Friday, March 29, 2024

Reluctant winners

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West Coast farmer Damien Groot, who admits he never intended to go farming, is now an award-winner and says he made the right choice to enter the industry. Damien and his wife Emma farm at Kumara on the West Coast in partnership with Damien’s parents Rens and Annette Groot.
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“I decided to go farming because of the variety of work,” Damien says.

“Every day is different.

“I can be a fencer, a plumber, an agronomist, a mechanic or stockman all in one day, which really appealed.”

Earlier this year they won the Dairy Business of the Year Awards Best People Leadership title. The awards used farm data from the 2016-17 season.

Damien says it was the first time they had entered and he found the experience daunting. 

“Awards are not really my thing.

“I found it quite tough but sometimes it’s good to be put in those situations.”

They are proud to have won the award because they put a strong emphasis on their two staff members.

Damien believes if they treat them well and give them opportunities to step up, they will get it back tenfold.

“I have been really lucky that I have worked for some great employers over the years who treated me well and helped me so I want to do the same for my staff.

“When the opportunity arises we encourage them to do further training so they can build their knowledge base and increase their skills, which will help them in the future.”

The couple are modest about their win and have no plans to enter the awards again.

“It was a great experience but, really, we are quite private people and as I says I found the whole experience quite daunting,” Damien says.

Damien Groot originally wanted work in conservation but ended up farming because of the variety of work involved. Damien records information on a new-born calf on his cellphone.

Emma says her tourism skills will come in handy.

They are flexible in their decision-making and invest where they will see a greater return. 

In profitable years they try to invest back into the farm unless something better comes along.

“Our profit this year wasn’t too bad. We’ve been paying dividends all winter and all through the spring and that’s always good. It must mean we are cash positive,” he says.

Away from the farm they are both keen on sports and the great outdoors.

Emma plays squash while Damien loves nothing more than heading off on his bike if the weather is fine.

“During the winter I play basketball but when that finishes I cycle instead. I really enjoy cycling and it helps keep me fit. That’s really why I do it,” he says.

Emma says they have no regrets about their decision to move south.

“The lifestyle on the West Coast is great.

“We have the sea and the lake on our doorstep. There are some amazing bush walks and cycle tracks nearby and the ski fields are only a two-hour drive. There is so much to see and do and we love it here.” 

Farm Facts

Owners: Clear Creek Dairy/De Groot Farming

Location: Kumara West Coast

Farm size: 290ha, runoff 70ha 

Cows: 600 Friesian-Jersey

Production: 2016-17 400kg MS/cow 

2017-2018 239,000kg MS

Target: 2018-19 245,000kg MS

Clear Creek KPIs

Location: Kumara

Size: 600 cows, 290ha effective

Stocking rate: 2.06 cows/ha

Output: 400kg MS/cow, 850kg MS/ha

Return on capital: 4.9%

Operating profit margin: 30.4%

Operating profit/ha: $1436

Cost of production/kg MS: $3.53

Operating expenses/kg MS: $3.86

Pasture harvest: 9.70t DM/ha

Pasture % of feed: 84.2%

Core per cow costs: $502

Labour efficiency cows/FTE: 211

Environ score out of 15: 5

HR score out of 15: 11.7

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