Telford Dairy Farm
The Telford Dairy Farm provides Otago dairy farmers with dairy farming information throughout the season - an effective tool for learning and technology transfer.
The Telford Dairy Farm focus farm project is funded through DairyNZ and supported by
Telford Rural Polytechnic.
Telford Dairy Project
The vision of the Telford Dairy Project is to use the Telford dairy farm as a focus farm. Having the opportunity to use the experience of farm staff throughout the season is an effective tool for learning and technology transfer. The focus/monitor farm model has been used in sheep and beef, deer and dairy industries in the past. A key goal of this project is to provide a local resource for dairy farmers in Otago.
This project has been built on the success of the well-known LUDF farm and the interest more recently in the Southland Demonstration farm.
The project is a joint work in progress with valuable input from AgResearch, DairyNZ, Otago Regional Council, Agriseeds, Ravensdown and CRT. It is funded through DairyNZ and supported by Telford Rural Polytechnic.
Dairying in Otago
The South Island has undergone a dairy “boom” which has been stimulated by recent high dairy payouts. There are many new conversions underway in Otago and Southland with still more coming on stream next season. The region's climate with regular rainfall and favourable pattern of grass growth are some of the attractions.
Otago statistics
(From Dairy Statistics 2005-06, LIC)
- 2.7% of the herds
- 4% of the cows
- 153,000+ cows
- 55,316 effective ha
- ave. herd size - 476 cows
- ave. farm size - 172 eff ha
- stocking rate - 2.79 cows/ha
Project team
| Name | Designation |
| Ian Knowles | Farm Director, Telford |
| Zac Haderbache | Dairy Farm Manager, Telford |
| David Stevens | Senior Scientist, AgResearch |
| Caroline Hadley | Consulting Officer, DairyNZ |
| Mike Elliot | Telford Farm Board chair, farmer |
| Dave Yardley | Telford Polytechnic Council Chair, farmer |
| Dick Sharpin | Telford Dairy Advisory committee, farmer |
| Vaughan Templeton | Telford Dairy Advisory committee, farmer |
| Phil Neame | Telford Dairy Advisory committee, farmer |
| Katie Button | Telford Dairy Advisory committee, farmer |
Farm details
OBJECTIVES FOR THE FOCUS FARM
- To demonstrate the local issues and solutions for dairying in Otago. To provide an opportunity for farmers to meet and discuss the challenges facing local dairy farming and provide a place for them to see adoption of technologies to meet those challenges.
- To monitor and record key data to benchmark the Telford dairy farm.
- To provide information to local farmers through the DairyNZ and Telford websites, newsletters and field days.
- In addition, Telford Rural Polytechnic has an important role in rural training and the students working on the dairy farm will be exposed to the wider ideas and issues of the dairy industry.
KEY GOALS
The situation for this focus farm is unique, as it is based on a dairy farm owned by Telford Rural Polytechnic. The farm has dual objectives to provide:
- Best practice, training and to encourage people into the dairy industry
- Profitable, sustainable dairy farming
LONG TERM STRATEGY – TELFORD
Goal: Farm board
Objective:
- To operate a sustainably profitable dairy business
- To operate an environmentally-conscious dairy business
- To provide dairy staff with sufficient facilities and support to achieve the above
- To provide the polytechnic and wider community with a centre of dairy learning for South Otago
Goal: Polytechnic
Objective:
- To develop and maintain a high performance dairy unit for the marketing and promotion of Telford
- To provide students with up-to-date facilities and best practice management dairy tutoring
- To provide students with up-to-date, safe and best practice dairy work experience
TELFORD RURAL POLYTECHNIC
Located in the South Island of New Zealand, 6km from Balclutha and 75km south of Dunedin, Telford is an 820ha property gifted to the nation from the estate of William Telford.
Telford Rural Polytechnic began as the Telford Farm Training Institute in 1964, resulting from successful negotiations by a group of South Otago residents who were keen to see an agricultural training facility established in the area. It is administered by the Telford Farm Board of Management (the board) according to the terms of the Telford Act of Parliament 1964. In February 1991, Telford became a polytechnic with a council elected to operate the campus and educational facilities, alongside the board.
The purpose of the farms is to provide a commercially realistic "classroom" for students to learn practical farming skills.
Practical training
The farms provide real farming experiences for the students, on large scale commercial operations. Each Monday, two new students start their week of work experience on the dairy unit and work alongside the dairy staff to get as many opportunities as they can to further their practical skills and knowledge of the dairy industry.
Today
Currently Telford owns 880ha and leases a further 100ha. The seperate units comprise of sheep/beef, deer and dairy.
The objective for the farms is to perform in the top 25% of farms in the region.
In addition, Telford Polytechnic has 140 full-time students on campus and provides the base for FarmSafe as well as Correspondence and E-Learning opportunities throughout the country.
TELFORD DAIRY FARM DETAILS
Farm area
202ha total; 170ha effective
Soils
Organic soil types (Puerua and Paratai deep peaty loams) and loessial Pallic soil types (Tokomariro deep silt loam and Te Houka deep silt loam).
Farm staff
Dairy farm manager - Zac Haderbache
Dairy Excellence Awards 2006
- Southern South Island winner - Farm Manager Award
- Southern South Island winner - DST Quality Management & Environmental Awareness Award
- National winner - Pasture & Herd Management for Sustainability Award
Key things that impress about Zac is his understanding of:
- What Telford is about and what we deliver (past student)
- Importance of labour and dairy training to our industry's future
- Local farming conditions after managing next door (Landcorp) for four years
- How to encourage a passion and commitment for dairy
- Importance of continual learning, monitoring and research
Dairy technicians
Linda Booth - Joined Telford to cover the busy spring calving period and is a versatile and valuable member of the team.
Josh Monks - Joined Telford in the New Year after graduating as the top practical dairy student at Telford Rural Polytechnic, Josh has a good knowledge and skill base following his studies and involvement in the family dairy property in the Waikato.
Kirstin Powell - Joined Telford for the second year to manage calf rearing and is doing a great job.
Herd details
Telford owns 530 cross-bred cows herd, along with 30 leased cross-bred cows
Farm map
Aerial view of farm
