Business Rural Autumn 2021

62 | Dairying good ‘but it’s time for a change’ Richard and Caroline Webster with family Erica, Sonya, Caleb and Adam. The couple is looking at a change of career after 20 years dairying. Karen Phelps L ower order sharemilkers Richard and Caroline Webster have made the brave decision to have a change of career after 20 years in the dairy industry. “Dairying has been good to us but it’s time for a change because, as they say, a change is as good as a holiday,” says Richard with a smile. The couple’s expertise and hard work has resulted in a significant rise in production over the past six seasons at Waihopai Pastoral Limited Partnership, the 240ha Southland syndicate dairy farm where they have their contract. The Websters have been managing the farm since mid 2014, milking 660 cows through a 50 bail rotary shed.The shed has just had automatic cup removers (ACRs) and an automatic drafting system installed to improve the shed’s operational environ- ment for both cows and staff. Prior to the Websters arrival on the farm the best production achieved was around 264,000kgMS. Now the couple regularly achieve 300,000kgMS plus and 310,000kgMS in their best year. DAIRY » Waihopai Pastoral: Richard & Caroline Webster Their success is down to a firm belief in the power of grass and its careful management as the key to dairy farming success. Richard is out walk- ing the farm weekly with a plate meter and they re-grass 15ha per year with high performing grass species. Richard also believes there is science behind grass as a more effective remedy for climate change than planting trees, saying Kiss the Ground on Netflix, which promotes regenerative agricultural practices, proves the point. “Farmers are using only a small portion of their dairy farms for grazing at any one time so we can actually fix a lot of carbon with the grass,” he explains, saying that this has to be combined with regenerative farming practices focusing on the soil to effectively help to combat climate change. It is just one example of how they are always seeking better ways to do things and thinking ahead. For example, although the farm has a herd home they have not used this for wintering for many years as it was more cost effective to use graze off farm. Now pricing has changed the herd home has become the better option again so this season the farm will winter 130 younger cows in the barn. They tried fodder beet as a winter feed but found swede better so have shifted back to that. “I found I had too many metabolic issues with the cows on fodder beet and it was an expensive crop to grow.” The Websters have five children. Isaac, 23, is working on a sheep, beef and grain station in Australia. Adam, 21, is a shearer. Erica, 18, has just finished school and is studying architectural technology. Twins Caleb and Sonya, 10, are happy helping out on the farm and enjoying the rural life. Both Richard and Caroline started out working in sheep farming before swapping to dairying around 20 years ago. They own a lifestyle block where they rear calves and have a few sheep, which is where they will shift once they finish their present contract. Richard says the aim is to now be more self sufficient and live off the land while deciding what the next step is. “The lockdowns have made me realise that the primary sector is a secure sector to work in. I’m interested in perhaps a drystock job. “But we’ll see what’s around the corner, see what happens next.” “Farmers are using only a small portion of their dairy farms for grazing at any one time so we can actually fix a lot of carbon with the grass.” Agricultural Spraying • Liquid Fertiliser • Sheep Dipping PHONE REX 027 226 5018 Proud to support Richard & Caroline of Waihopai Pastoral Ltd Suppliers of Crushed Rock & Gravel Rock & Gravel Phone Daryll • Grading & Rolling • Building Platforms • Lane Maintenance • Drainage • Bulldozing • Tip Trucks ADVERTISING IS GREAT FOR BUSINESS! Get new clients with regular print media Phone: 03 983 5500 Fax: 03 983 5552 waterfordpress.co.nz