“The work was interesting, with the traditional DairyNZ economic survey work countered with delving into regional council policy and quantifying the effects of policies like the One Plan on farmers’ businesses and making sure the policy would work onfarm.”
Sam enjoyed the opportunity to get into the agriscience area and did nutrient budgeting courses but says coming from a rural Manawatu background he always knew he wanted to be farming long-term, he just wasn’t sure of the timing.
“The DairyNZ experience, learning about it at farm level, gave me itchy feet I guess. I just wanted to get out there and do it.”
When his Australian partner Ellie returned to Melbourne University to complete her veterinary degree he took the chance to move onfarm, landing an assistant manager position on a high-input, irrigated 650-cow dairy farm in Victoria.
“The system was really different but very progressive and I learnt heaps.”
Transferring back to New Zealand for a vet job in Inglewood, Taranaki, for Ellie in February 2015, Sam took on the assistant manager role at Stratford for Alan Mills milking 330 cows and targeting 160,000kg MS. He became production manager this season.
“I am lucky I have had employers who were willing to take a chance on me and they have been great support and given their time freely to answer lots of questions.”
Sam’s focus on feeding and pasture utilisation on the high-input system 5 farm with in-dairy feeding of palm kernel and soy bean hulls and crops of fodder beet, plantain and chicory earned him the Fonterra Farm Source Feed Management Award.
“That’s where I spend lots of time – making sure the feeding is right. I really enjoy the logistics side of farming.”
A new C-Dax tow-behind pasture meter and half an hour on the Minda App are his go-to measuring tools, and a six-weekly meeting with farm consultant Greg O’Bryne and the farm owner allows him to develop a plan that feeds into the paddock rotation and falls into the weekly plan of which paddocks to graze next.
“Twelve-hour grazing allows us to change things if the cows don’t hit the residual, and I can juggle it around to minimise walking if the cows are eating on the crop.”
“We have got a really good herd, in the top 2%, and if you put grass in front of them they produce really well.”
Sam also won the Westpac Financial Management and Planning Award, which with his background in economics has put him in a good place to plan his business growth. Next season he is moving to a 350-cow variable order sharemilking job at Tariki, on the eastern slopes of Mt Taranaki with a rainfall of 3.5m.
“It’s a great opportunity to progress, so I grabbed it with both hands.”
Long-term he would like to own his own farm that allows him to be hands-on or have other business choices and opportunities, and he sees sharemilking as a good way of getting there.
Farm manager Matt Kelbrick from Ohangai came second and third was Sam Symonds from Inglewood.
