Friday, March 29, 2024

Step change for the better

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Searching for efficiency is just part of dairy farming for Joe and Julie Webby. They told Rodger Jensen they also want to do well for their family and staff.
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When Joe and Julie Webby moved back to the family farm at Kiwitahi, southeast of Morrinsville in Waikato, in 2001 they brought with them an aggressive approach to ensure the farm could support two families. The farming operation has evolved from a low input system to a DairyNZ System 4, with 20-30% of feed imported, over a seven year rapid growth cycle through a unique approach to intensification.

Joe and Julie along with equity partners Gerry and Mary Webby, Joe’s parents, own and operate Bellmont Farm. The dairy platform of 185 hectares (170ha effective) is supported by 120ha adjacent to the platform, of which 40ha is dedicated solely to the dairy operation, growing maize and rearing replacements. On the 170ha milking platform they peak milk 650 Kiwi-cross cows (average Breeding Worth 97 and Production Worth 135) with a split calving herd (250 autumn, 450 spring).

While there are 700 cows in the herd, peak milk numbers do not exceed 650 because of culls and carryovers.

They are aiming for system optimisation but they also balance business decisions with their personal values.

“There is more to business than money,” Joe says.

Their system has evolved through stages of increasing the stocking rate, putting in more supplements and land acquisition. Year-on-year growth over nine seasons (2005-06 to 2013-14) has been a phenomenal 325% increase, from 98,000kg milksolids (MS) produced in 2005-06 to the present level supplied to Open Country Dairy of 320,000kg MS (see Figure 1), equivalent to 1882kg MS/ha for the milking platform or 492kg MS/cow. Factoring in the area on the support block required for maize, milk production is 1739kg MS/ha.

They have had a no induction-no CIDR policy for the past six years, but Joe is pleased with the seven-week calving spread for the autumn calvers and an eight-week spread for the spring-calving herd.

Empty cows are carried over to the next calving – ie: autumn calved to spring mating – reducing herd wastage.

Strong relationships, good business

As with many businesses, both the people and support companies aligned with the business contribute to its success. Bellmont Farm has built strong relationships with key feed suppliers, their fertiliser company, their milk processor, and the bank. These relationships and the staff involved onfarm have enabled this system to dilute fixed costs associated with cow maintenance, machinery and farm infrastructure.

Joe Webby identifies the relationship with the bank, ANZ, as being of particular importance.

“Our relationship with our bank is strong. We are still repaying principal [loan repayments] and ANZ has also approved a loan of $500,000 for upgrading the effluent system.”

Joe is also adamant that a significant factor in their growth was the decision to supply milk to Open Country Dairy (OCD).

“When we started to increase production with Fonterra we were required to pay $134,000 for additional shares and we could not have grown like we have if we still were supplying them."

The relationship with OCD is strong and Joe cites several advantages for their business.

“We are rewarded for our protein-to-fat ratio being consistently at 83%, as opposed to the average at 75%, and we receive payments based on quality as well as off-season production.”

Joe used the protein-to-fat ratio as a point to illustrate one advantage of the high input system.

“At three cents per percentage point we are receiving 24 cents above the base rate due to the herds’ ration being balanced.”

Team effort makes it work

As in any farming operation, employees are a huge asset for the Bellmont Farm business. The Webbys’ search for efficiency means they also focus on optimising farm labour. With four full-time labour units there are 162 cows for each labour unit, equivalent to 80,000 kg MS/labour unit.

Joe Webby is involved with the dairy at calving and mating times, otherwise the unit is operated by four full-time staff members: Bronwyn, Jay, Corral – who have been with Bellmont Farm for five, four, and two years respectively – and Josh, the most recent recruit completing his first season on the property.

Joe’s philosophy is to ensure that staff members enjoy variety in their work and a work-lifestyle balance is encouraged.

“Everyone keeps hourly sheets with no one exceeding 50 hours a week, and we operate a three-week roster based on morning, mid, and late.”

With high-input systems employee skill sets can become specialised, limiting their growth as farmers. To minimise this Joe trains all staff on the various aspects required to run the system. Staff members are then allocated interchangeable roles on the three-week roster.

Record keeping becomes a priority in order for the staff to enjoy this variety. Grazing and feeding records are carefully maintained and are an integral part of this flexibility.

Key points
Farmers:
Joe and Julie Webby
Location: Kiwitahi, Waikato
Area: 170ha effective
Herd: 650 Kiwi-cross cows – BW 97, PW 135
Production: 320,000kg MS (2014-15)
Supplements: 2460kg DM/cow
Support land: 120ha beside platform
Dairy: 44-bail automated rotary

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