Central Plateau Dairy Winners Business Booming

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Central Plateau Dairy Winners Business Booming

The 2009 Central Plateau Sharemilkers of the Year Chris and Teresa Moore say the competition offers a great opportunity to analyse their sharemilking business.

“There is nothing more beneficial to your business than being able to scrutinise your business across the board and realise your successes and, more importantly, the areas where you can make improvement.”

Chris and Teresa Moore are 50% sharemilking 600 cows on an 180ha Ngongotaha farm owned by Mark and Sophie Dibley. They are targeting 210,000kg milksolids this season, ending May 31.

It was the second time the couple had entered the competition, placing third last year, but this time winning and pocketing cash and prizes worth $13,300.

“The competition has been invaluable in getting us motivated about succeeding in the industry,” they say. “We think the dairy industry is dynamic, exciting and always provides a challenging business environment. It is easy to remain motivated when the opportunities to grow financially are still possible even in these tough times.”

Through increasing stock numbers and debt repayment, the Moore’s are aiming to increase their equity by 20% each year.

“We aim to have a land investment within 10 years where we can take ourselves out of the cowshed and have the flexibility to work on our business rather than 100% in it. We would like to think we can incorporate our loyal and hardworking staff into that plan.”

Reporoa sharemilkers Shaun Gardner and Michele Walker placed second, winning $7350 in cash and prizes. They are 25% sharemilking 400 cows for Phillip and Patricia Berry.

The 2009 Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year, Mark and Jamie Perrott, and 2009 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Andrew Gerritsen, were also announced at the awards dinner held at the Bayview Wairakei Resort near Taupo last night.

All three winners will now compete for the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year titles and a prize pool of more than $100,000 in Wellington on May 16.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, Honda, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

The 2009 Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year Mark and Jamie Perrott are contract milking two farms at Atiamuri for Paul and Karen Hilhorst. The 165ha and 103ha farms milk 465 and 307 cows respectively.

The Perrotts say they have great employers and great staff.

It was a family affair for the second year running for the Perrott’s, with Corina Perrott placing third in the 2009 Central Plateau Farm Manager of the Year. Splitting the party was Japie and Yolandi Nortje, who placed second, winning $3800 in cash and prizes. The Nortjes manage two farms milking 1400 cows at Mangakino for Wairarapa Moana Inc.

Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year Andrew Gerritsen, 22, is a herd manager on a 750-cow Rotorua farm owned by Peter Schwizer. Mr Gerritsen says the position is helping him develop farm business management and human resource skills.

“It’s taught me the value of money and given me the opportunity to make decisions myself.”

He is currently studying Production Management Level 5 through the Agriculture ITO and has plans to go contract milking and then sharemilking or equity farming. He won $2420 in cash and prizes.

Central Plateau Sharemilkers of the Year Chris and Teresa Moore will host a field day on Thursday April 9, while Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year Mark and Jamie Perrott will host a field day on the Atiamuri farm they manage on Thursday April 2. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.conz.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:
• Farm and Garden Pride and Passion Award – Joel McKay & Angela Brown
• Blackman Spargo Legal Audit Award – Grant & Margaret Bolstad
• Honda ATV Safety Award – Chris & Teresa Moore
• DairyNZ First Time Entrant Award – Shaun Gardner & Michele Walker
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Shaun Gardner & Michele Walker
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Leadership Award – Shaun Gardner & Michele Walker
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Chris & Teresa Moore
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Joel McKay & Angela Brown
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Chris & Teresa Moore
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Chris & Teresa Moore

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• Vet Club Rotorua Animal Health Management Award – Japie & Yolandi Nortje
• DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Japie & Yolandi Nortje
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Mark & Jamie Perrott
• Westpac Financial and Planning Award – Mark & Jamie Perrott

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