Friday, March 29, 2024

Profit over production wins

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The 2016 Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards winners Glen and Donna Sparrow back the dairy industry to increase productivity using the best farm practices and techniques.
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“The dairy industry is continually coming up with innovative ways to use resources more efficiently so that our dairy is sustainable, which can lower our environmental footprint and give New Zealand’s milk a competitive edge,” they say.

The couple were last night named the 2016 Bay of Plenty Share Farmers of the Year.

The other major winners were Dairy Manager of the Year Thomas Chatfield and Trainee of the Year Michael Simpson.

The Sparrows said their goal was to create profitable and sustainable sharemilking businesses providing them with a good income and ensuring financial security for their family.

The couple, aged 38 and 35 and with four children, contract milk 450 cows for Craig and Marianne Hammond at Whakatane. They won $13,000 in prizes.

They were third in the Dairy Manager competition last year and said the awardsraised their profile, increased their knowledge, tested their skills, provided networking opportunities, pushed their personal boundaries and gave them recognition.

The Sparrows said their strengths were their staff and their focus on profit over production.

“Focusing on profit increases your awareness of costs and stock requirements, ensuring stock are well cared for and in good condition. It also means we use existing resources to their full potential, especially pastures.”

The couple are actively positioning themselves to take advantage of any sharemilking opportunities that become available.

The runner-up in the Share Farmer competition was 28-year-old Matt Barr, a percentage sharemilker milking 450 cows on his parents’ Whakatane farm. He won $5400 in prizes.

It was two out of two for Chatfield.

In 2013 the former physiotherapist entered and won the region’s Trainee of the Year title and went on to place second in the national competition. This year he was successful in the Dairy Manager competition, winning $7750 in prizes.

Chatfield, 30, said the awards gave him a chance to assess how he was progressing. He is the farm manager for Bruce and Judy Woods on their 500-cow Whakatane property and was also positioning himself for his next opportunity.

“My farming goal is to be ready with the cash to take on my next farming job whatever it may be – contract milking, 50% sharemilking or an equity partnership.

“I want to build my assets to one day own a farm.”

He said he has a good team around him and operates a flexible farming system.

“We’ve got the ability to decrease our cost of production while increasing the amount of milk we produce by growing and harvesting more grass.”

Whakatane farm managers Hayden and Linda McCartie, aged 34 and 37, placed second in the Dairy Manager competition, winning $4650 in prizes.

The couple also work with the region’s third-placegetter in the Dairy Trainee competition, Hayden Goodall, a 23-year-old farm assistant on the same property, and won $3500 in prizes.

Te Puke farm manager Baljinder Singh was third in the Dairy Manager competition, winning $3225 in prizes.

Trainee of the Year Michael Simpson is passionate about his dairy farming work and wants to make a difference.

“I am always looking for ways that things onfarm could be done better or easier and am always willing to try new things. I enjoy learning and gaining knowledge on all things farming related,” Simpson said.

The 20-year-old is second-in-charge on Eddie and Kath Lambert’s 450-cow farm at Whakatane. He won $4550 in prizes.

“A big benefit of entering the awards is that I can list on my CV that I have competed and previously progressed to the finals.

“Any future employers would look at this and make the assumption that I am passionate about the industry and my career.

“Another big benefit is the opportunity to gain confidence in interview and competition situations as well as networking with other like-minded people.”

Simpson planned to progress to a manager’s position within three years then build a herd of his own.

“I have already started to acquire animals to make this goal a reality.”

His other interests are hunting and trout fishing.

“I like to get away from everything as farming at times can be challenging and tiresome. These activities also allow me to return to the farm refreshed and with a clear and focused mind.”

Whakatane assistant manager Harepaora Ngaheu, 24, was second in the Dairy Trainee competition, winning $2000 in prizes. Goodall was third.

The Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards field day will be held on April 5 on the Whakatane farm where the Sparrows contract milk.

Chatfield, Simpson and 2000 Sharemilkers of the Year Di and Colin Wilson will also present at the field day

Further details on the winners and the field day can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

 

Share Farmer Merit Awards:

· DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Matt Barr

· Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Adam & Maria Barkla

· Federated Farmers Leadership Award – Matt Barr

· Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Troy & Natalie McClinchie

· LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Troy & Natalie McClinchie

· Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Adam & Maria Barkla

· Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Glen & Donna Sparrow

· Westpac Business Performance Award – Glen & Donna Sparrow

 

Dairy Manager Merit Awards:

· BOP Regional Council Most Promising Entrant Award – Baljinder Singh

· The Business Results Group Ltd Employee Engagement Award – Thomas Chatfield

· BlackmanSpargo Rural Law Ltd Leadership Award – Andre Meier

  Fonterra Farm Source Feed Management Award – Thomas Chatfield

· DeLaval Livestock Management Award – Hayden & Linda McCartie

· Primary ITO Power Play Award – Thomas Chatfield

· Fonterra Farm Source Farm Management Award – Hayden & Linda McCartie

· Westpac Financial Management & Planning Award – Thomas Chatfield

 

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:

· Waiotahi Contractors Ltd Most Promising Entrant Award – Lindsay Williams

· The Wrangler Farming Knowledge Award – Hayden Goodall

· Hayward Contracting Ltd Community & Industry Involvement Award – Joseph Braybrook

· DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Hayden Goodall

 

For the full story on the winners, check out the Cream of the Crop 2016, delivered with the April Dairy Exporter magazine. Click here to subscribe to make sure you get your copy.

 

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