| 29 Guus loves the problem solving aspect Xavier, Maria, Guus, Cameron, Veronie and Isaac ter Woost. Richard Loader “Veronie worked with kids with behavioural issues back in Holland, so we were both convinced that bringing up kids simply takes time. You can’t work all day and then not have time for your kids.” DAIRY » Guus ter Woost Looking for adventure and new opportunities, Guus ter Woorst arrived in New Zealand with his future bride, Veronie, just before the Global Financial Crisis in 2007. Guus’s first job was as a dairy farm worker in Kelso, Tapanui, but the conversion to dairy in Southland created pressure on the labour market, and the following year Guus found himself in the role of farm manager on a nearby 240-cow farm. The couple’s timing also coincided with the conversion of many Southland farms to dairy. “Anybody who knew the difference between a sheep and a cow was a manager,” says Guus. “Having grown up on a very small farm in Holland I knew what milk fever looked like and what mastitis looked like. That year I learned a lot about the practical side of farming, how to organise your day. I was there for a couple of years, before we took the opportunity to move on.” The next move took Guus and Veronie to Tuturua in Southland and a 500-cow farm. “That taught us to value our family better, a lesson we are still grateful for. We went back to managing in Tapanui for a couple of years and in 2014 that led us to the farm we’re now on as low order sharemilkers, milking 560 cows, and in equity partnership for the land, plant and machinery and the herd.” Located between Milton and Waihola, the farm now encompasses 262 hectares, including a 30 hectare parcel recently purchased from a neighbour who had put his farm into trees. The main pest is rabbits, which Guus tries to control with pindone pellets, a rabbit proof fence and opening the farm to recreational pest controllers. Guus says a third of the farm is flattish, a third rolling and a third steep, and because of the steeper terrain there is quite a bit of jersey in the herd. “We’ve used Herefords and Belgium Blues for the bottom twenty percent of the dairy herd, to try and reduce the number of bobby calves, but nobody really wants them. We rear twenty calves for ourselves, but even those calves didn’t make us a lot of money. If you’re going to have beef calves you really want a pure Friesian cross because they grow better.” Guus and Veronie have four kiwi children aged between fourteen and three, and made the decision early on that Veronie wouldn’t milk cows. “We saw too many examples of good solid couples working hard out, while the kids got neglected and ended up not doing well at school, and not doing well in life. Veronie worked with kids with behavioural issues back in Holland, so we were both convinced that bringing up kids simply takes time. You can’t work all day and then not have time for your kids.” As it is, Veronie is busy on the farm for the first three months of the season rearing calves, and also looks after all the GST, PAYE and equity partnership accounts. “She puts a lot of work into the paper side of things and the kids. We are very much a team.” Guus says what he loves most about farming is the challenge it provides every day. “There’s always some problem that needs to be solved. You always have your resources that need to be allocated as efficiently as possible. We have two full time staff and a relief milker helping on the farm.” 119 Dukes Rd North, Mosgiel | 03 486 1222 | 027 250 7512 dave@ewanallan.co.nz | www.ewanallan.co.nz New & used Motorcycles all over NZ for over 35 years. WYNYARD TRANSPORT LTD For all your livestock cartage requirements, give us a call Matt Lyon Registered Electrician localelectricalmilton@gmail.com 12A George St, Milton Cell: 027 677 9007 - Phone 03 417 7506 Local Electrical Ltd are proud to support Guus Ter Woost Domestic, industrial and commercial Appliance repairs Heat pumps Rural Dairy maintenance and servicing Pumps and irrigation Installers of “farmtrenz” effluent fail safe systems. For all your electrical needs trust your Local sparky
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