Regional Supreme Winners 2021: Johan and Kylie van Ras from Waiorongomai Valley Farms It’s a family affair at this Morrinsville Dairy Farm with two generations living on the land that the van Ras family purchased along with Johan’s parents in 2010 after previously leasing the farm for 6 years. The 76 ha farm has 8 ha […]
Industry: Dairy
Waikato 2021 Regional Supreme Winners – the van Ras Family
Murray and Janet Easton from Mamahi
2021 Finalists: Murray and Janet Easton from Mamahi – Dairy and Sheep The Easton’s farm in the Waitomo District on State Highway 4 near the 8 mile junction was started by Murray’s parents as a ballot farm in 1954, with Murray and Janet taking over from them in 1984. Their soils are predominately Oparure yellow […]
Russell and Mavis Profit of Raupuha Stud
2021 Finalists: Russell and Mavis Proffit, Raupuha Stud – Sheep With Russell’s parents originally purchasing the current property in 2003, Russell and Mavis Profitt have since taken over the property. They own 720ha, 690ha effective and lease 750ha, 700ha effective of river flats through to class 6 hill country. Soils are predominately Mairoa Ash and […]
Michael & Susie Woodward of Woodward Farms
2021 Finalists: Michael and Susie Woodward of Woodward Farms – Dairy and Goat A move from farm management in Canterbury to landownership in the Otorohanga district saw Michael and Susie Woodwood create Woodward farms in 2009 and purchase Cowgora Hills in June 2019, a 170 Ha property where they run a mix of dairy and […]
Beautification at heart of epic dairy conversion
The 660ha Renown unit has an undeniable ‘wow’ factor, thanks to a long-term commitment to beautification and biodiversity that is equal to the focus on performance and profitability. Under the guidance of Damien and Joan Barendsen, it took out an impressive suite of awards at the 2020 Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards, run by the […]
Do right today, to benefit others tomorrow
It is also at the heart of how they run their 428ha dairy farm, Te Maunga. Flanked by the Manawatu and Mangatewainui rivers, 720 Friesian-Jersey-crosses are milked once a day here and delicious dairy-Wagyu-cross beef is bred and sold under the First Light brand. Andrew and Helen have created a model of sustainability and profitability, […]
Farming more than just a livelihood
Adrian was just 16 when his father passed away and he had to step up and run what was then a 122 ha beef finishing farm. Today, a fair bit has changed. Some 270 Holstein Friesian cows make up the bulk of the herd on their now 196 ha dairy and dairy beef farm, which, […]
Big savings with on-site native nursery
Setting up an on-farm indigenous plant nursery is potentially saving one Southland farming couple hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus heading off a growing demand for native vegetation. Kiwi ingenuity is evident all over the Gore dairy farm of Chris and Desiree Giles, with their entrepreneurial approach earning them three 2020 Ballance Farm Environment Awards. […]
2020 Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners
Dairy farmers Tony Coltman & Dana Carver of Canlac Holdings are the 2020 Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Canlac Holdings was a high-performing farm when this couple took over in 2013 and their focus on good management practice means they have lifted it to another level. At the same time, there […]
2020 Greater Wellington Regional Supreme Winners
Aidan Bichan, Neville Fisher & Vern Brasell of Kaiwaiwai Dairies – Dairy. Demonstrating good environmental stewardship is a key focus for the team at Kaiwaiwai Dairies – a dairy farm operated as an equity partnership with six shareholders. Located in South Wairarapa, Kaiwaiwai is almost completely self-contained – a policy that provides biosecurity assurance and […]
Ben & Karen Herrick – Kowhai Bush Organics
2020 finalists: Ben & Karen Herrick of Kowhai Bush Organics – Dairy. Over the past three years, the Herricks have transformed their 85ha once-a-day dairy operation into a low-cost business that is Fully Certified Organic. It’s an excellent example of how farm succession can be managed and how the new generation can start farming in […]
Mark Johnston and Rebecca Jeffery – Ruahine Range View
2020 finalists: Mark Johnston & Rebecca Jeffery of Ruahine Range View – Dairy. After three years of hard work, this couple has completely transformed their property – creating a tribute to their passion for farming and their commitment to environmental excellence. As their vision for the property takes shape, substantial improvements have been made in the […]
Sandra and Chris Campbell – Oakwood Hills
2020 finalists: Sandra & Chris Campbell of Oakwood Hills – Dairy. Caring for the environment comes first as this couple strives to enhance the land and stock at their dairy farm. The result is quality pasture, healthy animals and excellent water enhancement as the Campbells work towards full ownership of Oakwood Hills. Sandra and Chris entered […]
2020 Otago Regional Supreme Winners
Over the past two years, Anna and Ben have diversified into beef finishing to complement the original dairy grazing business on the 360ha effective farm. Around 700 weaned dairy calves arrive in December. These calves are carried through two winters and returned to the owner, in-calf, 15 months later. They also finish about 500 beef cattle […]
Robert & Verna Bourke and Conna & Nick Smith – Fern Flats
2020 finalists: Robert & Verna Bourke and Conna & Nick Smith of Fern Flats – Dairy. The Bourkes have a strong connection to Fern Flats – a property that has been in the family since 1873 – and the resulting sense of stewardship is obvious. The beautifully kept family farm continually moves with the times to […]
Ryan Sanderson & Malinda Wynyard – Hollow Point Pastures
2020 finalists: Ryan Sanderson & Malinda Wynyard of Hollow Point Pastures — Dairy. Hollow Point Pastures Ltd and contract milkers Ryan Sanderson and Malinda Wynyard can be found on the 325ha dairy farm, Homebrook, owned by Mark Anderson and Kathleen Wynyard. They’re not far from the Gisborne District Council’s western boundary at Matawai, where three metres of rain […]
Andrew and Vanessa Wilkinson – Calsi Farms
2020 finalists: Andrew & Vanessa Wilkinson of Calsi Farms – Dairy. Over the past 10 years, Andrew and Vanessa have gone from strength-to-strength on this Southland dairy farm, successfully balancing environmental achievements with profitability. As shareholders and contract milkers, they are actively involved in any decisions and enjoy bringing creative ideas to the table. Calsi […]
Richard and Chrissie Wright – Tamar
2020 finalists: Richard & Chrissie Wright of Tamar – Beef, dairy & Cropping. Scale is no barrier, and attention to detail paramount, at this 1,850ha Mt Somers property that has grown considerably since the Wrights bought it in 2002. The business is an inspiring example of a family committed to advancing good people into farming and […]
Robert and Cate Willis – Bobcat
2020 finalists: Robert & Cate Willis of Bobcat – Dairy. Fourth-generation Southland farmer Robert Willis was brought up on his family’s sheep farm, however it was cows that really caught his interest and led to the conversion of this dairy property. The fully self-contained farm is a high-performing dairy unit set against a stunning backdrop […]
John Taylor, Brendon Stent & Aafke Huisman – Rosebank, Landcorp Farming Pāmu
Growing 1,500 replacement stock, the farm has been transformed in recent years thanks to impressive investment in development and capital projects – driven by a focus on sustainability. For example, three centre pivots have replaced border dyke irrigation and a new dam means water is now stored on the farm. New cattle yards have made […]