he says.

Rowan McGilvray, Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Farm Manager of the Year.

“It was the spring that carried us through.”

McGilvray, who has a Diploma in Agriculture, has been farming for 32 years after discovering his love for working in the outdoors when he was 16 and his father, then managing director of Dairy Exporter, bought a farm in Greytown and converted it from beef to dairy.

“Dad used to milk the cows in the morning before he got on the train to Wellington, and I milked them after school in the afternoon,” he says. “I really loved it and got the bug for working outside, working with animals, and had always had a vege garden and loved growing stuff.”

He has had experiences in sharemilking and leasing farms, but has never ventured into farm ownership himself, choosing instead to invest in the property market, allowing his wife Deb to indulge her passion for interior design and decorating.

His four grown children all have successful careers outside of the dairy industry.

“I didn’t see the point of buying a farm that none of my kids wanted to inherit, so instead my wife was doing what she wanted to do, I was doing what I wanted to do, and the kids were doing what they wanted to do. Everyone is happy.”

The 300ha Kaiwaiwai Dairies runs a split calving herd, milking 450 cows through the winter then calving another herd of 450 cows down in the spring.

With no irrigation, the split calving helps relieve the pressure of the summer dry, and the winter milking is helped with a 600 cow feed pad.

McGilvray also won a merit award for human resources at this year’s New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards. The four permanent staff are encouraged through AGITO courses, and McGilvray has a keen focus on staff morale, particularly important for a team milking all year round.

“At the end of each calving we go out for a staff dinner, we have beers after doing our eight or nine

Dad used to milk the cows in the morning before he got on the train to Wellington, and I milked them after school. silage stacks every year, and we always have a Christmas do,” he says.

Kaiwaiwai Dairies has made a recent investment in environmental management, installing a $40,000 wetland area in conjunction with the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which is helping to take nutrients out of the system, and a new effluent pond complete with separator and plastic liner.

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“Coming from the city life, I’ve become really aware of the amazing progress in the dairy industry and all the opportunities that now present. A farming career has become a real profession.”

Before getting into farming, both Lynne and Glenn had working lives in Dunedin. It was through talking to dairy farming friends that they began to consider a big change in lifestyle – one they describe as very satisfying.

“When you consider we started our first farm job with negative equity, where we are now is all about the hard work and savings we have made,” she says. “It is also a good life for our children.”

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LIVESTOCK EXPORTERS » AUSTREX NZ

NZ Dairy

Vietnam growth market for live Jo Bailey

Last year AUSTREX NZ exported 33,000 Friesian and Jersey heifers to China.

Vietnam was the destination for the latest shipment of live dairy cattle sent off-shore by livestock exporters AUSTREX NZ. Paul Tippett, general manager of the New Zealand branch of the Australian-based firm says the shipment of 3200 pregnant crossbred cows arrived in mid April.

“We are continuing to work in Vietnam to provide training and technical support to our partners in this market. Farms in Vietnam have been audited both pre and post shipping to ensure their readiness and capability to provide nutrition, water quality and housing to AUSTREX standards. It is critical we invest this time and resources to ensure our clients are ready and have the capacity to receive the livestock into appropriate conditions.”

Last year AUSTREX NZ exported 33,000 Friesian and Jersey heifers to China, its main market.

The stock was sourced from all over New Zealand, and shipped from PrimePort Timaru and Napier Port.

Tippett says the firm is committed to meeting the stringent Export Protocols governed by China.

“We have forged excellent relationships with our working partners and the Chinese government and believe open communication, trust and a mutual respect for the protocol requirements is critical to delivering a great result.”

AUSTREX has qualified, bi-lingual in-market staff focused on safe and efficient procuring, assembling, health testing, quarantining, loading and shipping of livestock, he says.

“Our staff are well trained to offer advice at every stage of the supply chain. They listen to customer needs and provide expert selection and delivery of livestock alongside world best practice animal welfare practices.”

AUSTREX management knows that unless we do it well, look after our livestock and require our customers to do the same, our economic future is very much at risk.

AUSTREX has 48 years history of procurement and exporting from both Australia and New Zealand.

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Brian Moroney Pearson Livestock Buyer 027 532 0998 brianm@austrex.co.nz Waikato

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NZ Dairy

LIVESTOCK EXPORTERS » AUSTREX NZ

| 21

cattle exporter Tippett says the live cattle trade is a “complex business” which is why AUSTREX NZ offers a range of pre and post shipment consultancy services to ensure the best outcomes for the livestock.

“AUSTREX management knows that unless we do it well, look after our livestock and require our customers to do the same, our economic future is very much at risk. Our thorough consultancy services continue well after the stock are received.”

He says solutions are tailored to the individual requirements of its clients, ranging from “the provision of a full turn-key technology transfer implementation, to providing brief technical inputs on nutrition, animal husbandry, traceability and farm management programs.”

AUSTREX NZ can even assist its clients with the design, development and operation of world best practice feedlots, dairy farms and cattle breeding operations.

During the export process, the firm uses an online integrated livestock management system, which provides up-to-date livestock monitoring and traceability.

“This system allows us to track the health and wellbeing of every animal from the point of purchase through to delivery to the customer,” he says.

Livestock can be identified from the property of origin to slaughter, maintaining food safety and

product integrity.

The system also captures relevant breeding information for further integration to the destination country breeding management program.

Since it was established in 1973, Australian Rural Exports Pty Ltd (AUSTREX) has been regarded as a pioneer of the livestock export trade, and as a leader in the safe and humane export of quality breeder and feeder cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, horses, buffalo and genetics.

“As a group, AUSTREX is continually developing quality supply chain alliances with targeted producers around the world. By dealing with suppliers directly, the company has greater control over the supply chain, which means our customers can count on the delivery of high quality livestock to meet their specifications.”

From 1977 to 1992, AUSTREX had a joint venture company in New Zealand called NZ Agricultural Exports, exporting dairy cattle, sheep and lambs all around the world. This venture was sold in 1992, with the New Zealand operations reestablished in 2002 as AUSTREX NZ. “The New Zealand business continues to support a strong dairy cattle export business into China, and we look forward to the ongoing development of the Vietnam market and other new markets for New Zealand farmers around the world,” says Tippett.

Paul Tippett, general manager of livestock exporter AUSTREX NZ Ltd.

An online livestock management and monitoring system can identify livestock from farm gate to slaughter.

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22 |

SERVICES » Archway Group

NZ Dairy

Study shows benefits of weeping wall Jo Bailey A cost benefit analysis commissioned by nutrient containment specialists, Archway Group has revealed the benefits of choosing a weeping wall effluent system ahead of an effluent pond, says director Matt Hodgson.

“We engaged renowned scientist Dr Debbie Care, of AgVice, to carry out the analysis, based on a 500 cow farm in the King Country with a feed pad. The installation costs were slightly higher for an effluent pond, with the ongoing running costs of mechanical solids separation sometimes more than double that of the low cost, efficient weeping wall system, which harnesses gravity to passively remove effluent solids.”

He says the Bay of Plenty firm commissioned the analysis so it could provide farmers with market research and scientific data to prove the benefits of the weeping wall system it designs and builds for clients.

“It’s about putting facts and figures in front of people to allow them to make educated decisions, and not just be sold something. The weeping wall is an effective, non-mechanical solid separation system that has no real ongoing costs apart from emptying it once a year. It is a great alternative to a lot of the expensive solid separators, screens, pumps and presses that many farmers are putting in.”

Matt says going through the analysis was an interesting process, with the results “even better” than he expected.

“The study is now being peer reviewed by Opus, before we release more detail. It’s awesome for the weeping wall industry.

I’m surprised no one thought about doing it before.”

Archway Group backs up its weeping walls with nutrient testing to help farmers determine their effluent application rates.

“It’s a bit of an expense for us but it’s important that we provide the information and education to help our clients get the most out of the system.”

The weeping wall is one of three fully engineered products Archway Group has developed to assist dairy farmers with the optimisation, storage and re-use of available nutrients.

The firm’s other leading products are the Tri Block modular concrete bunker storage system; and a specialized Feed Pad to provide nutrient optimisation.

“The Tri Block bunker has been designed to reduce wastage of silage, fertiliser or any material

Archway Group’s Tri-block Bunker has been designed to reduce wastage of silage or any other substance that requires bulk storage. It can be built in three days.

requiring bulk storage. It can be built in just three days and because of its modular design can be extended with ease.”

The firm is also getting good feedback from clients using its feed pad, with some reporting a 25 percent gain in efficiencies when it comes to utilisation of supplementary feed.

Matt says one of the key advantages of dealing

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with Archway is the infrastructure plan it provides to clients, that gets them thinking 10 years ahead when they consider the placement of their expensive infrastructure.

“We know the right questions to ask to ensure we’re developing solutions for problems they may not have even thought of yet.”

Matt runs Archway Group with his wife Amanda.

They employ around 20 full and part time staff, who have worked on a range of projects over the 11 years the firm has been in business.

“Our company focus continues to be providing cost-effective, innovative solutions for nutrient containment, that are professionally designed and engineered to be strong, versatile, fit for purpose, and built to last,” says Matt.

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NZ Dairy

SERVICES » Williams Engineering

| 23

Firm leaders in effluent design Jo Bailey The lower dairy payout has not significantly impacted on Williams Engineering (2011) Ltd, which manufactures and supplies specialist equipment for farm dairy effluent systems, says managing director, Andrew Williams.

“Effluent projects tend to tick along whatever the financial climate, as there is still pressure on farmers to improve their systems in order to meet compliance.”

The tightening of regulations around effluent disposal in recent years has also seen the Thames firm branch more into full-farm effluent system design, compliance and installation work, says Andrew.

“This is something we’ve always done, but with new standards introduced for farm dairy effluent design we decided to get involved with the nationwide accreditation scheme around two years ago. Becoming accredited has helped to expand our business and look at ways we can optimise our machinery in line with the new standards.”

The company has been contracted to do the effluent design work for most of the Fonterraowned farms that require upgrades throughout New Zealand.

“We’ve just completed 13 designs for Fonterra farms and are overseeing projects for them too, with jobs underway in Whangarei, Taranaki and Takaka.”

Andrew takes a hands-on approach to the company’s projects and enjoys getting stuck in on-

• To page 25

Williams Engineering’s flagship product is its range of travelling irrigators that have the ability to cover a wide range of different terrains.

This is something we’ve always done, but with new standards introduced for farm dairy effluent design we decided to get involved with the nationwide accreditation scheme around two years ago. Becoming accredited has helped to expand our business and look at ways we can optimise our machinery in line with the new standards.

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24 |

SERVICES » Williams Engineering

NZ Dairy

Farmers need right advice around effluent disposal • From page 23 site alongside his team when he can.

“I like to keep my hands dirty.”

Williams Engineering (2011) offers a free on-site or farm-plan consultation, either directly to private dairy farmers in its catchment in the Waikato region, or through its experienced nationwide dealer network throughout the rest of New Zealand.

“It’s important farmers seek the right advice and information before deciding which dairy effluent disposal system is right for their farm. Most of our systems are designed to irrigate the effluent without separation as this is what our equipment has been developed for.”

The firm’s flagship product is its ‘Spider’ range of travelling irrigators that have the ability to cover a wide range of different terrains and spread effluent at the desired volume-to-area ratio effectively and efficiently.

“This is our most recognised machine which is popular throughout New Zealand and in markets such as Australia, America, South America, UK, and Ireland, where we have exported for a number of years.”

Other equipment provided by Williams Engineering (2011) includes pump pontoons and booms, in-line filters, mole ploughs, zero-O-loss hydrants, PTO pumps and PTO pump stirrers.

“We are also a certified dealer for Yardmaster pumps, which are big sellers.”

• To page 24

PHOTOS: Pump pontoons and booms provided by Williams Engineering.

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The Precast effluent tank can be built in areas with high water tables and most positions and situations. With the increasing trend towards concrete feed pads the Precast concrete effluent tank is the complete answer to simple and effective dairy shed waste management. The tanks are completed with a safety fence giving peace of mind.

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NZ Dairy

SERVICES » Murdoch Contracting/Williams Engineering

| 25

It’s all in the timing – contractor Kelly Deeks As dairy farmers themselves, Jim and Bronwyn Murdoch say they know timing and time are critical when it comes to groundwork and cultivation.

“I know that when farmers want something done, they want it done yesterday,” says Jim Murdoch.

“I used to leave my own work until last, but I even book that in now. It’s first in, first served, unless we are going a fair distance away. We’re not a big company, but we do a fair bit of work and we give a pretty good service.”

The Murdochs estblished Murdoch Contracting in 1996 as a sideline to their dairy-farming business at Patea, in South Taranaki. The firm does groundwork and cultivation around South Taranaki - preparing paddocks for crops; direct drilling; harvesting hay, silage and balage.

The work is absolutely weather dependent – too wet or too dry, and hold-ups are likely.

“When the paddocks are dry it affects our work in a big way,” Jim Murdoch says.

“Then you get the flip side of the coin, as we had at the start of this season. It was so wet we couldn’t get anything done. But then it came away pretty quickly. It all depends on the weather – you can’t bale out wet grass, you’ve got to get the conditions right.”

The business has three full-time staff as well and a couple of owner-drivers who help out. The Murdochs’ sons, Jarrod and Aaron, work with Jim – they each have own John Deere tractors, while Dad provides the implements.

“They’ve helped me out for quite a few years,” he says.

“I’ve had all three of my sons work for me at some stage, but my daughter wouldn’t know how to start a tractor.”

Gear is a big factor in contracting, and Jim Murdoch generally replaces equipment after about four seasons to keep it running at maximum capacity.

I used to leave my own work until last, but I even book that in now. It’s first in, first served, unless we are going a fair distance away.

“I used to drive my tractors until they needed new tyres, but these days they are pretty good.

“We run all John Deere tractors (I’ve got four) and John Deere balers, including the latest John Deere 990, which is now in its second season. We can get a lot of work done with it.”

Murdoch Contracting also added the latest

McConnell hedge-mulcher to its fleet last season.

Jim Murdoch describes it as an efficient and reliable machine offering the perfect balance of weight, power, and reach to achieve clean, tidy and straight results.

This season the firm has invested in a new set of cultivating discs and a Väderstad direct drill job.

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• Can apply rates below 7mm/per hr and depths down to 3mm, while still dealing with raw effluent Pump pontoon with multi drum float and shelter shed catchment.

• The GBMagnum has a mounted rain gun to provide twice the application area you would cover with a conventional travelling irrigator • Low Application rates, while cutting down the labour input

Farm effluent `a resource’ • From page 24 The firm’s products are supplied directly to farmers or to other companies carrying out effluent system design and installation.

Andrew is proud of Williams Engineering’s long history of more than 35 years.

He joined the family firm in 2005 after six years working as an engineer for another company.

In 2011 he purchased the business from his parents Neville and Angela who founded it in the early 1980s.

“Unfortunately my father passed away at the start of last year, which was a big loss. I’ve carried on with what I learned from him, and have created relationships with people in some good companies who are great sounding boards.”

He says the company’s 12 staff have always

been critical to the business.

“We’ve got a good team. We couldn’t do without them.”

In recent times Andrew has outsourced more of the repetitive work, to enable the company to continue to expand without taking on more staff.

“It means I can focus more on design and innovation, and we can maintain accurate service and quality.”

Looking ahead, Andrew plans to continue to develop the firm’s range of high quality, userfriendly farm machinery, and help farmers install the best, most cost effective effluent system for their situation.

“I believe farm effluent should be considered a resource, and not a waste The returns gained through better utilisation of effluent together with a user friendly system can offset the initial time and financial investment required.”

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26 |

SERVICES » Fabish & Jackson

NZ Dairy

Pre-fab Karen Phelps Because its cowsheds are pre-fabricated in the factory, Fabish & Jackson (2010) Ltd needs to spend just a short time on farm – which means less hassle for farmers, says company contracts manager and dairy shed designer Paul Askew.

And the Taranaki-based firm does not build square sheds. All of its dairy sheds are octagonal, and marketed under the Octa-Lock brand.

“The octagonal shape means they can be more easily cleaned, as there are no deep corners,” says Askew. “It also means we can fit a larger turntable in a smaller space, so our sheds are very cost competitive.

“Most of our sheds can be priced on a squaremetre rate and, on this basis, the Octa-Lock has a smaller building footprint than conventional sheds for a given turntable size.”

He says that Octa-Lock designed has been developed and modified over 25 years to produce a high-quality, functional, efficient and cost-effective

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NZ Dairy

SERVICES » Fabish & Jackson

| 27

approach trims time on farm

Poultry farms are a specialised market for Fabish & Jackson. dairy parlour. The roof structure is supported on eight poles and the walls are suspended between them with no footings required. Askew says this makes the installation of the drainage, water and power more straightforward.

While the company holds a high shed share in Taranaki (more than 100), it has built sheds in many parts of New Zealand, and has exported a 70-bail parlour to Wales and a 30-bailer to Chile, says Askew.

While the lower dairy payout has affected demand for new sheds slightly, the firm has a 54bail and a 60 bail rotary in construction, he says.

Fabish & Jackson, which is a member of the Taranaki Registered Master Builders’ Association, was formed by builders Steve Fabish and Trevor Jackson more than 35 years ago. In 2010 Fabish took over the Inglewood-based company, which now employs 25 staff.

It builds mainly rotary dairies, but can also do herringbone sheds. Octa-Locks have housed turntables from 28 to 100 bails in scope. The sheds can accommodate any type and brand of milking equipment.

As the start of the building process, customers are typically taken to view a few. Each shed is engineered by a local design engineer who has worked with Fabish &Jackson for many years.

Pre-fabrication and the in-house manufacture of many components improves control over quality and timing of projects, says Askew.

The factory manufactures laminated glulam beams to AS/NZ Standard 1328:1998, which, he says, ensures the roofing structure sheds is fully bird-proofed – “There are no ledges, so no roosting positions.” .

The company has its own engineering workshop, and all steel work is done in-house through to the galvanisation stage. Galvanised steel posts provide the main support structure in all of the company’s sheds, along with precast concrete

All Fabish & Jackson dairy sheds are octagonal and marketed under the Octa-Lock brand name. panels manufactured at its concrete plant.

The concrete plant is equipped with two overhead gantries to handle large projects.

Fabish & Jackson also builds feedpads, silage pits, implement sheds, races, farm buildings, fertiliser bins and sheds.

The concrete yard manufactures wall panels, fences, maize feed-troughs, paving stones, soakhole lids, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor tables, pipe supports, exposed aggregate and concrete driveways, paths, edges, yards and flooring.

The firm is also involved in training apprentices.

It regards this as important for the industry, and has four at the moment.

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28 |

SERVICES » Bay Milking Equipment

PHOTOS Right: Dairy-shed equipment supplied and installed by Bay Milking Equipment.

Lower right: The Bay Milking Equipment base in Whakatane.

NZ Dairy

Growth parallels swing Karen Phelps As the trend towards bigger farms has taken a grip in the Bay of Plenty, so Bay Milking Equipment Ltd has grown.

“Farmers are buying neighbouring farms and herds, and dairy sheds are getting bigger,” says Rick Finucane, who, with partner Lynley Bedingham, owns the company.

They bought the business, formerly called WJ Dippie Milking Machines and based in Taneatua, in 1990. Rick, an auto electrician by trade, had worked there. They changed the name to Bay Milking Equipment Ltd and, by 1995, had moved to Whakatane.

The company has been installing milking machines in the Te Puke, Galatea, Gisborne, Wairoa and Whakatane areas for more than 20 years. It is an agent for Waikato Milking Systems Ltd, the only 100%-New-Zealand-owned milking-machine manufacturer.

“Customers know they are supporting the local economy as well as having access to local support when they need it,” says Rick Finucane. “Products are made in New Zealand for New Zealand farming conditions.”

“No two sheds are alike and each client has a different way of farming. Some are moving towards

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NZ Dairy

SERVICES » Bay Milking Equipment

| 29

to bigger farms full automation, while at the other end of the spectrum, some just require a basic milking system to get the job done.

“We talk to clients individually and identify what could save them time and make the job easier. We ask them how they plan to grow so that the milking system we install can be added to easily when the time comes.”

A good milking system can help farmers attract quality staff, which is particularly important for large units, he says. Most farmers are opting for some degree of automation in their sheds because of the benefits it can bring.

He says milking machines should be tested annually so that repairs and maintenance can be done over winter when there is no milking.

“We can identify issues that, if left, can become big problems. This ensures equipment is always up and running, and avoids unnecessary breakdowns.”

Bay Milking Equipment has seven full-time time staff, four of them with New Zealand Milking & Pumping Trade Association testing qualifications.

The company also has a 24/7 breakdown service which is answered by a service technician, not a machine.

“When farmers need help, they need it quickly as they have cows waiting to be milked,” says Finucane. “Our aim is to get their milking system up and running as soon as possible.”

The company expanded into swimming-pool services about 15 years ago when Para Rubber left Whakatane. Its agencies now include Paramount

When farmers need help, they need it quickly as they have cows waiting to be milked. Our aim is to get their milking system up and running for them again as soon as possible.

Pools and Pool Master chemicals, Trueform spas and Davey water products. Bay Milking Equipment stocks, supplies and installs these brands, and offers a repair service for all products it sells. A pool-valet service is also available.

Growth prompted the company’s move to a new building behind the original Gateway West in 2011, says Finucane. The pools and spas side of the business operates from the front shop, while the rear building is dedicated to milking and pumping equipment Bay Milking Equipment supplies and maintains milking machines and water-related equipment such as wash-down pumps and vat-wash pumps, dairy-water and domestic ultraviolet systems, and farm-related pumping equipment for effluent and irrigation systems.

PHOTOS Above: The Bay Milking Equipment complex in Whakatane. The pools and spa side of the business is in the front shop (to the right in the photo), with the rear building (to the left) dedicated to milking and pumping equipment.

Lower left: Top, pumping equipment installed by Bay Milking Equipment; bottom, water tanks are also part of the business

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30 |

DAIRY SERVICES » Centigrade

NZ Dairy

Heat is Jo Bailey

Matamata-based temperature control specialists Centigrade can customise farm refrigeration units according to farm size and individual requirements.

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Centigrade Refrigeration is Eastern Waikato’s sole distributor of Coolsense Ltd’s new snap chilling unit known as the “Vari-COOLTM”, a unit that has been developed to meet tightening new milk chilling requirements.

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If they haven’t already done so, a high percentage of New Zealand dairy farmers will soon have to upgrade their refrigeration systems in order to meet new milk cooling requirements, says Paul Donderwinkel, director of Matamata temperature control specialists, Centigrade.

“In response to market pressure, the Ministry for Primary Industries and representatives of various dairy companies are implementing a new, acrossthe-board standard which is due to take effect before June 2016. The changes have being well publicised, so it is imperative farmers start to plan for them.”

The new recommendations state raw milk will have to be cooled to 10oC or below within four hours of the commencement of milking; and to 6oC or below within six hours of the commencement of milking and two hours of completion.

The milk must be held at this temperature until collection or the next milking.

Donderwinkel says because the majority of New Zealand farms do not have the luxury of “super cold” ground or first stage precooling water, farmers will need to add an extra or second stage of precooling to their refrigeration systems in order to gain compliance to the new regulations.

“The traditional two-stage generic milk cooling systems found on most farms simply won’t comply.”

He say farmers have four main options – using a traditional milk storage vat to cool down a bulk store of water; cooling a bulk store of water in a concrete or plastic insulated tank; using an ice bank; or using Glycol, a water and antifreeze mix.

“All these options are capable of doing the job.

It’s just a matter of getting expert help to find the most appropriate solution. The costs of the various

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NZ Dairy

DAIRY SERVICES » Centigrade

| 31

on milk cooling systems The traditional twostage generic milk cooling systems found on most farms simply won’t comply. systems will vary from farm to farm due to sizing and individual requirements, but one thing they have in common is that each of these systems removes heat from the milk by pumping the chilled water medium through a second pass of the plate cooler prior to entering the vat. Some even use the chilled medium to cool the milk in the traditional DX vat base.”

One of the biggest challenges facing the farm refrigeration industry are “snake oil salesmen” bringing sub-standard product into the country, he says.

“Farmers also need to be aware there are nonindustry companies who have seen an apparent opportunity to make a quick buck and are selling cheap imported, sub-standard equipment. There is a lot of flashy advertising and marketing going on, and also a lot of misinformation out there.”

To ensure their systems meet compliance, are high quality, and are backed with good service and parts, Donderwinkel says it is recommended farmers deal with industry certified companies or individuals, such as those affiliated with CCCA or IRHACE. “Refrigeration is a field of engineering where heat rejection or removal can be calculated. It is imperative farmers ensure the sales representative they deal with can back up their claims mathematically, as well as have the practical

Centigrade covers everything from system performance, energy efficiency and power availability to site, to service access and capacity for future growth. experience required to provide them with the correct information and products for their operation.”

A reputable refrigerations sales firm should present all the options and costs to the farmer, considering everything from system performance, energy efficiency and power availability to site and service access, and the capacity for future growth.

Centigrade has a fleet of more than 10 service

Farm Vat Refrigeration Service

vehicles available to service farm refrigeration requirements within a 45 minute radius of Matamata.

The firm deals with a handful of clients every week for whom it has to fix cheap, or badly installed equipment, he says.

“A lot has changed in refrigeration over the last five years, particularly with refrigerants

and their specific requirements. With more new regulations coming in, farmers should definitely choose reputable local companies that can provide a sustainable product, backed by service and availability to off-the-shelf parts.

“Refrigeration is business critical for the farmer.

They can’t afford to have downtime because of breakdowns or systems that don’t meet the grade.”

Each farm refrigeration technician is familiar with the guidelines set by dairy companies for the optimal cooling of milk.

They are trained to meet and exceed these guidelines and will ensure your farm refrigeration installation will maintain your milk quality while on your farm.

24 hour breakdown service - we understand the urgency!

One of our technicians will be on site, at your farm, when you need us.

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32 |

SERVICES » Dairymaster Milking Systems NZ

NZ Dairy

Dairy goat industry ‘exciting sector’ Jo Bailey Providing technologically-advanced rotary milking systems to dairy farms is by far the largest market for Dairymaster Milking Systems NZ Ltd. However, the Taranaki-based firm, which represents the leading Irish brand Dairymaster, is working on a growing number of projects for the dairy goat industry, says director Craig Burrows.

“We are currently installing a 120 bail goat rotary on a Morrinsville farm, which is one of several projects we have completed for the sector in the last couple of years.

“As the benefits of goat milk are more recognised we believe it could become quite a growth industry for New Zealand, especially as the Chinese go ahead with the factory that is being planned in the South Island.”

With its world leading, award-winning goat milking systems, Craig believes Dairymaster is well poised to continue servicing this “exciting’ sector.

“Last year the automated Dairymaster goat rotary milking platform won the Eurotier Gold Medal, which is a top European award for innovation. It provides a revolutionary way of milking, with robotic technology significantly reducing operator workload, in terms of both milking and cleaning.”

The cluster on the milking machine is conveniently located directly under the goat’s teats in a robotic carriage in the platform of the rotary, which considerably speeds up cluster attachment, says Craig.

“The cups pop up and the operator pulls them straight up and onto the goat in around three seconds. It’s a big time saver.”

When milking is finished, the teat cups are automatically removed and sanitized after the carriage is retracted back under the platform. The system also has an automatic teat spraying option.

“All the operator has to do is lift the cups up onto the goats and everything else is taken care of.

It is a really great bit of gear.”

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SERVICES » Dairymaster Milking Systems NZ | 33

for Taranaki-based company Dairymaster franchise in New Zealand for around 16 years.

Craig says the Irish parent company has grown exponentially during this time and now has representation in almost every country in the world.

“Dairymaster has invested heavily in research and development over the years, with its products at the leading edge in terms of technology. The heavy duty equipment is also strong enough to survive the most arduous conditions on-farm, and can provide huge labour saving and cost benefits.”

Dairymaster Milking Systems NZ acts as a wholesaler to its dealer network throughout New Zealand; and has a separate contracting arm, which is the local Taranaki Dairymaster dealership.

“Installing the products as well as selling them • To page 34

Last year the automated Dairymaster goat rotary milking platform won the Eurotier Gold Medal, which is a top European award for innovation. It provides a revolutionary way of milking, with robotic technology significantly reducing operator workload, in terms of both milking and cleaning.

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SERVICES » Dairymaster Milking Systems

34 |

NZ Dairy

Dairymaster Milking Systems NZ supplies a wide range of Dairymaster milking equipment.

Company invests heavily in research • From page 33 makes quite a difference, as we have real-world experience with their application.”

The company wholesales a wide range of Dairymaster milking parlours, feeding equipment, milk cooling equipment, automatic scrapers and heat detection systems, with its contracting division also carrying out water filtration, feed systems, the installation of effluent systems, refrigeration and water reticulation.

“Farmers are busier and busier and still want to have a life outside farming.

“We can provide an integrated package of solutions tailored to their operation and budget from

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Dairymaster Milking Systems NZ backs its nationwide dealer network with sales, project management and technical teams based at its Taranaki head office.

“We have sent teams all over New Zealand to assist with installations when required by our dealers, and will coordinate the installation from head office if we have no representative in a

customer’s location.”

The milking equipment and platform is generally delivered to the farm site in kitset form in two 40 foot containers, ready for installation.

Craig says Dairymaster’s dealer network is provided with comprehensive training and is backed by 24-hour phone support.

The company recently provided its dealers with iPads loaded with manuals and technical information about the products.

“This is a great initiative as it provides the technicians with the latest product information at their fingertips.”

Craig says Dairymaster Milking Systems NZ’s sales and project management staff provide additional backup to the dealers.

“These staff provide the more in-depth information that is sometimes required.

“Our sales team can also follow the jobs through in a project management type role, which works really well.

“They get to the know the clients, and with a thorough understanding of their needs, can work with them and the dealer throughout the process to help deliver the best possible result.”

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NZ Dairy

SERVICES » Waterflow NZ

| 35

Power free, sustainable sewage system Sue Russell Dean Hoyle and his fellow co-director, father Steve, run a busy company manufacturing and installing environmentally friendly sewage and waste-water treatment systems.

The Maungaturoto based business has experienced solid growth which Hoyle says is not surprising given the environmentally sound principles the technology uses.

“The biggest thing that really excites our customers is that the whole system is powerfree and requires little attention once it has been installed,” says Hoyle.

Before marketing the NaturalFlow system he devoted almost a decade and significant sums

into research and development, eventually coming up with a unique, highly evolved and very green solution to managing waste.

Hoyle says the beauty of the NaturalFlow system is that it ticks all the boxes for sustainability.

“I’ve noticed how professionals in the building industry like architects are really embracing a green consciousness more and more. They’re keen on any systems that have the least possible negative impact on the environment,” says Hoyle.

There are no mechanically moving parts involved in the treatment of waste solids and liquids, reducing maintenance processes to practically zero. Right from the start, black water from toilets and kitchen sinks is separated from household grey water, thus eliminating emulsification of the solid waste with the bulk of the

No other system has the capacity to reduce solids by this amount. We are very much working with nature in our processes, keeping it simple, and using power free natural aerating processes instead of mechanical pumps.

An installed NaturalFlow system after landscaping.

wastewater. From here different, naturally based treatments are applied.

In the case of the black water, nature’s very own ‘wormy composters,’ tiger worms are added to a bed of bark medium inside the NaturalFlow Wormorator chamber. These clever little creatures set to munching through and reducing the solids by up to 95%, creating in the process valuable water soluble nutrients that can be recycled safely back into the environment.

“No other system has the capacity to reduce solids by this amount. We are very much working with nature in our processes, keeping it simple, and using power free natural aerating processes instead of mechanical pumps.”

The grey water treatment process is achieved through a series of natural settling and filtering processes that reduce scum and any solids to the point of insignificance.

“Our system deals with the grey water really efficiently and quickly. It’s been proven that the sooner you can return grey water to the environment the less negative impact it has on the environment.”

Contractors install a NaturalFlow sewage and waste-water treatment system. The system is power free and comes in two sizes, one for a 1-2 bedroom home and one for homes of 3-8 bedrooms.

In terms of costs Hoyle says his company’s products pretty well match dollar for dollar alternative waste treatment systems.

“While the initial investment is the same, from the time you install NaturalFlow you are saving and with any other conventional system you start spending. This is the really big positive our product offers. It’s a case of looking at the longer-term picture, not just the upfront purchase price.”

Trying to educate local authorities with the innate advantages NaturalFlow offers to consumers and to the environment is an important activity of Waterflow NZ Ltd. Hoyle and his team make a point of engaging with councils and the like as often as possible because the treatment processes are not always covered exactly in the Standards Councils work with.

NaturalFlow comes in two sizes, one designed to cope with waste for 1 to 2 bedroom dwellings and the other for homes of 3 to 8 bedrooms.

The technology is also being taken up in ruralbased situations other than private housing with the systems being installed in Marae’s, rural schools and workshops to name a few.

36 |

ON FARM » Peter & Anna Davies

NZ Dairy

Kiwifruit gamble comes up trumps Karen Phelps

PHOTOS: Herd manager Kieran Harvey inspects the fodder beet crop (top).

Farm manager Tim Beban, Kieran Harvey and owner Peter Davies.

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It seemed a crazy thing to do at the time – sell one of their dairy farms and buy a kiwifruit orchard when the kiwifruit industry was in crisis as a result of the Psa bacterial vine disease. But farmers Peter and Anna Davies say it was one of the best decisions they ever made with their kiwifruit orchard return on capital far in excess of what their dairy farm is achieving.

The couple sold a 70ha unit in Te Puke milking 200 cows two years ago to fund their way into the 4ha kiwifruit orchard in Oropi in the Bay of Plenty and have since managed to nearly double production on the orchard.

“We were finding running two dairy farms too busy. We had no time to ourselves and wanted a change in lifestyle,” explains Peter. “Although the kiwifruit industry was in crisis we could see things were on the improve and it’s turned out to be a fantastic investment returning two to three times what the dairy farm is.”

The Davies have employed a manager on the kiwifruit orchard and they help out with jobs such as spraying and mowing. Fruit is sold to Zespri and the Davies are hoping to produce 50,000 trays this season.

Both Peter and Anna grew up on farms. Peter hailed from a mixed cropping unit in Gisborne while Anna came from a dairy farm in Katikati.

After leaving school Peter completed a bachelor of agricultural science degree at Massey University before working his way up the dairy system managing, contracting milking and then share milking in the Waikato. Anna was working as a primary school teacher when she joined Peter in the business in 1989.

They took on a 50:50 sharemilking position together on a 220-cow farm at Morrinsville as well as having a half share in a small 130-cow dairy farm located next door. They stayed for four years before selling up to buy their first farm, a 72ha total/60ha effective unit at Rotorua, which they still own today. Neighbouring land was added to the farm and today it totals 120ha/110ha effective.

The couple milk 400 cows through a 36 aside herringbone shed. There is a small feed pad capable of holding 200 cows on the exit and a disused cow shed converted to a feed pad, which can hold the remainder of the stock.

The farm is supported by a 50ha run off two kilometres away used from growing supplement (10ha of kale and making around 600 bales of silage each year), grazing calves and wintering cows. The farm is a system 2 unit and cows are

Although the kiwifruit industry was in crisis we could see things were on the improve and it’s turned out to be a fantastic investment returning two to three times what the dairy farm is. fed around 500 kilograms of palm kernel per cow each year.

The dry weather is their biggest challenge and Peter says they have had to change farm management practices to cope. The Davies grow 8ha of turnips and 3ha of fodder beet for summer crops. They have introduced the Trojan pasture species planting 60% of the farm in Trojan which they say has made a huge difference to their operation.

“AR1 endophyte was a disaster for us because it has no resilience to black beetle. In 2008 we had a bad drought and had to undersow practically the whole farm. We knew we had to find a better way.

We have found Trojan to be resilient with good dry matter production.”

To protect summer pastures the Davies are on 30 day rounds by Christmas stretching this out to 35-40 days once they start feeding the summer turnips. They leave residuals of 1500 right through the summer.

“It’s made a huge difference to our total pasture production. As soon as the autumn rains come we are on a long rotation so we can take advantage of that rain.”

They are also able to milk until the end of May now increasing lactation by 40 days. They credit the skills of their farm manager Tim Beban, who has worked for the couple for four years, as being key in their pasture management programme.

The Davies also have 20ha of forestry planted on the farms which is currently being harvested and is making a difference to their cash flow on the unit. They say that by selling one dairy farm and buying the kiwifruit orchard they reduced debt and it has put their business in a great position to expand especially as their two oldest children, Simon, 24 and Joanna, 22, both Lincoln University graduates, are expressing interest in farming.

Pleased to provide service to Twisted Rd Farm The Davies have introduced the Trojan pasture species to over 60 per cent of their farm.

NZ Dairy

ON FARM » Nick Browning

| 37

Northland dairy farmer Nick Browning won the Jersey NZ herd scene award for this photo of cows crossing a bridge.

Testing times for new sharemilkers Kelly Deeks Business is changing at the Browning family’s Northland dairy farm this season, with Nick and Steph Browning becoming equity partners in his parents’ farm, as well as being the first season with an all jersey herd.

The 430ha farm near Dargaville has been in the Browning family coming up 20 years. The family runs a 150ha dairy platform with 370 cows, a 40ha run off block, and the remainder of the farm is used to raise beef stock.

Nick Browning came home to a farm manager position in 2011, having spent a year as second in charge on a high input dairy farm, after working for more than six years as a diesel mechanic for Norwood Farm Machinery.

Four years later and Browning is now equity sharemilking on the family farm, and the same arrangement will continue next season as the Brownings and the industry tries to survive the low milk pay out.

It has already affected operations on the Browning farm, with Nick’s farm worker finishing and not being replaced, to keep costs down.

“It is pretty tough conditions for our first year sharemilking, but our accountant has advised us if we can survive this year we can survive anything.

The Browning family have been running a pedigree jersey herd for years, with jersey breeding dating back to Nick’s great grandparents.

Last season there were about 180 friesians on the Browning farm and 140 jerseys.

This season the family decided to make the whole herd jerseys, selling the friesian cows and

buying a jersey herd, and upping cow numbers from 320 to 370.

The new herd was milking once a day for the past 10 years, so Browning says it has taken a lot of work to adjust them to twice a day milkings.

“We’ve kept a small once-a-day herd with lame cows right through the season, and that has hindered our production,” he says.

Browning says he hopes to increase cow numbers again next season as while the jerseys are doing the same daily production as the friesians, they are not getting through as much grass.

He will also be focused on improving the empty rate next season, which at 12% this season with the help of CIDRs was still an extremely good result for the area, which has been struggling with droughts and floods. The Brownings are hoping to get through next mating without the use of CIDRs. The family has been working with DairyNZ since February on a dairy condition programme, and the average body condition score has been raised by .1 to 4.3.

The Brownings have also spent a lot of time this season on fixing fences and races, after the farm flooded four times last winter and demolished every fence and race in its path.

DairyNZ’s Taskforce Green arrived on the Browning’s farm for a few days in the middle of calving time to help pick up debris from the floods.

The Browning’s pedigree jersey herd compete in shows all around Northland and have won several supreme champion awards and other placings.

Browning himself has won the Jersey New Zealand Alpha Nominated Jersey Photo Competition for the past two years, getting photos of his cows on the front cover of The Jersey Review.

Nick and Steph Browning are equity farmers on this Waihue Valley property near Dargaville.

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38 |

ON FARM » Richard & Justine Westlake

NZ Dairy

Far north suppliers value independence Sue Russell Richard and Justine Westlake are part of a network of farms supplying Fresha Valley, an independent dairy company that has been producing milk at Waipu, in Northland, since 1988.

The company operates under a completely different model from Fonterra, where suppliers have to buy shares in the company. Instead, contributing farms to Fresha Valley are contracted to supply by the litre rather than by kilogram of milksolids, and both Fresha and the farms operate independently.

“We are inspected twice a year for compliance by the Ministry for Primary Industries and the regional council, but for all intents and purposes we are completely independent of the company we supply to,” says Richard Westlake.

“It’s a relationship that works very well.”

The Westlakes’ herd produced a total of 222,000 kilograms of milksolids last season – 422kg a cow.

Richard says their aspiration to reach 500kg per cow in the next two seasons is achievable given how the farm systems and production have been tracking.

Richard and Justine manage and part-own a dairy unit five minutes away from Maungataroto.

His first experience of farm life came as a 13-year-old farm-hand milking before and after school. On leaving school 22 years ago, he did a six-month course in dairying at Waikato Polytechnic.

However, he recalls, his first experience of working on a farm was not very positive. He is referring to a six-month stint on a farm where he had one day a month off, and no time off at all during calving and mating, and was clocking upward of 90 hours a week.

We are inspected twice a year for compliance by the Ministry for Primary Industries and the regional council, but for all intents and purposes we are completely independent of the company we supply to. It’s a relationship that works very well.

He puts this down to a farm-owner who didn’t pull his weight, a situation he believes would not be acceptable in the current framework for health and safety of staff.

“I love stock and dairy farming, but after that experience, I needed to take time off. I had a break for six months and then went building for another six months in Auckland.”

The next step in his farming career saw the Westlakes buying their first cows, a herd of 180, split-calving 90 in spring and 90 in autumn for four years.

But another career change followed when he started a truck-driving company, which he ran for the next 13 years.

In 2007 the Westlakes brought their Maungataroto farm. But it was so run down a share milker was taken on so that they could get the farm into some sort of working order. They bought their original spring herd locally and the start of the autumn herd was empty cows from the Waikato.

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“The water system used to come from three kilometres away through a 32ml line to feed 400 cows. So, we bought another farm next door to use as a run-off but also for its water system, and that same year we upgraded all the water.”

With the farm infrastructure now sorted, the next

big project is to concentrate on developing the herd, given the cows were bought fairly cheap.

“We may cover the feedpad as well, but that’s about it in terms of the farm itself.”

Unusually, they calve three times a year, with only the top 100 cows – those with the highest production and no lameness or other physical issues – mated each time.

The farm itself does not have a definite, effective milking platform because the dairy herd shares the space with dry stock. But Westlake says about 280 of the 308 hectares would constitute the dairy platform.

The Westlakes operates to a system-four feeding regime using a palm-kernel blend of 50 per cent palm kernel, 25% canola and 25% biscuit.

“The canola and biscuit drives production while the palm kernel drives weight,” says Richard. “It works very well for us. We feed all year round.”

They have recently increased their staffing level, taking on a second full-time farmhand to free Richard from milking duties. Their original full-timer is in his fifth season on the farm.

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NZ Dairy

ON FARM » Naylor Family

| 39

New irrigation scheme touts ‘huge benefits’ Karen Phelps

PHOTOS – Top: George and Ross Naylor and farmhand Damon Middlemass in front of the new irrigation dam which holds 48,500 cubic metres. Middle: Heifers graze on an area irrigated by a pivot, Above: George Naylor, Damon Middlemass and Ross Naylor at the centre of pivot.

The Naylor family is reaching the end of a two-year irrigation project that will see the productivity of their Central Otago farm increase and future-proof the land for subsequent generations, says Ross Naylor, with wife Honey, owns the farm.

The project will see the farm move from a predominantly flood to a gravity-fed irrigation system. Since last season they have been using a new, 12-span, gravity-fed centre pivot. Under construction is a 10-span centre pivot. The project has also involved the construction of a 48,500 cubic metre irrigation dam.

When completed, the project will see 163 hectares of their farm under centre-pivot irrigation while the remainder remains under flood irrigation.

“This new irrigation system will give us greater control over water use – when and where we apply it,” says Ross Naylor. “It will help us to be more compliant as well as make the farm more productive and profitable.”

The new irrigation already allowed the Naylors to increase the stock capacity on the farm from 8500 to 10,000 stock units, and they will be looking for further increases, he says. The farm has also been able to grow more winter crops.

“Typically a dryland cropping farm in this area would yield 3-4 tonnes of dry matter per hectare,” says Scot Pollard, CRT Farmlands field officer for Central Otago who is helping the Naylors with the their cropping. “The Naylors’ farm is yielding 12-20 tonnes under the new, centre-pivot irrigation.”

They have developed a very structured approach to their feed and have planted 8ha of fodder beet and 60ha of kale for dairy grazing and winter feed, 36ha of annual ryegrass and turnip mix, 14ha of annual ryegrass and winter rape, 9ha of kale to feed hoggets over winter, and 20ha of rye corn for hoggets at shearing time from about winter to early November.

Ross Naylor is the fifth generation of the family to farm in the Matakanui area; his family settled there in 1875 and started farming in 1878. The original sections of the property where Naylor grew up and now farms, called Spennymoor, were bought in 1910. The property was named after the birthplace of his great great grandmother in Durham, England.

Spennymoor is a valley floor property of 1012ha with three private water rights. These historic rights hail from the gold-mining days and are very valuable in Central Otago. The farm also has two quotas from the Omakau Irrigation Company.

The new system has allowed the Naylors to do dairy grazing on the farm, and they are in their second season of this.

Ross’s son, George, 27, the farm second-in-

We don’t have to own the stock outright with dairy whereas with beef, we have to buy it, which means a lot of capital tied up.

charge, says that in the first year they grazed a mix of dairy and beef stock, but this year are focussing solely on dairy.

“We don’t have to own the stock outright with dairy whereas with beef, we have to buy it, which means a lot of capital tied up. With dairy stock we also know the date they will arrive and leave, which gives us greater control over feed budgets.”

In addition to beef cattle, the Naylors run 50 hereford breeding cows, keeping their calves to fatten, and a fine-wool flock of quarterbred sheep.

This strong merino breed achieves wool averaging 22.5 microns. Naylor runs 3,200 quarterbred ewes and winters 2,800 hoggets of which 1600 go to the works as winter hoggets and the remainder in the spring/summer period. They keep around 1,100 replacement hoggets for breeding.

Honey Naylor assists with paperwork and provides hands-on help on the farm hands when needed.

In his spare time Ross Naylor is a keen writer.

He has written books on the Matakanui Rugby Club and the history of education in the Manuherikia Valley, and is helping with a book about the tenure of Matakanui Station from its beginnings in 1857 when John Turnbull Thompson surveyed the area, until 2014. The Naylor property was part of this station before being sub-divided off in 2010.

Although a number of farms in the area are converting to dairy, the Naylors remain firmly dedicated to sheep and beef.

“Although we’re now in a position because of the irrigation where we could convert, we are still committed to sheep and beef,” says George.

“The irrigation project has been long and stressful, and caused disturbance to our stock as we’ve had a lot of grass out of productivity. But it will have huge, long-term benefits – reliability of water, drought resistance, guaranteed feed – and will add enormous value to the property. It’s really future-proofed the farm and now it’s a matter of making it pay for itself. We think we can eventually raise stock levels to 14,500. That’s the aim.”

40 |

ON FARM » PKW Farms

NZ Dairy

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PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH PWK FARMS

The establishment of Te Oranga Livestock has provided several benefits to Taranaki-based Maori Incorporation Parininihi ki Waitotara (PKW), says chief executive Dion Tuuta.

“We are now successfully supplying cows to both our own farms and to clients outside PKW,” he says.

“This means we can capture commissions when PKW farms purchase cattle or sell cattle onto further markets. The initiative has also reduced our dependence on other livestock companies and enables us to provide a different career option within the agri-business sector for our shareholders.”

The nimble livestock company was the brainchild of PKW Drystock operations manager Andrew Gibson, who has more than 10 years’ experience as a livestock agent and auctioneer.

On joining PKW two years ago, he advocated setting up a specialist livestock arm; Te Oranga Livestock was established in August last year. The proposal was supported by the chief executive and the board, and a new chapter in the PKW story was born.

“It made sense given the amount of cattle we were buying and selling annually,” says Gibson.

“Things are going really well. We’re looking after our own farms and doing some good external business with clients outside PKW. We hope to expand this side of the business and build relationships with other Maori agri-business owners.”

PKW, established in 1976, owns 20,000 hectares in Taranaki. It has 950 shareholders.

Farming is its largest investment – 14 dairy farms and 11 supporting dry-stock farms. PKW Farms Ltd is Fonterra’s largest Taranaki-based milk-supplier.

NZ Dairy

ON FARM » PKW Farms

| 41

dimension to business The incorporation uses around 16 per cent (2300ha) of its land holding for its dairy business, with its 7700 cows producing around 3.3 million kilograms of milksolids each year.

Andrew Gibson oversees PKW’s 11 dry-stock properties that support the dairy business, as well as Te Oranga Livestock. He has around 16 staff under his wing including the managers of the drystock units, and a three-man, full-time fencing team.

In mid-June the dry-stock group was busy doing all the “changeovers”, transferring in-calf heifers to the dairy units and weaner heifers back to the drystock farms for May-to-May grazing.

They were also handling around 900 autumnborn calves, a breakdown between friesian bulls, beef bulls and heifers, and 150 dairy replacements.

“We have new staff starting, and we’re taking over new farms, so it is going to be another big year,” says Gibson.

A further 1000-1200 calves are reared each spring at the PKW Farm 1 calf unit. They are fed fresh milk supplied by early calving cull cows, which are milked once a day on PKW Farm 29.

“This cuts out wastage in the dairy system when cull-cow prices are usually low,” says Gibson. “The regime works really well as it cuts milk-powder costs, gives the calves the best feed possible, and reduces cow wastage.”

The calves are raised in modern, calf-rearing units that have been developed at PKW Farm 1.

The complex has the ability to house 600 calves inside at one time. The fully covered nursery sheds provide a starter-base for young calves, allowing them to be hand-fed before they are moved into the fully automated sheds by the time they are 14 days old.

Gerard Rowe

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ON FARM » PKW Farms

NZ Dairy

PHOTOS: Right: Te Oranga heifers go through the sale ring at Inglewood.

Below: Te Oranga bulls – a mix of angus, friesian, hereford and charolais.

Bottom: One of the feeder stations installed in the calf nursery.

PKW hopes to have own bull sale ‘within next few years’ • From page 41 PKW has also developed a herd-shelter complex at its Opua Road Farm.

Around 1400 dairy heifers, 1000 bulls and around 1500 beef cattle are also run on the drystock farms, says Gibson.

“We also have around 200 empty cows being mated at the moment with wagyu bulls and 250 empty cows mated with hereford and charolais bulls for autumn calving. The dry-stock farms also carry around 300 ewes.”

Mating to the First Light wagyus is an “interesting sideline”, with 200 autumn cows already having calved to wagyus this March, he says.

“This initiative provides us with another opportunity to get into world markets with top-class meat.

“The wagyus are easy calving, low-birthweight stock that are quite slow-maturing, which is what gives the meat its sought-after marbled effect.”

Te Oranga sold a high breeding and productionworth herd and heifers at auction in conjunction with PGG Wrightsons at Inglewood in April, and put

Proud to be working along side PKW Farms

200 in-milk cows to auction last September in what will become an annual sale.

“Last season we sold numerous herds and heifers to off-farm clients which were delivered on forward-sale contracts for May/June delivery,” says Gibson.

“Our mix of charolais, angus, friesian, hereford and jersey bulls are sold out of the paddock and from client orders, but we hope to have our own bull sale on farm within the next few years.”

All hay and silage is grown on the drystock properties, with surplus sold to the dairy operations.

“This year we plan to put in fodder beet for the first time. We see it as a good low-cost, highenergy feed option.”

Gibson has plans to tail the autumn and springcalving cows with the best angus, charolais and hereford bulls, and has already travelled around the country sourcing early bulls to lease to clients for autumn mating.

“We’re also looking at rearing all the calves through ourselves, and finishing cattle on beef lots.

Over all, I’m really happy with how things are going.

It has been a great year so far with the beef prices strong helping out while milk prices are low.”

NZ Dairy

DAIRY PEOPLE » Richard & Nicola Abbott/Michael Pelesco

| 43

Former rural bankers Richard and Nicola Abbott (with daughter and cows, left and below) are sharemilking 320 cows in Southland.

‘Skin in the game’ hones skills Kelly Deeks Former rural bankers Richard and Nicola Abbott are now firmly established in the dairy industry and, having progressed to 50:50 sharemilking, are looking for an opportunity to buy their own farm.

The Abbotts started dairy farming in 2011, went contract milking in 2012, then in 2013 started 50:50 sharemilking on Andre and Kim Zwagerman’s 110-hectare dairy farm at Otautau, in Southland.

Nicola kept her banking position until July 2013 when she had the couple’s first daughter, who was followed 20 months later by their second.

Richard Abbott says the biggest changes from contract milking are having “skin in the game”, and the fact that the decisions made and the

performance achieved have a big impact on not only their profitability, but on that of the farmowners as well.

The couple are milking 320 cows, and had a good start to their sharemilking tenure in the 201314 season, with amazing grass growth, a high pay-out, and a record production season, producing 147,400 kilograms of milksolids versus the previous best production of 125,000kg milksolids.

In the 2014-15 season they learned to take the rough with the smooth. Production was still looking good at 1363kg milksolids per hectare, but the weather hit hard with twice the amount of rainfall – and, of course, the pay-out plunged.

The Abbotts are now concentrating on running a lower-cost system, as well as improving the quality of their herd.

Although they have had to bring in 200 tonnes of palm kernel, compared with 140 tonnes the previous season, they bought 230 bales of hay at $55 a bale to feed to cows on fodder beet instead of using balage at $80 a bale.

They kept an eye on cow condition and from the beginning of February, went to 16-hour milkings.

They have cut costs in animal health, using cheaper minerals and cutting use of rumensin altogether.

Animal health is still good and results were proven at mating, improving from last season’s 69 per cent in-calf at six weeks and 11% empty, with 77% in calf at six weeks and a 7% empty rate at the end of mating. No CIDRs used.

“We’ve decided if a cow doesn’t get in calf naturally, we don’t want her,” Richard Abbott says.

They are wintering 100 cows at home, the

farm-owners are wintering 100 of the early-calvers on their farm at Opio, and 80 in-calf heifers and the remainder of the cows are being wintered off farm.

The Abbotts have one more year left on their contract and with the low pay-out this season, are hopeful a good opportunity may arise to buy their own farm, extend their current contract, or look for a larger sharemilking job. They own a 46ha grass block at Rimu, which they bought in 2009, and sell the grass cut from it to a local dairy farmer.

The couple entered the Dairy Industry Awards this year for the first time, placing in the top six and gaining some good experience and feedback from the judges.

They have since tightened up their health and safety procedures and have enrolled in the Dairy New Zealand Mark and Measure course this winter.

Fortuna like big family – manager Sue Russell Michael Pelesco, who comes from the Philippines, is in his eighth year of farming in New Zealand. In that time he has progressed from being a farmhand to a fully fledged manager, something he says would not have been possible without the support of those he has worked alongside.

Iron Bridge Farm, near Wallacetown on the outskirts of Invercargill, is the third property he has worked on and he is now in his fourth season there.

“Last season was tough, not only because of the pay-out but because the weather from last August through to November was rough and cold,” he says.

The farm he manages, along with three other Filipinos, is owned by the Fortuna Group Ltd. For Michael, being part of a corporation with significant holdings has brought many benefits.

Iron Bridge itself has an effective milking platform of 285 hectares. It winters 850 cows and at its peak, milks around 820 cows through a 54bail rotary, complete with automatic cup-removers and teat spraying.

Pelesco’s farming diligence has been recognised by the Fortuna Group, and he has received the Cows Award, the Staff Excellence award and the Leadership Award. Iron Bridge farm was once again an entrant in the Otago-Southland region of the New Zealand Dairy Awards.

“Every two months we have a farm evaluation covering lots of criteria,” he says. “It is a very rigorous process.”

The farm is positioned close to a river and the soil near this can become water-logged easily. The frustration for Pelesco is that when pasture gets to this state, he can’t access it to add fertiliser or to cut it. The answer lies in being highly selective and patient, mowing what can be mown and leaving the rest to dry out.

He has just completed level 5 through the Primary AgITO, and his next goal is to start a Diploma in Business Agriculture.

Being part of a well-established farming corporate brings not only the benefit of support through discussion groups and on-farm advisers but also creates opportunities, he says.

One of his key aspirations is to take up a farm supervisor position within the company.

“Fortuna is like a big family,” he says.

“They really try to help us get on, and one way they do this is to offer employees a business scheme, the opportunity to invest money in company.”

Iron Bridge Farm is managed as two herds, each with a manager; there is also a full-time cowshed manager. It’s a structure that works well, says Pelesco.

“With a herd of this size and the resources we have, it is the ideal way to operate the farm. It also means I can communicate directly with the person responsible.”

The 2013-14 season’s milksolids total of 388,000 kilograms was the highest the farm has posted. The 2014-15 target was somewhat more modest though close to his expectation of 343,000kg milksolids.

Iron Bridge farm manager Michael Pelesco has made giant steps working for the Fortuna Group.

Supplements, in the form of palm kernel and a little molasses are the main additional feed, though lat this stage in the season, the cows are being entirely grass-fed.

“We’ve been using supplements wisely,” he says.

What impresses him most about being part of

Fortuna Group is the willingness of the hierarchy to share their knowledge for free – “teaching us the tricks” – as he puts it.

“Especially now with the season being so tight, their input is so important and valuable. They teach us how to be comfortable thinking ‘This is my farm.

I feel like it is my farm’.”

44 |

DAIRY PEOPLE » Mike & Rosemary Kuriger

NZ Dairy

Herd punches above its weight Karen Phelps Urenui based farmers Mike and Rosemary Kuriger’s herd of 260 jersey cows is producing above its liveweight, something the couple achieve by placing emphasis on pasture management and fully feeding the cows.

“The average liveweight of our jerseys is around 370 kilograms and they are producing around 400kg of milk solids. Friesians don’t do this and jerseys are not as heavy as friesians and don’t cause as much pugging on the farm in winter,” says Rosemary, explaining their preference for the jersey breed.

To keep grass quality high the 67ha effective farm is on a 90-100 day round over winter and all stock is wintered on farm. The round shortens to 26 days through summer and 39 days when the autumn rains arrive. To fill in the gaps they use grass silage made on farm and this year bought in 100 tonnes of maize and 180 tonnes of palm kernel, which they feed out in the paddock.

Palm kernel is a recent addition for the Kurigers and while previously the farm average was 75,00080,000kg of milk solids adding palm kernel into the system has seen this figure rise to 103,864kg of milk solids this last season.

Rosemary says they have found palm kernel to be “an amazing tool”, especially as their farm is located on the coast and has experienced drought for the past three seasons.

Importantly, farm working expenses still remain low at around $3.50 inclusive per kilogram of milk solids whereas the industry average for the region sits above $4, says Rosemary, who sympathises with the struggles young farmers will face this season with the lower payout.

“We had a young sharemilker at the discussion group who said his stress levels were a ten on a scale of one to ten. He’d bought his cows at the peak a couple of years ago and now was struggling to even repair his tractor. We need these young farmers coming into the industry.”

The Kurigers experience is no doubt a valuable asset in their local discussion group to these newer farmers. The couple started their careers by returning to Mike’s family’s farm in 1977 and working for a year on wages before going 50:50 sharemilking.

Mike is the third generation of his family to farm the land. The farm was 40ha at the time and the herd of 100 jerseys milked through a simple walk through shed with 12 bails. The Kurigers quickly converted the shed to a 16 aside herringbone with

Mike Kuriger (top) and Rosemary Kuriger (at left) have been milking in the Taranaki district for nearly 40 years.

• To page 45 • Hay & Silage Baling • Hedge Mulching Round & Square Bales • All Cultivating Work • Maize Silage • Effluent Spreading • Pit Silage

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DAIRY PEOPLE » Mike & Rosemary Kuriger

| 45

Mt Taranaki creates a dramatic backdrop to the Kuriger farm at Urenui.

40 years milking cows `is long enough’ • From page 44 Mike, his father Joe, and help from neighbours to complete the build. They leased more land and increased the herd to 180 cows. The farm now has a 67ha milking platform including 23ha of lease land. The farm is supported by a 12.5ha run off used for running young stock, bulls and growing silage. The remainder of the young stock are sent out grazing. Cows are milked through a 20 aside herringbone shed.

Mike runs the farm with the help of one full time staff member. Rosemary fills in as needed.

“Mike has the ability other people don’t have to extract milk from cows,” says Rosemary. “That’s

what someone said recently at a discussion group held on the farm.”

But if the couple has their way Mike will soon be taking a backseat in the business and putting the reigns in the hands of the next generation of dairy farmers.

“I think 40 years milking cows is long enough,” says Rosemary. “We have family and grandchildren so it would be nice to have more free time and not be so tied to the farm. We want to keep the farm and have an interest in it but lessen the workload.

We have to think about how to do this and whether to put a contract milker or share milker on the farm.

That’s something we’re currently working through.”

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DAIRY PEOPLE » John & Sarah Assen/Bryce & Amanda Savage

46 |

NZ Dairy

Farm experience in Chile a valuable Sue Russell After leaving school and completing a degree in agricultural commerce at Lincoln University Waikato farmer John Assen was given the opportunity to spend a year learning about very different farming practices in Central Chile.

“In 2006 I attended a special high school for students in a poorer area, a school giving them practical farming skills. On top of their normal academic studies their day was extended by a few hours on the school’s dairy farm.”

On a trip to Southern Chile John observed the early stages of NZ pastoral system being developed and implemented.

“Cows are huge there. Holstein/Freisian mixes easily weighing 750kg, producing an average 35 litres per day, with calving all year round. There were definitely a lot more animal health problems including lameness and foot and leg infections.”

After returning from South America John took up a one season assistant manager’s position on a farm in Ngahinapouri. He remembers with great

appreciation the excellent boss he worked for.

“There’s a risk entering the industry being put off by a ‘not nice’ boss but conversely the benefits that flow from working alongside someone willing to support your learning are huge.”

This job was followed in quick succession by a manager’s position with 450 cows on a farm half way between Tirau and Matamata and then collaborating with friend Aaron Price in 2009 to step up to sharemilking.

John says the partnership worked well, enabling them both to achieve sharemilking status much sooner than if they had not combined their resources.

“We had $30,000 each, got the bank’s backing and secured a 400-cow sharemilking job in Taupiri.

After three years we got a second job where Aaron is based in Tahuna.”

The Taupiri farm where John is based is 110 effective hectares and this season calved 400 freisian/jersey calves. The property was originally two farms and has two milking sheds, a 16 and a

• To page 47

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Early start a big advantage Karen Phelps Bryce and Amanda Savage are seeing the advantages of starting their dairy career paths early. By starting to build equity at a young age the couple say they are now in a position to have more freedom at an earlier stage of life including spending precious time with their four children Ben, 6, Harry, 4, Tessa, 2 and Jack, 7 months.

Neither of the Savages grew up on farms.

Amanda built a career in logistics working for the New Zealand Army. Bryce was introduced to farming at a young age working on his grandparents’ farm during school holidays.

He soon developed a strong desire to become a dairy farmer and when he left school started working as a dairy farm assistant on a 200-cow farm at Manaia. At 19 years old he was already taking on his first variable order sharemilking position on a 130-cow farm at Matapu where he stayed for three years.

During this time his enthusiasm for the industry led to him being named Variable Order Sharemilker of the Year for the Taranaki region in the 2004 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards. He says this

put him in good stead to take the next step in his career – 50:50 sharemilking. Both his age and his status as a single man proved challenging though.

It was a chance meeting with a new client when he was working as an AB technician for Livestock Improvement Corporation that led to his first sharemilking position.

“On my first day of visiting a new AB client he mentioned he wouldn’t mind selling his herd if someone wanted to buy it. I said I might be interested. The next day he said he’d thought about it and he’d sell it to me,” says Bryce.

Parininihi ki Waitotara Farms, who the farmer still had one year of a three year sharemilking contract to fulfil, was convinced to give Bryce a go so at the age of 21 he found himself 50:50 sharemilking a herd of 170 cows at Hawera.

During the three years he was there he met Amanda who joined the business working full time on the farm by year three. The couple then moved to a Parininihi ki Waitotara Farms-owned unit at Grant Road, Hawera, where they are in their seventh season.

The couple milk 400 predominantly Friesian cows through a 39-aside herringbone shed on the 134ha effective/144ha total farm. They say their

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ON FARM » John & Sarah Assen/Bryce & Amanda Savage | 47

building block • From page 46 20 aside. “We calve them all through one shed and then we open up the other shed.

Last season we produced 143,000kg and this season we had our sights set on 150,000 but have already passed this.”

John puts this positive result on better pasture management, growing a lot more grass through spring and summer.

It’s now expected that at season’s end 158,000kg will have been produced.

Helping progress higher and higher yields is the Dairybase programme John says has been extremely beneficial.

“It’s like a register of helpful information farmers input and it means I can easily compare my performance with that of others in similar situations or those using different farming practices.”

John’s feeding system straddles systems 2 and 3; grass first then introducing palm kernel to augment pasture deficit on the shoulders and during period of sustained drought.

The current aim is to improve 10% of the pasture each year, introducing chicory crop in summer along with newer grass varieties.

John has been married for five years to Sarah and they have two children, 4½ year old Ruby and son Raphael 18 months.

“For me, what I like most about farming is not being stuck inside all day and being your own boss and it’s excellent for bringing up a family.”

The couple employ two herd managers, one assigned to each shed. One is from the farming high school in Chile.

John also belongs to Young Farmers which he describes as an excellent organisation to belong to.

“We have a formal meeting once a month and organise events; it’s a combination of social activities along with listening to industry speakers and I’ve learnt so much from my involvement. I would recommend it for anyone starting out.”

Current goals John has set for himself are to maximise pasture yields per hectare, maintain 6-week in-calf rate above 78% and maximise profitability by keeping costs down, supported by regular benchmarking and monitoring.

It’s like a register of helpful information farmers input and it means I can easily compare my performance with that of others in similar situations or those using different farming practices.

Maximising pasture yield is a current goal for John Assen.

for Taranaki couple main focus is on growing their equity by running an efficient business that produces good cash flow.

For the Savages the secret is to focus on doing the basics well. They employ two full time staff and a casual staff member in spring. Amanda takes charge of the calf rearing as well as taking care of the children and Bryce works on the farm full time.

Two seasons ago the Savages also managed to buy Bryce’s grandparents’ farm when the family decided to sell. There were no family favours to ensure fairness to all, says Bryce, and the couple purchased it on the open market taking over in 2013 when Bryce was just 30 years old.

The 68ha effective/74ha total unit in Stratford milks 220 Friesian cows through a 20-aside herringbone shed.

The Savages employ variable order sharemilkers on the property, Kate Good and Josh Lyon. In the first season the farm produced 74,000kg of milk solids; this season the target is 86,000kg. Bryce says the aim is to consistently produce 90,000 kilograms.

Next season Kate and Josh will move on to their first 50:50 position and the Savages are pleased

to have helped a young couple further their dairy careers. Next season Joe and Jess Churchill will take over the position on the Savages’ farm.

Bryce judged Joe in the Dairy Trainee of the Year competition last year and says it will be good to further assist Joe with his career.

The Savages have entered the Dairy Industry Awards numerous times (in 2013 they were runners up for the Taranaki region for the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year Award and the year prior were third runners up) but now they own their own farm and are no longer eligible to enter are focused on helping other young farmers. They are involved in the organising committee for the awards and Bryce has been a judge. Bryce is also the vice chair for the sharemilkers section of Federated Farmers for Taranaki.

“The awards really encouraged us, helped us to seek out opportunities, to analyse our business and get our name out there. It’s hard for people to get ahead with the move to larger corporate farms so we’d like to continue to grow our business, ideally lease another farm as the next step, and continue to provide opportunities for young farmers.”

The awards really encouraged us, helped us to seek out opportunities, to analyse our business and get our name out there. It’s hard for people to get ahead with the move to larger corporate farms so we’d like to continue to grow our business, ideally lease another farm as the next step, and continue to provide opportunities for young farmers.

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48 |

DAIRY PEOPLE» Peter & Joc Kinney

NZ Dairy

Peter Kinney (left) with Willy Harris (centre), the manager of the Kinneys’ beef finishing farm, and English farm worker Dave Barry.

Nitrate-leaching research starts Jo Bailey Peter and Joc Kinney’s Culverden dairy operation is one of nine Canterbury farms chosen to participate in the Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching programme. The six-year programme aims to develop profitable pasture and forage crops to reduce nitrate leaching losses by 20 per cent.

“We hope this programme will prove it is possible to maintain the low cost of production and competitive advantage of New Zealand’s pastoral grazing system, and reduce leaching through the use of alternative pasture species with lower nitrogen content,” says Peter Kinney.

“I believe this is a far better alternative than putting cows in barns, which comes with huge costs and profitability issues.”

The nine farms involved in the programme are monitoring their current practices in the first year to establish base data.

Information collected includes daily grazing and

supplementary feed records, application levels of irrigation, effluent and fertiliser, and stock and feed movements on and off the property.

This helps determine the effect of management on crop and pasture yield and quality.

Experimental research is also under way on crop and pasture species currently available to farmers.

Initial results are expected within a year.

“Being part of the programme is quite a commitment,” says Kinney. “But nitrogen leaching is one of the bigger topics in the industry, so it’s good to be involved.”

The Kinneys’ 327-hectare home farm and 221ha support farm have escaped the worst of the drought that has hit North Canterbury this season – both properties have ready access to irrigation.

“We take water from both the Waiau and Hurunui rivers, which have been exceptional as far as reliability goes considering the drought conditions.”

After nearly 20 years in the dairy industry, Peter

says he and Joc are philosophical about the low dairy pay-out and are finding the positives from the situation – as he says, it encourages them to keep a closer eye on their business.

“Our focus is on being a low-cost producer with robust systems. We are lucky having our support farm as it gives us control over feed prices, enabling us to lower farm working expenses.”

The home farm was converted by Joc’s parents, Dougal and Diane Norrie, around 30 years ago. The Kinneys started sharemilking for the Norries around 15 years ago, bought shares in the property soon after, and have since bought it outright.

During that time they have converted from borderdyke to spray irrigation and have increased cow numbers from around 500 to 1200. They have six employees, including four core staff, three of whom have been with them for several years.

The Kinneys’ operation has been self contained since they bought a 221ha support block around 10 years ago, and converted it to spray irrigation.

Feed-wise they have used fodder beet for about seven years, mainly in the winter and sometimes at the shoulders of the season.

“The cows reliably gain condition on fodder beet, an energy dense crop which has high yields and good utilisation regardless of weather conditions,” says Peter Kinney. “It is also a low nitrate-leacher which makes it environmentally sound.”

Six months ago he and Joc bought another 275ha farm adjacent to the support farm, which they are running as a beef-finishing property.

“We have an effluent consent and we have set it up with laneways, irrigation and stockwater,” he says. “We are running it as a beef-finishing farm as we like the diversification it brings to our business.

Although he has been dairy farming for 20 years, he says he still has a passion for sheep and beef farming. “I grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Central Otago and my end-goal has always been to buy a hill-country farm.”

Farmers get chance for a check-up, fitness test Farmers were queueing up to measure their health in Farmstrong rural well-being programme at the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.

Seventy took advantage of the free health check on offer, and 376 testing their physical health with the Fit4Farming bike challenge.

Farmstrong is a non-commercial rural well-being programme established by rural insurer FMG and the Mental Health Foundation. The programme, which has been built on research and farmers’ advice and experiences. aims to shift the focus of mental health in rural communities from illness and depression to well-being.

It promotes the importance of farmers seeing themselves as the most important asset on the farm. which takes a positive and preventative approach to well-being, Farmstrong’s Fit4Farming project lead, Ian Handcock, says most of the farmers with whom they had contact at the Fieldays acknowledged that they could be fitter and thought the challenge was a great idea – an eye-opener around their own physical well-being.

“Many commented that they used to get more exercise before family and work commitments increased, and said exercise was a good time to clear the head and manage stress. The challenge certainly got people thinking about how fit they are and what they may need to do to improve their personal well-being.”

The health checks done by doctor Tom Mulholland revealed: • Two people were diagnosed with diabetes

14 people were at high risk of developing diabetes unless they made changes to their lifestyle; • Nine people had high blood pressure – with one showing as dangerously high • Nineteen people were found to have high cholesterol levels • Only two identified themselves as smokers All of those who came through the clinic were given a copy of their results to pass on to their doctor.

“Over all, the feedback and support Farmstrong received from farmers and the agri-business sector was overwhelmingly positive” says Farmstrong’s Gerard Vaughan. “We were inundated with people who wanted to know more, who wanted to pledge kilometres, who wanted to get involved, or just tell us they fully supported the positive approach we’re taking.

He says it is “incredibly humbling to hear these comments from the very people we’re trying to support”.

“It shows we’re on the right track to achieving our overall aim of making a positive difference to the lives of farmers and growers across the country.”

Farmstrong is also collecting pledges for its Fit4Farming cycle tour next March. Farmers can commit to cycle, walk or run a certain number of kilometres – the collective target is 4 million kilometres.

Farmers can sign up as individuals, as families, or form a team by challenging their neighbours or friends.

Pledging: www.farmstrong.co.nz

Laura Fischer (left) and Andrew Pollock test themselves in the Fit4Farming bike challenge at the National Agricultural Fieldays.

The tour itinerary is: March 18: Ngatea-Cambridge-Te Awamutu March 19: Waikato farmers’ event, Te Awamutu March 20: Te Awamutu-New Plymouth March 21: Taranaki farmers event, New Plymouth-Whanganui March 22: Whanganui-Palmerston North March 23: Manawatu farmers’ event, Palmerston North March 24: Palmerston North-Wellington

March 25: Picton-Blenheim March 26: Rest day, Blenheim March 27: Blenheim-Hanmer Springs, via Molesworth Station March 28: Canterbury farmers’ event – Hanmer Springs-Ashburton March 29: Ashburton-Tekapo-Twizel March 30: Twizel-Cromwell March 31: Cromwell-Invercargill April 1: Southland farmers’ event, Invercargill

NZ Dairy

SERVICES » Selling Your Farm | 49

Fair market valuation valuer’s role John Sweeney A valuer’s role is to provide a fair market valuation or assessment of a farm as at the date of the inspection. This takes account of market conditions, such as how many buyers are cashed up or prepared with their bank manager to buy a farm for whatever millions of dollars they can afford to service etc.

So, valuers have to have a fairly sound knowledge of the productive capability and market demand for properties in particular areas.

Preparing a farm for sale is not a valuer’s role – it

• To page 50

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SERVICES » Selling Your Farm

NZ Dairy

Selling your farm? Six things to consider From page 49 is normally up to the land agent to advise a farmer on presentation. A valuer can be called in to value a farm for all sorts of reasons. Such as: • A bank requiring a valuation for security purposes, to protect its loan ratio, or an assessment of the value against debt loading.

• The transfer of the asset to another family member or an equity partner.

• The death of the owner, and the estate trustees requiring an idea of what the farm is worth before it goes to the market.

• An owner who is considering selling and needs this information to help in the negotiation process.

• A purchaser who wants to go to a bank to arrange finance.

As you can see from the above scenario we would be looking at farms at their worst/best, good days and weather-wise when either snowing/ raining/windy or, hopefully, in sunshine .

Farms rely heavily on mother nature and their soils and levels of fertility and the management and husbandry skills of the farmer to perform.

If I were an agent helping a farmer market a farm, I would be prepared to offer this advice: Farm Presentation What would a prospective buyer be looking at (in order of priority)?

1: Standard of housing.

This used to be a low priority, but if you haven’t got a high standard of housing for staff and family, you are not thinking about their health and welfare.

Exterior painting, insulation, dwelling surrounds and garaging are all obvious things that need to be looked at.

2: Farm buildings If it’s a dairy farm, cowshed compliance with dairy-company requirements needs to be right. If the shed is old and/or dated, its value can discount the value of the property. But it’s still important that it is operational, particularly with regard to water quality, local-body compliance on water use, milkcooling system, plant hygiene, and the provision of shed inspection reports for purchaser.

Details of associated yards, the disposal of effluent, and compliance issues on daily storage and handling of effluent around the farm also need to be made available to potential buyers.

3. Fences and farm access Security of stock is very important, so broken posts, broken wires, smashed gates are not a good

look. Any needing attention should be repaired or replaced. Farm races, stock and vehicle access are also important items that need tidying up, either by grading or the application of metal/rock, especially around key stock-movement areas.

4. Condition of pastures, soil fertility The provision of regular soil tests (from a fertiliser company or farm adviser) to a prospective purchaser is important. These will give a clear idea of the farm’s overall fertility status, the amounts and types of fertiliser applied, and frequency.

The presence of weeds, such as ragwort, nodding thistles and thistles, is never a good look.

Attention to weeds, farm grazing management,and composition of pastures and/or crops are very important. There’s nothing worse than a poorly presented farm with crops struggling because they haven’t had the right fertiliser, or pastures struggling to keep up with stock demand.

5. Farm accounts The provision of a set of farm working-accounts is very important, particularly for high-input farms and those producing a substantial amount of milksolids or meat. Being able to see the productive capacity and income-earning potential of a farm helps a would-be purchaser make a clear and concise decision about his/her ability to service farm debt, even if a buyer may be looking at changing the system.

If you are selling a dairy farm, obviously you should provide herd-test records to show the type of stock you have and their productive capabilities, particularly if you are selling the farm as a going concern with stock included.

It is also probably important to tell staff of your intention to put the farm on the market, and brief them fully on house inspections and shed inspections, and give them an opportunity to present the good side of the farm and, possibly, opportunities for them to be retained by the new owner.

6. Supplements to be left on the farm at termination/purchase date Have a clear picture of what supplements and quality/type will be left on the farm at the termination or sale date. Also, of the amount and type of fertiliser you would be applying and when, and how much pasture would be closed or made available at the beginning of the contract.

Clear communication between vendor and purchaser over the movement of stock on or off the farm at the end is also worth thinking about to help create a smooth transaction for all parties.

THINKING OF MOVING? LETS TALK. MARK DRYSDALE TALK PROPERTY LIMITED MREINZ

LICENSED AGENT REAA 2008

0800 MR RURAL | 027 503 0577 e. mark@harcourtstaupo.co.nz

We are an Independent Laboratory • Full Soil Test • Full Feed Analysis • Dry Matter • Effluent Testing-Total Nitrogen

Ph 06 857 7333 Fax 06 857 7999 4 Victoria Street, Waipawa 4210

www.quantumlabs.co.nz

Nitrogen Utilisation Efficiency NZ Pat App No 622217

NZ Dairy

SERVICES » Risk Insurance | 51

Correct insurance best policy • From page 52 The good news is, insurance can help remove much of the financial impact a period of inability to work may bring, and appropriate policies will pay regardless of whether disability is caused by illness or accident. It’s about maintaining the financial health of your farm business while you take the time to recover and return to work.

For smaller family owned farms or sharemilkers in particular, the costs of hiring replacements and housing them alone can “break the bank” and that’s thinking only about the business. Who will keep paying family expenses?

For larger corporate farms, the disability of a key manager may also result in extra costs and reduced production. While some of these costs might be carried by general revenue for a short period, long term disability costs may sink your entire operation.

Your best protection against an inability to work is a clearly defined disability contingency plan with the necessary source of money to fund it. You could use your assets to fund disability but your assets are what you work hard to create in the first place. Why put it all at risk? A more efficient option is to get the correct insurance policy to fund your

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disability, leaving your asset and lifestyle intact.

I sometimes hear people say they can selfinsure. This is wishful thinking. There is no such thing as “self-insurance”, there is only “self-risktaking”. Firstly, most don’t have time to save up the significant sums of money they might lose as a result of a serious disability but even if you did, holding this in “reserve” is inefficient use of capital.

If that is unfortunately you, even if you have the assets, why would you want to lose them to disability? Insurance is as much about protecting your assets as it is about having the cash to get by.

Disability insurance products are many and varied and some are specifically designed with farmers’ business interests in mind. Others are designed to look after the family. It is likely most will need both, a product to protect the business (usually short term payments) and the family (where long term payments are necessary).

The best investment you can make is getting advice from a qualified, experienced insurance adviser, not only around the financials (how much your losses and additional costs might amount to) but also around the best combination of products and product providers, and getting them to design a cost-effective and comprehensive package of insurance.

52 |

SERVICES » Risk Insurance

NZ Dairy

Accidents can happen and when they do they can have a massive financial impact. Disability insurance may be the best policy, in case you have to bail.

Disability losses can be staggering Lindsay Strathdee Serious illness or accident can have a massive financial impact – how does your risk stack up?

For most of us, our ability to work and earn income pays for everything we do, from keeping the family safe and fed to creating a valuable asset.

Have you considered what would happen if you were seriously disabled and could not work for a protracted period? The losses brought about by disability can be staggering, hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions for permanent disability.

Do you have a contingency plan if you are disabled and how will you fund this if you can’t earn an income? “ACC” I hear you mutter. They may not come to the party at all. ACC only covers inability to work due to accident and it only pays for an individual’s loss not a company or business. It pays nothing if your disability is illness related; it is also important to know that unless you have been showing healthy profits, an ACC payout may be disappointingly small, if anything.

We accept that most farmers are at risk of a serious accident, but less often we imagine serious illness until it strikes. Times can be tough and the hours long. Profits are under threat, yet the bank will still want it’s debt serviced, contractors need paying, stress and other pressures are building, all adding up to an increase in disability risk.

• To page 51

INSURANCE THAT MEANS AS MUCH TO YOU, AS YOUR FARM DOES

Lindsay Strathdee is a Certified Financial PlannerCM and Chartered Life Underwriter with over 28 years’ experience in the industry. Specialising in working with rural clients around the country Lindsay is contactable via www.premierrural.co.nz or 0272220341.

on your farm, or in life…

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Contact your local rural broker:

What happens next is not always what you expect. It pays to have a Plan B.

www.crombielockwood.co.nz/rural 0800 25 24 74

At Triplejump we will help you prepare a financial contingency plan for your family and your farm.

Triplejump Taranaki Geoff Nairn

0800 800 226 | www.triplejump.co.nz A disclosure statement is available on request, free of charge.