One of the farmer-led projects that DairyNZ works with is P3 Trust (Profitable, Progressive Plains). While the previous two years have concentrated on Megan and Michael Webster’s Focus Farm, P3 Trust has taken a new approach for the 2016-17 season.
This approach focuses on assisting Hauraki Plains’ dairy farmers to improve profitability, lifestyle, and community outcomes, locally. Under this new structure, five high-profit farms located throughout the Hauraki Plains are sharing their information.
The farms operate on a range of different soil types, employ different management systems, and apply and measure success using some innovative and creative farming practices.
Newsletter
The weekly P3 newsletter provides a regular update of KPIs that local farmers can benchmark against. Within the newsletter, a weekly feature story will cover a practice, implemented by one of the five farms, that contributes to their profitable results and covers how these results were achieved.
Over time, as this new P3 approach continues, more in-depth reporting will be introduced. This will assess financial performance and evaluate the implementation of some more experimental, and potentially unfamiliar, on-farm practices.
Hauraki Monitor Farms - Feed Harvested/ha and FWE/kgMS (2015/2016)
|
Farm |
Feed harvested/ha (t) |
FWE/kgMS ($) |
|
Luke/ Buchanan, (CM) |
13.21 |
$3.60 |
|
Tim and Sarah/Clayton-Greene, (CM) |
16.17 |
$2.78 |
|
John and Nikki, (50% SM) |
14.22 |
$2.42 |
|
Brad and Crystal, (owner operated) |
14.14 |
$3.18 |
|
Neil and Glenda, (owner operated) |
13.50 |
$3.28 |
|
SC 2014 |
11.8 |
$4.20 |
Farmer details
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Luke Dean has been contract milking for Conall and Rowena Buchanan for two seasons, operating the farm by himself with relief staff as required. Located near the southern end of Awaiti Road, the farm has a soil range from lighter loamy type near the road, dropping to a heavier Hauraki Clay closer to the Waihou River.
Luke’s management of the 71 hectare farm, which winters 215 cows on a predominantly all grass system, has earnt Luke both merit and farm management awards in the past.
-
Tim and Sarah Mvimbi contract milk for Campbell and Delwyn Clayton-Greene on their 75 hectare (effective) farm on Central Road near Ngatea. The farm, which winters 265 cows on a pasture based system with a small amount of imported feed, is comprised of a deep consolidated peat soil over clay.
Originally from South Africa, Tim completed a degree in Livestock Production in 2004 and worked on two 800 cow dairy farms before moving to New Zealand in 2007 and marrying Sarah.
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John and Nikki Garrett operate as 50:50 sharemilkers for Greg and Margaret Garret (John’s parents). With the help of a full time assistant and seasonal relief, John runs the 132 hectare farm on the eastern side of the Piako River, which winters just over 400 cows. With a pasture first philosophy, the farm is very focused on utilising grass, while importing some feed. Hopai Clay soil supports good pasture growth.
John and Nikki are also equity partners in a 71 hectare dairy farm near Ngatea in which John is regularly involved, he also manages two support blocks.
-
Bran and Crystal Van Hellemond are owner-operators of a 96 effective hectare farm, wintering 280 cows on State Highway 26, just south of Hikutaia.
Farm soils include types that are represented along the eastern side of the Waihou River, with about half being gentle rolling sandy loan and the remainder lower lying peaty loan with poor drainage characteristics. Brad and Crystal run the farm with part time assistance.
-
Neil and Glenda Gray, along with daughter Teagan Gray and Ashley des Landers, run a 170 effective hectare farm at Ngatiapua Road near Turua.
Farm soil is at the wetter end of the spectrum, predominantly Hauraki Silk Loan and Silk Clay.
Wintering 540 cows, a large herd home facility assists with the management focus on a pasture based system. Neil is the fourth generation Gray on the farm and has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Massey University.
