16
January 2013
Waikato Farming LiFestyLes
Dairying
Top sharemilkers build their future by Denise Gunn
Winning the 2011 New Zealand Sharemilker Equity Farmer of the year competition has been a career highlight for Waikato’s Jason and Lisa Suisted. The couple, who have been sharemilking for eight years, started building their first herd well before they began their first 50 per cent sharemilking position. But before they ventured into a career in the dairy industry, the pair worked in completely different areas. Jason was a builder by trade and Lisa worked as a hairdresser. Lisa said their decision to go farming enabled them to take control of their future and become self-employed. “We turned to farming as we could see a clear path of progression and with hard work we could see it would be a successful future for us.” The couple’s first year farming saw Jason working as an assistant manager in a 500-cow position near Morrinsville while Lisa continued hairdressing. From there they went contract milking 600 cows at Springdale, spending three
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years in that position and saving hard. Jason began working towards an agribusiness diploma while Lisa attended courses to up-skill with the financial side of the business. “We tried to learn as much as we could from our boss and started networking to find a suitable bank and accountant,” said Lisa. “The saving was the key to us reaching our 50/50 goal.” While contract milking, Jason and Lisa purchased 30 good quality mixedage cows and leased them out. “Instead of payment for the lease on these animals we were given young stock so when we were ready to put our Jason and Lisa Suisted are currently 50 per cent sharemilking near Gordonton first herd together we had 40 mixed age animals.” “Our farm owners live in Auckland and are happy for us to The couple’s first 50 per cent share-milking position was continue in this position,” said Lisa. near Morrinsville, milking 260 cows on 85ha. Jason and Lisa The couple and their three young children particularly enjoy worked this farm together and after three seasons moved to the Waikato area as it is close to their friends and family. their current position near Gordonton. They are now heading “We have considered other larger jobs outside the area into their fifth season — 50 per cent sharemilking with 450 but we value our family above all else so we have never made crossbred cows on a total milking area of 134ha. that move.” Jason and Lisa took on their current position just after a major drought badly affected areas of the North Island, including Waikato. The drought left the farm’s pasture damaged and infested with chickweed so the couple re-grassed 43 per cent of the farm during their first three seasons on the property. Jason said peat soils are not without challenges and • ConTinuouS oPen ended feed TRoughS pasture persistence is one of them. • fRee STAnding ConCReTe wAllS foR “At around four seasons old the pasture starts to look PAlm keRnel / feRTiliSeR bunkeRS sparse and open.” • duRACReTe ConCReTe wATeR TAnkS As part of their pasture renewal programme, the couple has grown 5ha of turnips and 6ha of maize annually. And the results of their efforts are starting to pay off with the farm’s pasture showing improvement over the past four seasons, Your Certified Ready Mix Concrete Plant reducing the amount of area cropped. “With our soil type, cultivation is needed to help aerate the peat and work lime in to promote good pasture establishment and growth” • Phone: 07 871 5209 • www.bowersconcrete.co.nz • Crn Alexandra St & Paterangi Rd, Te Awamutu Since taking on their current sharemilking position,
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