Waikato Dairy Awards Winners Focused on Farm Efficiency

Waikato Dairy Awards Winners Focused on Farm Efficiency

The major winners in the 2016 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards are heading dairy farming operations with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and profitability.

At the region’s annual awards dinner held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton last night, Bobby and Jade Millner were named 2016 Waikato Share Farmers of the Year, Leyton Evans became the 2016 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year and Chris Ferguson the 2016 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Bobby and Jade Millner aim to operate a sustainable, profitable and compliant dairy farm business that benefits all parties.

“One of our strengths is our focus on low cost pasture first, as well as operating a sustainable and profitable business.”

The couple, aged 27 and 26 years, is in their third season 50% sharemilking 265 cows for Jim and Judy Barrett at Morrinsville. They won $13,800 in prizes and are equally involved in the running of the business.

“Our strengths complement each other well and we take charge of our own areas while still consulting one another,” they say. Mr Millner takes charge of livestock, farm environment, dairy hygiene, and health and safety while Mrs Millner – who will complete a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting this year – is responsible for pasture, financials, human resources and calf rearing.

It was the first time they had entered the awards, doing so to raise their profile, create a point of difference and gain feedback on how they can improve their systems and business.

Their goal is to progress to a larger sharemilking position in the next year. “We want to build enough equity to allow us to be in the position to enter into an equity partnership or land ownership within 10 years.”

The runners-up in the Share Farmer competition are Ben and Lizzy Moore, who have a 30% farm equity and lessee position at Tirau. The couple are aged 29 and 33 years, and won $11,100 in prizes. Te Awamutu 50% sharemilkers Shaun Good and Michelle Adam, aged 28 and 31 years, placed third, winning $8050 in prizes.

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

The 2016 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year, Leyton Evans, enjoys the co-operative nature and efficient farming system of the dairy property he is managing.

“As we run an efficient system it keeps everyone aware of what needs to be achieved and keeps everything on track.”

Mr Evans is a farm manager on Graeme and Rebecca Davison’s 685-cow farm on the outskirts of Hamilton city. He won $12,550 in prizes, including four merit awards for financial planning, and farm and livestock management.

He says the farm is one of three that are part of Moeraki Farms. “I believe this is a strength, as it creates a co-operative working team environment which makes it an enjoyable place to work.”

He has been in the industry about 10 years in a range of roles and has also spent four years working on a Welsh dairy farm operating a New Zealand-based farming system.

“My ambitions are to go 50% sharemilking 250 cows in 2017 and within three years progress to a larger sharemilking position and then on to farm ownership.”
Cambridge farm managers Brett Bradshaw, aged 29 years, and Aaron Collins, 27 years, were second and third in the Dairy Manager competition, winning $6400 and $3400 in prizes respectively.

The 2016 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Chris Ferguson, was encouraged to enter the competition for the first time by his boss, Primary ITO tutor and training advisor.

“I thought it would be a really beneficial experience, that it would be good for networking and good for future employment opportunities.”

Mr Ferguson, aged 20 years, is currently second-in-charge on Alan Rogers’ Otorohanga farm milking 600 cows. He won $6050 in prizes.

He has a farming background and left school in Year 13 to go fulltime dairy farming and has quickly progressed. He is in his third season and is training to become the farm’s manager.

His goals are to continue progressing in the industry through contract milking and herd ownership to farm ownership.

Te Aroha farm assistant Joe Phillips, aged 23, placed second in the Dairy Trainee competition, winning $2000 in prizes, and Taupiri farm assistant Casey Meiklejohn, aged 22, was third and won $2250 in prizes.

The Waikato Dairy Industry Awards field day will be held on April 6 on the Morrinsville farm where Share Farmers of the Year, Bobby and Jade Millner, sharemilk. Also presenting at the field day will be the region’s Dairy Manager of the Year, Leyton Evans, Dairy Trainee of the Year, Chris Ferguson, as well as the 2011 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Jason and Lisa Suisted. Further details on the winners and the field day can be found atwww.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media