Dairy Focus - April 2017

Dairy Focus APRIL 2017

TIMING IT

RIGHT

Page 3 - 5

House of Hearing

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Farming Dairy Focus

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INSIDE

Dairy Focus

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Dairy Focus is proudly published by the Ashburton Guardian Limited

It was a privilege this month to listen to the stories of the Canterbury North Otago dairy industry award winners, who will go on to represent the region at the national finals in May. Christopher and Siobhan O’Malley will be finetuning both their farm and business presentation for the judges due April 22, as will Hororata farm manager Kerry Higgins and Eiffelton dairy trainee Ben Haley.

While Cyclone Debbie did her best to wash out the winner’s field day at Brookden Farm, there was no denying the O’Malleys’ sunny disposition and positive outlook for themselves and the industry.

They have worked extremely hard on their farm, are raising three young children and involved in their community.

Higgins, a former security guard at Parliament, joked he was now dealing with a different type of “sh$t”, while Haley gave up a job in sunny Australia to get on the dairy farming ladder in New Zealand.

All three are taking their opportunities as they arise and acknowledging there are now many different pathways to success in the industry.

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Linda Clarke

SENIOR REPORTER

The O’Malleys say they are keen to speak to groups of townie secondary school students about opportunities in the ag sector and they would be great ambassadors.

They have urban roots themselves, Christopher working in adventure tourism and Siobhan completing a Master of Arts in Classical Studies, and have started from scratch in dairying.

Higgins uses a 5:2 roster that is appealing to young people that would otherwise look for jobs with more regular hours. Haley is learning about the business of dairying on the ground and in the classroom, aspiring to management.

These are the typical dairy farmers of Canterbury.

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Latecomers now blooming Christopher and Siobhan O’Malley consider themselves latecomers to the dairy industry. But no-one could deny they have learned an awful lot in eight seasons.

Linda Clarke

Lauriston sharemilkers Siobhan and Christopher O’Malley.

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The Mid Canterbury couple won the Canterbury North Otago share farmer of the year title at the regional dairy industry awards recently and head to Auckland in May for a shot at the national title.

The O’Malleys are 50:50 sharemilkers on Graham Brooker’s farm at Lauriston.

Rugby-mad Brooker signed up the rugby referee and his wife for the 2015 season, despite them not having any cows.

The couple then used the cash they banked from the previous season’s high payout to buy good cows being culled from other herds as the milk price plummeted. With more hard work and creative thinking, they found a silver lining in dairying’s dark cloud.

Continued over page

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Farming Dairy Focus

from page 3 They now milk 515 cows on Brooker’s Thompsons Track farm and say their ultimate goal is to buy a dairy farm in Murchison.

Christopher and Siobhan are both townies and while Christopher’s extended family were involved in dairy farming, Siobhan jokes her time around animals was limited to a visit to a Willowbank Farmyard Experience in Christchurch.

They were working in Dublin when the global financial crisis hit in 2008 and they made their way back home to New Zealand to find jobs. Christopher began working on dairy farms while Siobhan put her university degree in classical studies to good use teaching in secondary schools.

In 2011 they joined forces to focus on dairy farming together and since then they have worked up through the dairy ranks.

“We worked out in dairying there was a progression and we saw a pathway. As a team we could get somewhere,” Christopher said. They bought a 1984 Toyota Hilux to seal their decision.

The couple, who have three young children, like to think

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Christopher and Siobhan O’Malley with children Ruairi (9 months) and Aisling (3 years) amongst their new herd.

outside the box; they share a common drive to succeed and understand when the other is under pressure.

Prior to dairying,

Christopher worked as an adventure tourism guide in the Abel Tasman and Taupo. He has previously sailed across the Pacific Ocean and was

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the Mid Canterbury Rugby Referee of the Year last year.

Siobhan holds a Master of Arts in Classical Studies and is half-way through a Diploma

in Agribusiness management; the cows are not impressed by the fact she can pronounce the Latin names of plants on the farm.

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PHOTO ROBYN HOOD 100417-RH-218

The pair have an easy banter, even after the tail end of Cyclone Debbie threatened to wash out their winners’ field day

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earlier this month.

They have worked hard and spent carefully over the past three years.

On the back of the $8.40 payout in 2014, they banked the profits, splashing out just $5000 on a spa pool that has proved to be an excellent governance tool. “You can’t have a cellphone in the spa, or a TV. We make our best decisions in that spa pool.”

On Moving Day, the pool goes too.

The money was also well spent on their new herd for Brookden Farm and on riding out the low milk prices since then. Christopher said he managed to buy cows being culled from other herds for an average $1300 each.

Sticking to their budget requires discipline and Siobhan writes a “short novel” to the bank every two months to justify any variances.

They have calculated their break-even milk price (including interest, tax and drawings) at $2.50/kgMS and to boost their bottom line they have also traded

stock. They are keeping the details of what they do private as it will be a point of difference come the national dairy awards judging in May. The couple’s appetite for risk also sets them apart.

“If we walk away with only our clothes and car, we are good with that.”

Christopher said working through the awards process made them drill even further into their farm finances, questioning expenses.

“We had a goal not to go backwards.”

Some of those decisions resulted in lower genetic value cows being mated to beef bulls.

Keeping a lid on mastitis is also important and the couple have been grade free for six seasons.

Christopher said everyone in the milking shed followed the same processes, including him.

“The best sharemilkers milk their cows, so I need to milk my cows. If the staff see me as the boss doing it, then they are happy to do it too.”

Communication between staff on the farm is by cellphone. They use

WhatsApp to record all animal events; this means records can then be downloaded and saved. It also means the whole team knows what’s going on and what to be aware of on farm, from hazards to unhappy cows.

At Lauriston, the O’Malleys have an important support network that includes farm owner Brooker, neighbouring farmers who supply grazing and grain and other dairy farmers.

A cup of tea or takeaways on a regular basis goes a long way.

Christopher says the couple have made up for being latecomers by making a point of asking a lot of questions and seeking a huge amount of advice . . . and never saying no to opportunities before checking them out.

Their golden rules: • • •

The people must be right The farm and finances must be right The location must be right

WHAT THE DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARD JUDGES SAID “Christopher and Siobhan are on target to achieve their sixth season grade free. They have implemented an excellent process within the dairy shed to ensure that all milk leaving the property is of the highest standard.

They have achieved multiple merit awards for their somatic cell count and are aiming to be in the top 1 per cent of Fonterra farms for a second time this season.”

“Christopher and Siobhan are worthy recipients of the financial award. They have impeccable business reporting policies and procedures. Both Christopher and Siobhan are involved in the business decision making.

They have a great ability to see opportunities, investigate them and ultimately take advantage of them.”

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Making their mark in dairy Kerry Higgins was working in Parliament’s security services when he decided it was time to go back to his farming roots.

Higgins grew up on a high country station near Lake Benmore but he and wife Anita have made their mark in the dairy industry. Higgins was the Canterbury North Otago manager of the year and aims to win the national title in May. Higgins has worked his way up from herd manager to operations manager milking two herds for Leon and Bronwyn McKavanagh; next season he and Anita will be contract milkers for the Harakeke Dairy Partnership at Culverden.

Higgins said part of his job this season had been developing staff to take over running of the two herds and he had successfully done himself out of a job.

The McKavanagh farm runs 800 A1 cows through a 60-bale rotary and 540 A2 cows through a new 54bale rotary shed. The farm

WHAT THE DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARD JUDGES SAID ABOUT HIGGINS:

Kerry Higgins has his eye on farm ownership.

supplies Synlait Milk and are Lead with Pride certified; production is forecast to be 433kgMS/cow this season (1339kgMS/ha).

Higgins said he recruited staff and enjoyed working out what made those individuals tick, including how they learned. He has been successfully running a 5:2 roster, meaning the dairy farming could be competitive against other industries offering more regular 40-hour a week jobs.

As well as staff management, he is responsible for production management, animal health and welfare,

PHOTO SUPPLIED

calf rearing, milk production, record keeping, asset management and natural resource management.

Higgins has also been studying Primary ITO modules and is keen to complete the Agribusiness Management Diploma in the future.

Strategic goal setting, with short, medium and long-term targets, has also played a part in Higgins’ progress in the industry and the couple hope it will eventually lead them to farm ownership. They are motivated by wanting to provide a family home for their two young children.

“Kerry is very aware of the value of building an effective team. He has built a strong and inclusive culture within his team which has helped integrate employees from a variety of cultures. He has excelled in building a family environment and has very effective tools and resources that are used to recruit and upskill his team.”

“Kerry has a passion for livestock and a great understanding of the public perception of animal welfare on farm. His understanding of the makeup of the herd and use of herd records helps him supply the finest quality of milk.”

“Kerry has realistic goals and a sound financial plan that aligns with them. A real strength is his ability to analyse various opportunities by assessing the capital commitments and cashflow requirements, risks and rewards of each opportunity to make sound decisions that will progress his business.”

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Ben Haley followed his heart to Canterbury.

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Future ambassador Ben Haley, 24, has been pegged as a future ambassador for the dairy industry.

The Mid Canterbury man works on John and Michelle O’Donnell’s 1100-cow farm at Eiffelton and is the Canterbury-North Otago Dairy Trainee of the Year. He will compete against the top trainees from 10 other areas at national finals in May. The O’Donnells plucked Haley’s name from a noticeboard at their local supermarket. He’d been doing farm work since he was 14 and was looking for work after following his heart back to Canterbury after cattle mustering on a 160,000 hectare station in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Haley says all the practical farm skills he learnt to that point have been well used as a dairy farm assistant and he is looking forward to growing his knowledge even further when he steps up to a job as 2IC on the farm next season.

Haley said the temporary job that originally started out as cover for an injured worker had fuelled a passion for dairying.

“Dairy farming keeps me busy and I use all the skills I have learned along the way.” Haley has also completed Primary ITO Level 3, Health and Husbandry and Dairy Livestock

Feeding, as well as Milk Quality Levels 1 and 2.

The dairy farm is a second year conversion with the 1100 cows milked through a 60-bale rotary shed with Protract and ACRs. There is also a neighbouring 80ha of support land for wintering and silage. The farm is fully irrigated.

Production is 1650MS/ha and the farm has a target of 500,000MS this season.

Haley says he has gleaned a lot from the O’Donnells and plans to continue with the Primary ITO courses, with a view to management in the future.

“It is my plan to keep learning. The 2IC position on the farm next season is another step up for me.”

He says secondary students not sure what to do when they leave school should think about giving the industry a go, especially if they enjoyed the outdoors.

“It is not just milking cows. Once you get into it you realise there is so much more involved. It tests everything and you use lots of skills.”

Haley said the O’Donnells were great role models and encouraged his continued learning, as did his partner Olivia, whose support had been vital.

He also has support from his Thirsty Thursday crew. “You can learn a lot talking to those old guys.”

WHAT THE DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARD JUDGES SAID ABOUT HALEY: “Ben was genuine and well presented, he conducted himself well in a professional environment and has all the ingredients to become a future ambassador for the dairy industry.”

“Ben demonstrated exceptional practical abilities on farm while also showcasing excellent health and safety techniques. Ben’s process of body condition scoring cows is outstanding and a credit to his capabilities. Overall, Ben’s practical skills were flawless.”

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Farming Dairy Focus

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Time to drop the value add message One of the advantages of being a dairy farmer on a social media platform like twitter is getting the benefit of everyone’s expertise, and by expertise of course I mean hearsay and half-baked opinions.

By far the nugget most commonly shared with me is “Fonterra should value add” or “Why don’t you guys add value to your product?”

When I press for detail they lecture about the dangers of relying on commodities and the advantages of high value, low volume production.

I tell them that New Zealand is unique as our industry is predominantly pasture based, unlike the rest of the world our dairy products are yellow because of the carotenoids in the grass; anyone who has been to North America will have seen the sickly pale butter found there. Our milk powder is yellow, pungent and sought after enough that it can command a premium on the world market. No they reply, that is not value added but merely a premium commodity.

Craig Hickman

ELBOW DEEP @dairymanNZ

Fonterra do of course develop markets and make value added products, from mozzarella for pizzas to sheets of butter exactly matching the size of a sheet of pastry for a French baker, a full 20 per cent of liquid production is diverted to consumer food production.

Commodities are an essential part of the mix for dairy farmers; they allow our co-op to process a lot of milk very quickly which is essential when production is linked to grass growth. We have huge market share in whole milk powder, and moving away from that only opens the door for somebody else to take our place. Many years ago my third form economics teacher, an Englishman by the name of

Mr Maynard who was deadly accurate with a piece of chalk from any range, promised to reveal to us the secrets of prosperity. We sat in rapt attention, those who had been chatting displaying a smudge of chalk on our foreheads as Mr Maynard laid bare the path to wealth for our country.

“It makes no sense,” he opined, “for New Zealand to be exporting raw logs overseas, for those logs to be milled overseas, turned into chairs

overseas and imported back into New Zealand. We should be exporting chairs; the secret is to add value!”

At the time I thought Mr Maynard was a visionary, but now I realise every third former in 1983 heard the same thing and continues to repeat it to this day. I even saw a press release from a political party promising they would “shift the focus from volume to value”, a bold statement with not a single indication of how they would achieve it.

I was in the market for a new dining suite and I went to a local manufacturer to see what they could offer. After choosing a large square table in knotty pine with eight matching chairs I struck up a conversation with the owner.

I admired the table and chairs and said how great it was that if a chair broke they’d be able to make me a new one.

“Oh no,” she replied, “they only made the tables. Chairs were too intricate and time consuming and therefore expensive to manufacture, so they imported them from Malaysia and made the tables to match the chairs.”

While value add makes sense as part of our business model, it’s never going to be the whole package, and it worries me that politicians still trot out lines I learned in the third form seemingly without any appreciation of the nuance and realities behind their statements.

Every time I hear the words “value add”, my hand twitches and involuntarily reaches for a piece of chalk …

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A challenge of epic proportions It’s been four weeks since Mid Canterbury dairy farmer and extreme runner Greg Roadley completed his last adventure and he still has no feeling in his toes. That’s what happens when you race 560km across the Arctic Circle with the temperature gauge stuck on -40 degrees Celsius.

Roadley says recovering from the brutal foot race will take a few more months and the nerves in his feet will grow back. Roadley, who finished third after seven days of pounding on the equivalent of frozen concrete, had painful blisters, shin splints and numb feet.

The race takes a huge physical and mental toll on those crazy enough to sign up and the 2017 running was no different with just seven of the 18 starters finishing. The year before no-one went the distance.

Roadley, 43, says it is onethird fitness, one-third mental and one-third “admin”, like having the right gear and survival systems.

It is the kind of race where

30 seconds spent fumbling with the zip on one of your three down jackets can lead to frostbite; where water freezes in the tube of your Camelpak if you forget to blow back after drinking and a cup of boiling water goes cold by the time you put the lid back on the thermos and stow it away on your sled.

Little things that have big consequences. Little things that are very hard to remember when you’re cold and tired.

Organisers of the 6633 Arctic Ultra pull no punches when they describe the event that takes place every March and involves fast-trekking from Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon north to Tuktoyaktuk, on the edge of the Beaufort Sea. It is nothing short of brutal and a challenge of epic proportions.

Roadley is a man who likes challenges. He has competed three times in the gruelling one-day Coast to Coast and last year ran six marathons in six days in the Sahara Desert as part of the

Pendarves dairy farmer Greg Roadley is a man who likes challenges.

Marathon des Sables.

The Arctic Ultra, he says, tested the outer limits of his mind and body. And it was what he signed up for, wife Rachel (trying to sound braver than she felt) reminded him when he was able to call her during a rare patch of

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cellphone coverage. She and son Guy spent a sleepless week watching Roadley’s GPS tracker move slowly north on their laptop screen.

The tracker, also followed by close friends and family back in New Zealand, was both a blessing and a worry,

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she said. New footsteps on the screen meant he was moving, no new footsteps meant he wasn’t.

Roadley is back on the dairy farm now, his body in recovery, his mind thinking about autumn jobs. He has taken the wheels off the plastic survival

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sled he pulled for seven days in the Arctic and intends to nail it to the wall of his workshop as a reminder of an adventure he will not forget for a while.

He said his methodical mind and dedication to processes and planning was key to

11

finishing the race. There was no let-up from the unforgiving cold and no room for a bad decision.

Roadley said in the end his ability to manage simple tasks while sleep-deprived, or while wearing two pairs of gloves, proved crucial.

He had opted for layers of merino, socks (from the NZ Sock Company), and outer jackets filled with down. He raced fast enough to keep warm, but not fast enough to break a sweat, knowing the inner layers he would wear for a week would never dry if

they became wet.

He was methodical and worked quickly whenever he had to remove his outer gloves to eat or set up a bivvy on the side of the ice road that formed much of the route.

The racers were a source of interest for the truckers, who slowed down to chat or give an encouraging blast on their horns.

Roadley said a Kiwi he encountered slipped him some precious pineapple lumps and an Aussie, returning from seeing the spectacular Northern Lights, offered up a muesli bar.

The food and company was a welcome reprieve from the solitude and darkness. And, towards the end, the pain.

He tried to keep up an intake of 5500 calories a day, cooking dehydrated meals that he ate on the run in the morning and evening. Between times, he ate Whittakers almond chocolate and honey-roasted peanuts – it will be a long time before he enjoys these again.

The simple act of removing gear to access food presented

an element of risk so it was sometimes easier to just keep going.

“It is a race that is unforgiving for any small mistake or any lapse in concentration, all these little things when you are really fatigued. Well organised gear and systems in place is critical.”

At the finish line he was spent, barely aware of his actions, longing to get off his feet.

A week in Mexico on the way home to New Zealand helped him defrost, though he didn’t leave the hotel room for several days while his energy levels rebuilt.

Back home on the dairy farm, he is thinking about autumn management. His toes are still uncomfortably numb but all things considered he is in good shape.

“I love a challenge and get a lot of satisfaction out of setting a goal and working to achieve it. I enjoy taking myself outside my comfort zone . . . and that was right to the limit.”

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A long trek to select best heifers Judges of the Canterbury Onfarm Dairy Heifer Grazing Competition travelled nearly 1000 kilometres in one day recently to view some of the best young livestock in the region.

Charlotte Flay and Richard van Wynbergen rated groups of heifers from Culverden to the Mackenzie before choosing winners in three categories.

First-time entrants Nathan and Nicky Lamborn, of Fairlie, won the R1 class while Doug Cotter, of Methven, won the R2s. The category for professional graziers was won

by John Cromie of Ellesmere, who was grazing stock for Stuart and Gayle Litchfield.

The grazing contest involved just five A&P associations in the Canterbury area this year but organisers say there is already momentum for more to be involved next year.

Methven A&P Association took over running the Canterbury contest this year and spokesman Trevor Monson said judges were impressed by what they saw.

FULL RESULTS

On the road to view another group of heifers.

PHOTO ANDREW ORAM

“The fact is graziers are passionate about what they do. There are a lot of good professional graziers out there.”

He said it had been a good year for stock and judging was tight for Canterbury titles.

The Canterbury winners were presented with their prizes and trophies at the Mackenzie A&P Show yesterday.

Monson and Lowe said they were indebted to companies who had provided prizes for the competition and their sponsorship would help the event going forward. The collective prize package was worth about $10,000.

Sponsors included Allflex, Ravensdown, Merial, Farmlands, Agrisea, Ballance, SealesWinslow and PGG Wrightson.

Class 1 ■■ 1st ■■ 2nd ■■ 3rd ■■ 4th ■■ 5th ■■ 6th

Nathan and Nicky Lamborn Duncan and Nicky Anderson Grant Pinny Stuart Brander Nathan and Greta Currie Cameron Henderson

Fairlie Culverden Ellesmere Mayfield Methven Oxford

Class 2 ■■ 1st ■■ 2nd ■■ 3rd ■■ 4th ■■ 5th ■■ 6th ■■ 7th

Doug Cotter Mark Hurst Duncan and Nicky Anderson Mathew Wakelin Stuart and Gayle Litchfield John and Sarah Wright Harry Meijer

Methven Rangiora Culverden Mayfield Ellesmere Fairlie Oxford

Class 3 ■■ 1st Grazier: John Cromie; Owner: Stuart and Gayle Litchfield Ellesmere ■■ 2nd Grazier: Andrew and Rebecca Furzeland; Owner: Doug Cotter Methven ■■ 3rd Grazier: Reuben Symes Owner: Fraser Hutchison Mayfield

Up to your eyeballs in farm work.

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Moving farms is always stressful, but we do what we can to save you hassle. Our dedicated agri experts can take care of your move, offer electricity rates tailored to your farm and give you great deals through your rural supplier.

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0292A-AG_Mooving_Ashburton_Guardian.indd 1

0292A-AGR

or visit meridian.co.nz/movefarm

10/04/17 10:05 AM

2 14

Farming Dairy Focus

GYPSY DAY

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Herds will be on the move soon Canterbury is home to about a million cows and some of them may be on the roads moving to new farms at the end of next month.

Traditionally staged on June 1, moving day is when farmers move cattle to winter grazing, and sharemilkers and farm owners move to new properties.

Motorists are asked to be extra cautious and farmers to make safety a top priority when moving livestock.

Some dairy farmers opt to use traffic management experts for the annual trek, contracting specialists to develop safety management plans for moving stock, especially across state highways.

The onus remains on farmers to manage the shift though and abide by road rules. Motorists are obligated to drive as normal.

Under the Ashburton District Council’s bylaws, stock can be driven on council roads without obtaining a traffic management, but it is advisable.

TIPS FOR FARMERS: ■■ Plan ahead – use the most direct route to move stock and only cross or follow the road if it is necessary. Move stock during daylight hours and avoid doing this at peak morning and afternoon travel times. Keep the stock off well maintained road verges.

■■ Those involved in driving stock must wear high visibility clothing to ensure they can be clearly seen by road users, warning signs should be used and flashing amber beacon lights activated on vehicles that are part of the droving operation.

■■ Particular care is needed when moving stock on roads with bends. Signs or a pilot vehicle with a flashing amber beacon will be needed around the corner, to warn motorists of stock ahead.

■■ If moving machinery drive slowly and, if necessary, have a pilot vehicle to warn road users of the wide vehicle following.

■■ Know your legal obligations around driving livestock along or across a road.

■■ If you are moving stock on a local road or a highway, you need a permit and a traffic management plan.

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• Cardboard Recycling We offer a regular Rubbish Removal Service, with many local Companies • Drum Hires hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, a regular Rubbish Removal Service, with many l We also have Open Top BinsWe onoffer a casual basis, for property clean ups, hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard R building works and Garden tidy ups.

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And a Household and/or Garden waste Drumworks empty And a Household Garden waste Drum emp All provided by a Company based and/or in Tinwald.

PO Box 5044, Tinwald, 7741 | Phone: | Fax: 3072101 We offer a regularAshburton Rubbish Removal Service, with many 3072100 local Companies

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hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, Gary McCormick We also have Open Top Bins on a casual basis, for property Gary clean ups, McCormick Transport Ltd Transport Ltd PO Box 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101 building works and Garden POtidy Boxups.

5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101 And a Household and/or Garden waste Drum empty service.

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

GYPSY DAY

15

Stand cows off feed The message couldn’t be clearer this Moving Day – stand your cows off feed for at least two hours prior to sending them down the road.

Farmers are also reminded to follow the rules regarding discharging effluent on to sealed surfaces.

The same bylaw applied to effluent as it does to litter.

Farmers who make a mess have to clean it up.

Federated Farmers also

advises farmers to have plenty of staff on hand and to wear helmets and high visibility clothing if operating quads and bikes.

“We’d also like to ask motorists to be patient if you do encounter a herd on the road. Please do not use a car horn as that will spook stock.

Farmers want to get the move done quickly so please follow their instructions.”

Members need to to make

a detailed plan before moving stock.

“It isn’t a good look to leave roads covered in effluent when it can be minimised by planning ahead.”

Overall thousands of farm animals and hundreds of households will be on the move during Moving Day throughout New Zealand as farms change hands and sharemilkers take up new contracts.

FEDERATED FARMERS TOP TIPS FOR MOVING DAY : Selection of stock: ■■ Cows must be fit and healthy ■■ Cows must be able to stand evenly on all four legs ■■ Cows must be acting normally and if not, please call the vet ■■ Body condition score must be at least 3.0 Prepare stock for travel: ■■ Precondition cows. This is important for those travelling long distances.

■■ Stand all cows off green feed for a

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

minimum of four hours and up to 12 hours to empty themselves ■■ Feed these cows straw, hay or baleage with free access to water.

Communication: ■■ Book your stock transport in advance ■■ Ask for an estimated time of arrival of the truck to pick up the cows. This allows time to get the cows in and stand them off for the recommended minimum time (at least four hours). This may mean getting them in the night before.

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2 16

Farming Dairy Focus

www.guardianonline.co.nz

EDUCATION

Why boarding school?

Why should you consider sending your child to boarding school? Wouldn’t he/she do just as well at day school?

This is a common question for parents to ponder as they review their private school options.

You have made the decision to send her/him to private school in principle. Now it is just a matter of working out the details.

There are many reasons to go to boarding school.

The academics, the athletics and the extra-curricular activities are just a few of the considerations. But there’s more. Much more.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN? Calving is always a busy time for farmers and you may need your children taking care of.

There are great choices around Mid Canterbury for preschools. For mums It is never easy to pick one as it is hard for them to leave their babies with someone else.

Here are the 10 top reasons why you should go to boarding school

1. You will get great teachers who love to teach.

2. You will have great sports and sports facilities.

3. You will have great arts programmes and arts facilities.

4. You will get to live away from home.

5. You will be stretched by the amount of academic work you have to do.

6. You will be surrounded by classmates who want to go to college.

7. The libraries/media centres are well-stocked.

8. You will learn to be responsible for yourself.

9. The classes are small.

10. It’s cool to be smart.

These are our top 10 reasons to go to boarding school. You will doubtless think of others.

One last bit of advice: don’t put off starting the process of choosing a boarding school to the last minute. You will need at least 18 months before the fall of the year in which you want your child to be in school.

Concerns around the safety of their children as well as making sure they are well-looked after and encouraged to learn and develop are paramount.

Tiddlywinks Preschool Ltd have spaces available over the calving season, check them out.

Waitaki Girls' High School Waitaki House (Boarding)

Young Women Well Equipped for the World  Specialists in Girls’ Education  Flexible programmes  Small class sizes  Family based values  Diverse curriculum  Range of sporting, cultural and service opportunities

CASUAL SPACES AVAILABLE OVER CALVING SEASON, LATE AFTERNOONS OR ONE-OFF SPACES At Tiddlywinks Preschool children are encouraged to explore and develop a sense of wonder through natural resources and experiences. Set in a small homely centre, parents and children are welcomed as part of the whānau by our caring teachers, who show genuine love and interest in the child.

By having good child to teacher ratios we are able to give children the opportunity to go on many outings into the community including our forest. Tiddlywinks is focused on the children’s wellbeing and each child has individual planning to meet their needs within the centre.

A relaxed and flexible environment allows children to learn through play while gaining the skills needed to succeed.

Open Day August 3 2017 Enquiries welcome for day and boarding places.

We welcome your inspection of our learning and boarding community. Our school is a place where students thrive and can fulfil their potential in a supportive environment.

Contact our Principal Ms Tracy Walker Email: twalker@waitakigirlshigh.school.nz | Phone: 03 434 8429 Visit our website: www.waitakigirlshigh.school.nz

If you would like your child to be an independent, creative and confident learner, please call Tiddlywinks Preschool on (03) 307 0420 or email twpreschool@gmail.com for more information!

www.guardianonline.co.nz

EDUCATION

17

St Bede’s College St Bede’s College is the only boys Catholic Boarding school in the South Island. It is proud of its longstanding tradition as a provider of a boarding school education and it welcomes students from throughout New Zealand and overseas. The college can cater for up to 140 boarders, with three dormitories designed for specific groupings.

We have a fully resourced boarding school and our staff are experienced in meeting the needs of students from diverse communities. Our curriculum offers excellent educational, cultural and sporting opportunities and our grounds and facilities are first rate. The boarders have access to the gymnasium, swimming pool, cricket nets, tennis courts, hockey turf and a performing arts centre.

All students are actively encouraged to participate where possible.

We have two vans to transport students to their commitments out of school, and a regular bus service just outside the front gates.

The college motto is Fide

et Opere (By Faith and Works) and our aim is to produce young men who are hardworking and live their lives by a code of good values and consideration for others.

The College also has six

areas of activity that it believes are crucial to the future success and fulfilment of its students.

These are called the six pillars: • Special character

• Community • Academic • Cultural • Sport • Boarding We welcome you to the college’s open day on

College Open Day: Wednesday 10 May, 9am - 12 noon.

Wednesday, May 10 between 9am – noon. Parents are also welcome to attend a presentation of the college by senior management at 7.30pm that evening.

Advertising feature

2 18

Farming Dairy Focus

EDUCATION

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Waitaki Boys’ High School Waitaki Boys High School is enriched by a proud heritage, but forward-looking and progressive in our task of educating boys to meet the challenges of the new millennium.

With a roll of 450, we are small enough to know each boy well, and to recognise his individual character and needs, but large enough to offer an extensive academic and growing vocational curriculum, and an impressive co-curricular programme.

Our boarding hostel (Don House) has had a remarkable effect on generations of Waitakians. In Don House, character development is as important as academic, cultural and sporting achievement.

In Don House we want our boys to learn the importance of our values and standards and the role they play in governing positive behaviour.

Parents of boarders here often note how the confidence and self-discipline of their son develops with exposure to the routines, responsibilities, traditions and high standards

of life in Don House. Boys learn what it means to live in a community and to get on well with others.

The boys have access to spacious, open sports fields, a gymnasium, tennis courts, strength and conditioning centre, cricket nets and auditorium. All hostel boys participate in at least one winter and one summer sport

and partake in morning runs.

The school has a wide range of sporting codes on offer where our boys often punch above their weight at both regional and national level.

Don House staff have a vested interest in our boys and endeavour to make the transition from home to hostel as smooth as possible.

We see it as our

responsibility to ensure your son is equipped to become a future leader, to be responsible, able and confident.

There is a comprehensive activity programme that includes fishing trips, beach and lake excursions, trips to support the Highlanders under the roof and skiing during the winter.

Graduates of Waitaki BHS includes 18 knights, 13 All Blacks, 8 cabinet ministers, a governor general and some of New Zealand’s leading cultural figures.

More importantly, many thousands of average boys have also graduated as educated, all-round citizens of outstanding character.

Advertising feature

Considering your son’s boarding options for 2018?

DON HOUSE

WAITAKI BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL “We aim to develop our young men into educated, all round citizens of outstanding character”.

Forward looking and progressive Strong values Strong cultural achievement Excellent facilities Great school and hostel spirit

We would be happy to hold an information evening in your area to discuss how we can meet your son’s needs. For more information please contact the Director of Boarding Dan Keno on 03 433 1137

www.guardianonline.co.nz

EDUCATION

19

Timaru Girls’ High School Timaru Girls’ High School has a proud 137 year history of educating South Canterbury’s young women.

While we acknowledge the rich traditions and culture of the school, we also look to prepare for the world beyond the school gate.

Our motto, Scientia Potestas Est (knowledge is power) is as true today as it was when the first Girls’ High girl walked through the school gates in 1880. We work with young women to build their knowledge and self-esteem so that they can become lifelong learners who are prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century.

TGHS has undergone major building upgrades in the last ten years, with a new administration block, technology block and refurbishment of the majority of classrooms and hostel accommodation.

In 2018, a new four-class equivalent collaborative learning space, as well as a major refurbishment of the gymnasium will be completed.

Having contemporary

and modern learning spaces creates a positive impact on teaching and learning in the school.

As a school community we

are consistently looking for ways to improve what we can do to support student achievement in the school. We endeavour to utilise the proud

history of the school with the wider community we are part of. We are investigating how our students can access all the resources required to

transition effectively beyond their time at school. We are spending some time thinking and discussing strategically how this can best occur.

At Timaru Girls’, we do what we can to weave the past with the future of the students of today. We welcome anyone who wants to know more, to visit us.

Boarding facilities: Situated in the park-like grounds of the school The House offers a safe and comfortable environment for students from around New Zealand and the world. Students are encouraged to focus on their studies, discover and explore new opportunities and have fun while they are doing it.

We do everything possible to ensure the girls’ academic, co-curricular and social interactions are rewarding, productive and enjoyable experiences.

The House helps foster good habits and enables borders to become self-motivated and responsible learners who have respect for themselves and for others.

Advertising feature

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Development of personal excellence, creativity and individual achievement Enrolling now for 2018 OPEN DAY 17 MAY 2017

Join us for a tour of the school and hostel at 9am and 11am

TIMARU GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL A TRADITION OF EDUCATION FOR 137 YEARS

principal@timarugirls.school.nz Cain Street, Timaru | 03 688 1122

www.timarugirls.school.nz

Gypsum is one of those rare materials that performs in all categories of soil treatment: an amendment, conditioner and fertiliser.

It is useful in the transition period in dairy cows 2 – 4 weeks pre & post calving, and can be used as an anionic salt to counteract the effects that high potassium & sodium concentrations have on increasing hypocalcemia.

Gypsum, a readily available form of calcium, is 100 times more soluble than lime and is more suitable for the digestive system during this period.

Gypsum in fertilising Soil tests for many areas in New Zealand show that sulphur deficiency is wide spread.

Although the importance of this element is often overlooked, sulphur is needed in at least equal quantities to phosphorus. Many responses in crops are sulphur responses arising from the sulphate radical (SO4‑‑), rather than phosphate responses.

• Readily dissociates into free calcium ions (Ca++) and sulphate ions (SO4‑‑), major elements in plant nutrition • Has an approximately neutral pH and can be used in heavy applications without causing undue alkalinity in soils

Gypsum in water savings • Promotes water infiltration, retention and conservation • Allows water to penetrate the soil without forming puddles or water logging • Conserves water by stretching intervals between irrigations • Tests show that farmland treated with gypsum requires up to 33% less water than soils without recent gypsum application

Gypsum in soil conditioning • Breaks up soils compacted by sodium and clay, and compounded by farm animals and machinery • Reduces cracking and compaction following irrigation and retards soil crusting • Allows soil to dry more quickly after rain or irrigation so that it may be worked sooner • Decreases energy requirements for tillage • Binds organic matter to soil and checks soil erosion • Enhances friendly bacterial action and discourages plant diseases related to poor soil aeration • Conditioned soil allows for deeper, healthier root development and water penetration

Gypsum in amendment • Displaces sodium binding clay soils • Reduces high soil aluminium levels • Suppresses the soil acidification effects of growing crops and the prolonged use of acidifying fertilisers

For further information please contact your local farm supplier or Telephone: 0800 100 442 Visit our website at www.gypsum.co.nz

www.guardianonline.co.nz

ANIMAL HEALTH

21

Getting on top of mastitis Drying off is a key time for mastitis control, according to DairyNZ. Decisions made at this time can influence a herd’s mastitis performance for the next 6 to 12 months.

In the months before drying off, consider these decisions: • Which cows will need to be dried off early, and when?

• Which cows need to be culled based on this year’s mastitis records?

• What dry cow treatment approach to use at drying off ?

• Who will administer the dry cow treatments? Have they been trained sufficiently?

• How will milk yields be reduced in the last 1-2 weeks before drying off ?

• How will cows be managed for the first 3 weeks after dry off ?

Dry cow strategy: Decide dry cow management strategy. Antibiotic Dry Cow Treatment (DCT) is used to treat existing infections that have not been cured during lactation and reduce the number of new infections that may occur during the dry period. Internal Teat Sealants

(ITS) are used to protect uninfected quarters during the dry period and at calving and extend protection provided by DCT. Culling: Culling persistently infected cows. Culling cows is the only way to eliminate some

infections from the herd. Since these chronically infected cows represent a source of infection for other cows, culling can help to protect healthy, young cows that are the future of the herd.

Drying off: Dry off abruptly taking steps to reduce yield. The

method used to dry off cows can influence how many udder infections establish during the dry period. The aim is to shut down milk secretion and seal the teat canal as rapidly as possible - this usually takes about two weeks.

Administer DCT:

Administer dry cow treatments as recommended.

Administration of antibiotic dry cow treatment (DCT) or internal teat sealants (ITS) has some hazards, for cows and operators so it is critical that it is carried out properly.

– DairyNZ

WAGYU DELI VER S HIGH VALUE AUTUMN C ALVE S - ORDER NOW! WAGYU C ALVE S WILL LIF T YOUR RE TURNS. Using First Light Wagyu genetics in your dairy herd will deliver high value non replacement calves next autumn.

We have Wagyu bulls available for natural mating.

First Light Wagyu offers premium payments on all calves - heifers or bulls, from Crossbred or Friesian cows.

FIRSTLIGHT WAGYU PAYS $150 PER MIXED SEX NATURALLY MATED CALF OR $500 IF REARED TO 90KG. FOR WAGYU AI OPTIONS CONTACT YOUR LIC REP.

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Not all lime is created equal Lime quality can vary by up to 30% from one supplier to another, creating unnecessary expense for less results.

It is essential that you know the quality of the lime going onto your ground, and you need to trust the information you are being given. If you’re keen to know about the lime you are using, get on the phone to your Aglime supplier and ask to see recent results from a New Zealand IANZ accredited independent lab. If you get given a test or advice suggesting over 100% LE on an as delivered basis (or even near 100%) we would strongly recommend you seek some advice before taking that as gospel. Why? Quite simply, if the results show a percentage that high, the testing methodology has failed, it is being incorrectly reported or the results are fabricated.

We’ve been in the lime industry for a very long time and we pride ourselves on producing a consistent, high quality product and we use independent IANZ accredited labs that specialize in fertilizer testing to regularly test our products.

Reporting our quality honestly is key, as it’s this information that a customer can use to understand how much lime they need to apply and when the pH change will be achieved.

As you would expect, we know a lot about the science behind lime and the ways in which its quality can be tested, and recent claims by competitors have, quite simply, got us shaking our heads!

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H2O

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To see the results for yourself, get in touch today for a quote: 0800 303 980 • www.vlime.co.nz

The benefits of Victory AgLime: • Stimulates soil biology • Maximizes crop yields • Minimizes the use of costly fertilizers • Is a consistent, proven, high quality product • Quality tested by IANZ accredited labs • A range of different quantities available.

For further information, copies of test results, or to enquire about our products, get in touch with our friendly team today.

www.guardianonline.co.nz

23

The judging party for the Canterbury Onfarm Heifer Grazing Contest covered nearly 1000km last week viewing some of the best young livestock in the region.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

FOR SALE • Friesian and Xbred Incalf • Lines of 2nd Calvers Heifers • Well Recorded Incalf Cows • Well Recorded Heifer • Incalf Budget Cows Calves

GET THE RIGHT ADVICE WHEN BUYING AND SELLING YOUR LIVESTOCK

Contact Paul Bailey

M: 027 229 9774 E: paul@canterburylivestock.co.nz www.canterburylivestock.co.nz

2 24

Farming Dairy Focus

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Canterbury AgTech Showcase Farmers interested in new agritech tools that will boost productivity and profitability should be heading to the Farming 2020 event at Lincoln next month.

Canterbury’s leading agritech companies will be showcasing their wares at the event, which is part of Tech Week.

New Zealand’s agritech sector is a $3 billion industry, with solutions such as herd improvement, software, pasture mapping and management being integrated into on-farm practices, maximising productivity and profitability.

Lincoln Hub’s Showcasing Agtech event on May 10 has been developed to raise the profile of Canterbury agtech companies, as well as create a conversation around sustainability and growth in the agriculture industry.

Aimed at farmers, food producers, scientists, students and companies

Innovative farmer Craige Mackenzie is one of the PHOTO LINDA CLARKE 280317-LC-018 keynote speakers.

in the fields of robotics, water management and farm management systems, the event is an opportunity to encourage collaboration between a number of industries and to help solve global agricultural problems and see solutions which are operating within a digitally connected working farm

environment.

Businesses exhibiting and speaking about their agricultural solutions include: AgriOptics, IrrigationNZ, Precision Farming and Lincoln Agritech. Also exhibiting is Waikato-based CRV Ambreed who last month announced their genetic discovery of bulls who

produce daughters that excrete less nitrogen in their urine. Their goal is to make the dairy industry more sustainable by 20 per cent within 20 years.

CEO of Lincoln Hub Toni Laming said it was an exciting opportunity to host some of the region’s best agritech companies.

“New Zealand has a successful history of creating innovative solutions for the agricultural sector.

We are now seeing the convergence of technology and agriculture to create quicker, more efficient and different ways to do things through new methods, big data, robotics, software and so much more to continue to enhance New Zealand’s competitiveness.”

Keynote speakers Steve Saunders (Robotics Plus), Craige Mackenzie (AgriOptics), Simon Hunter (KPMG) and Melissa Clark-Reynolds will run a panel session addressing key agtech challenges.

When: Wednesday, May 10, 9am-3pm Where: AgResearch Warehouse, Gerald Street, Lincoln Ticket price: Free Please check the www.techweek.co.nz or www.lincolnhub.co.nz/events for more information and to register Companies involved: ■■ FAR ■■ Robotics Plus ■■ Landcare Research ■■ IrrigationNZ ■■ Precision Farming ■■ KPMG ■■ Lincoln Agritech ■■ CropLogic ■■ AgriOptics ■■ CRV AMbreed ■■ Frizzell ■■ Frews Transport

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Glycol and variable speed systems Should I consider a glycol system?

Glycol is less efficient than water • Glycol costs more to pump around the system and is less efficient at transferring heat • Variable speed systems will improve the efficiency of a glycol system, although only back to that of a low temperature water system Glycol is higher maintenance (and cost) compared with water Glycol is allowed (not recommended) by MPI and the major dairy companies • There has been concerns around glycol contamination of milk and that glycol should be banned Glycol is also being allowed in milk silos, although again not recommended by major dairy companies

• It is the responsibility of the farmer to clean the glycol and dry out the milk silo refrigeration system in the event the milk silo is moved to another site.

This would normally cost $8000 to $10,000.

• A single system cooling all of your milk leaves you vulnerable when the system breaks down.

Where a breakdown occurs, it is likely you will dump all of the milk in the milk silo and where the service response is lengthy, you may end up dumping the next milking also.

We recommend installing (or leaving) standard refrigeration units on the milk silos as redundancy.

Don’t throw away existing equipment as even older equipment will do very little work thereby extending its lifespan.

• Where there is a primary cooling issue, the milk silo is an ineffective way to cool

Variable speed drives do not like moisture and are likely to fail (or have a reduced lifespan) when exposed to moisture Bottom line, an efficient water system such as a HAYE will be much less expensive to install, lower maintenance and as effective at cooling milk and regulation compliance as a high tech variable speed glycol system.

Important milk and this may take a very long time • No milk silos are designed for glycol cooling and some simply do not work, even to maintain the temperature, let alone cool milk down to temperature • It is probable you will need to install insulation wraps on single skinned milk silos for the temperature of the milk to be maintained

Should I consider a variable speed system Variable speed drives are susceptible to power spikes • In areas where power surges are experienced there may be repeated major issues with electronic equipment Variable speed systems often cannot be operated on generators in the case of power cuts

INSTANT MILK COOLING

Look into the backup response time and spare parts availability where installing expensive speed-controlled glycol systems with glycol milk silo cooling as this will have a major impact on how much milk is dumped in a breakdown (bear in mind also you are unlikely to be able to use another service company as the system will be password protected and utilise many non-standard parts).

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2 26

Farming Dairy Focus

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Testing irrigation efficiency – what’s IrrigationNZ has spent the summer gathering data on farms around Canterbury to get a better, more accurate understanding of irrigation efficiency. The results, say INZ Project Manager, Steve Breneger, will provide a benchmark for progress.

“We’ve been on-farm for the past four months looking at how farmers are operating equipment, applying water, scheduling maintenance, monitoring soil moisture and run off – literally going through their farms with a fine-tooth comb. The data backs up what we already knew – that most farmers are operating within limits and are genuinely focused on finding efficiencies.”

IrrigationNZ, in partnership with Environment Canterbury (ECAN), employed postgraduate Environmental Science students to undertake the four-month data collection.

Their brief was to develop a clear snapshot of what was happening at farm level for a single zone (Ashburton).

“What we discovered during the programme was that most

Andrew Curtis

IRRIGATION NZ

of the systems tested were within tolerance levels and over half of the respondents were undertaking some form of scheduling. On farms that weren’t meeting efficiency targets, the students then looked at potential causal factors.

“The value we gained was that not only did we have actual data from bucket testing, we also had insight from the students, they were able to add context and experience to gain a broader picture of what was really happening on the farm.

Where they discovered some discrepancy between what the farmer thought they were applying against what they were actually applying,

Irrigation bucket testers Beth Turner and Will Wright measure water collected under a spray PHOTO SUPPLIED irrigator.

they were able to look at operational and maintenance factors as possible contributors.”

Enda Hawes was one of the farmers involved in the programme. He farms 360 hectares at Maronan, SW of

Ashburton. He discovered his system wasn’t as efficient as he thought – “when the students first did the bucket test in January, it was only delivering 8.5mms. I should have been putting on 12.”

When the system was re-

tested two months later, Enda thought he was applying 14.2 mms, in fact it was 12.2. “Clearly, we weren’t being as efficient as we thought. These results prompted us to have a look at what was going on and

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27

really going on we discovered the system was losing pressure and was inconsistent at the far end of the pivot. We made a few adjustments and now we’re delivering greater efficiency all round. This process was great for proving the value of bucket testing.”

During the programme, students tested 244 systems on 131 farms.

Primary land use included dairy, sheep and beef, deer and arable. Systems tested included centre pivots, laterals, travelling irrigators, hard hose guns and sprayline systems.

Distribution Uniformity (DU) is the key indicator for irrigation efficiency. Of the systems tested, 52 per cent achieved good to excellent DU; 32 per cent achieved fair DU and 16 per cent achieved poor DU. Upon further investigation, possible factors contributing to poor DU were identified as being worn componentry, sediments in water supply and incorrect hardware being used.

In terms of application depth, which is a critical performance factor, of the systems tested, 37 per cent achieved within +/- 10 per cent of the desired application depth; 31 per cent achieved +/- 25 per cent and 32 per cent achieved >+/- 25 per cent. Contributing factors to poor results were identified as incorrect set up and commissioning during

installation (including componentry), poor understanding of the system’s constraints, poor maintenance and technology failures.

“The programme really highlighted the importance of understanding your system and ensuring it is regularly maintained. In one case, we had a farmer whose DU and application depth showed poor results after the initial bucket testing. He discovered the operating pressure wasn’t high enough so he went out and replaced the regulators on his pivot and he got the service company to check the programmable set up and correct any errors. After re-testing, he’d turned his ‘poor’ result around - achieving 99 per cent of the target depth and overall DU of .85, which is considered excellent.”

Next summer, IrrigationNZ and ECan will extend the Irrigation Efficiency programme, employing more students to gather data from an increased number of zones.

Ultimately, says Breneger, this programme will tell a compelling story of change.

“We now have a benchmark to work from - we can clearly see where we started. Over time, we’ll be able to create a comprehensive, zone-specific snapshot of on-farm behaviour, which we can all use to effect positive

NICK’S PETFOOD LIMITED

High demand for skilled staff in dairy sector The dairy sector is calling for more people, particularly school-leavers, to consider a career in dairy given a shortage of skilled staff.

DairyNZ education facilitator Susan Stokes says the number of young people undertaking formal training is nowhere near demand.

“We have a real shortage of young people for both on-farm positions and rural professional roles. Just about every graduate has multiple job offers as demand far exceeds supply,” says Stokes.

To help attract more young talent into the dairy sector, which has an aging demographic, DairyNZ has created a careers booklet outlining the variety of roles available, and answering questions they may have.

“We want to open people’s eyes to the opportunities available to them in the dairy sector. Milking cows is, of course, the foundation, and there are many other roles too, from working on-farm through to agri-business or

agri-science positions,” she says.

DairyNZ’s Sally Peel grew up in Auckland and has found her niche in dairy. She works alongside farmers, scientists, rural consultants, agricultural retailers and DairyNZ colleagues developing resources, such as feed budget templates, for use by farmers.

“I have the best of both worlds.

Some days I get out onto farms, other days I’m in the office not far from Hamilton city shops and cafes,” Peel says.

Her advice to young people considering a role in the dairy sector?

“Give it a go, and try something new.

Studying agriculture-related subjects can open a lot of doors, both on and off-farm, and in the other primary industries.”

For more information on careers in the dairy industry or scholarships visit dairynz.co.nz/careers. To view the careers booklet, visit dairynz.co.nz/ grow-your-future.

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2 28

Farming Dairy Focus

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Leading by example A Mid Canterbury woman who “lives and breathes” farming is one of three finalists vying for the 2017 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award.

Jessie Chan-Dorman is a director of the Ashburton Trading Society and a Fonterra Shareholder Councillor representing farms in Rakaia. She is the dairy section national executive for Federated Farmers, and is on the Holstein Friesian New Zealand External Affairs Committee. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors and New Zealand Asian Leaders.

Described as equally confident at a grass roots level as she is in her governance and leadership roles, Chan-Dorman’s nominator, Fonterra area manager Chris Irvine, says she’s not afraid to stand up for what’s right and has a thoughtful and measured leadership style.

“She has built up her credentials and experience and as a leader is very forthright and not afraid to

Mid Canterbury’s Jessie Chan-Dorman.

speak her mind, and because of this her opinion is effective and based on fact,” Irvine said.

“Her ability to work across

PHOTO SUPPLIED

all aspects of the dairy spectrum makes her a great role model for anyone looking at a career in dairy, because the need to understand what

”

goes on behind and after the farm is vital to all those keen to grow in the sector.”

Chan-Dorman and her husband Hayden milk 950 cows in a self-contained split calving system and are both Fonterra shareholders. She says she is a big believer in New Zealand’s cooperative business approach to dairy and strives to add value to the dairy sector in everything she does.

“The dairy industry in New Zealand is unique in its approach to collaborating as a group not only to our processor, but also in the way we structure our farming businesses to bring the next generation on to the farm - whether that’s through sharemilking, equity partnerships, or some other collaborative arrangement,” she said.

Chan-Dorman credits her father for instilling in her the leadership values she holds close. “I strive to lead by example and maintain the utmost integrity in all that I do. I was taught by a great leader, my Dad, and his

guidance and mentoring has meant that honesty, humility, kindness, patience and commitment have always been behaviours I try to live by and model for others.”

She says if she were to win the title it would help her continue to build a profile towards influencing change in possible future governance roles.

“Receiving the award probably doesn’t fulfil the ‘humility’ part of what I strive for, but it would allow me to continue to be a role model for others.”

The Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year will be named at an awards evening on May 11 during Dairy Women’s Network’s conference in Queenstown. The winner will receive a scholarship prize of up to $20,000 to undertake a professional/business development programme.

The other 2017 finalists are Claire Nicholson, CEO of Sirona Animal Health and director of Paraninihi Ki Waitotara (PKW), and Jolene Germann, an agribusiness consultant from Southland.