“Fortuna Group look after us really well and there are lots of opportunities to progress within the company,” Wayne says.
Glenarlea Farm near Otautau, which Wayne manages after progressing from herd manager there, was one of the first farms to become part of the Fortuna Group four years ago when the group was set up by farm owner David Dodunski, who is now the group’s executive director.
Fortuna Group owns or manages 15 dairy farms in Southland milking more than 10,000 cows.
Wayne went dairying after high school when a cadetship with PGG Wrightson gave him time onfarm.
“I really liked dairying so I got a job working for two years for a sharemilker and then went to Glenarlea and we’ve been here nine years.”
The 352ha farm has 930 cows and was winner of the Fortuna Group financial management award in 2014.
Although somewhat insulated by the current downturn, the pressure is still on Wayne to make his budgets work.
“I’ve got complete control onfarm but I have to stick to the budget. We’re on track at the moment and might go slightly under which is what I’m aiming for.”
Although Fortuna Group doesn’t have sharemilkers on its farms, Wayne says there are still opportunities to invest within the company and he and his wife Anna are also looking at increasing their equity by buying a holiday rental nearby at Riverton.
“We’ve invested in stock in the past and it hasn’t worked for us so we think land is a good bet at the moment. A holiday rental, which we can use ourselves when we want to or make money by renting it out, sounds ideal.”
The couple have three children, Caleb, 9, Maddison, 7, and Ella, 3, and they all like following their dad around the farm.
“They really love it. My wife is the heart and soul of this farm and the kids make it all worthwhile. They love living here so much.”
Glenarlea is a system 3 farm with grain, palm kernel and silage bought-in.
“We use grain especially to get production going at the start of spring.
“It can be really wet and cold here in August but once the grass starts growing it’s all about grass management.
“That’s my passion. I love taking the big risks with pasture and when they come off it’s great. It’s amazing what I can get out of my paddocks.”
Fodder beet will extend the season until June 15 this year.
“The secret is making winter as short as possible. We have a big feed pad so we can get cows off the grass if we need to so they don’t do any damage.
“Then when things start growing it’s all there.”
His other passion is seeing staff progress through the industry. Two of his former herd managers moved on to manage farms for the Fortuna Group and an initiative of offering a day a week working onfarm for high school pupils has him excited.
“We have them for six hours on a Friday. We’ve got some absolutely amazing young people coming out on the farm and it’s been great.
“We’re trying to get keen young Kiwis into dairying and so far it’s paying off.”
Gore herd manager Ann Linton was second and Invercargill farm manager Sam Hodsell came third.
