18 | Efforts recognised with a Nuffield Scholarship Jon and his family operate two farms. Anne Boswell DAIRY PEOPLE » Jon Pemberton A distraction from a tough farming season led Southland dairy farmer Jon Pemberton down a leadership path he wasn’t expecting. His commitment to the agricultural sector has now been recognised with a 2025 Nuffield Scholarship, an opportunity he hopes will drive positive change within New Zealand’s farming communities. Jon and his family operate two farms: a 140- hectare property in Bryden where they milk 400 cows, and a leased 245-hectare farm at Menzies Ferry that runs an 800-cow herd. Together, their operations produce approximately 590kgMS/cow. Jon’s involvement in the wider dairy industry was sparked by the challenges of the 2015/16 season when the dairy payout dropped to $3.90. “That was a tough year,” he says. “It really pushed the boundaries physically and mentally, and my wife suggested I get involved with something off-farm to connect with the community.” That suggestion led Jon to co-found Ag Proud NZ, set up to promote positive farming practices and raise awareness of rural people’s mental health. In 2016, he also joined the Southern Dairy Development Trust (SDDT) for the Southern Dairy Hub, in its start-up phase. From there, he became involved with Thriving Southland – set up to support farmers in improving water quality and the environment - serving on its board for four years before being elected to Environment Southland’s Board. Jon says his time on the council has been a positive learning experience. “It has been a good process – I’ve learnt a lot about local politics, and a lot about people,” he says. Having a variety of roles off-farm has been extremely positive, Jon says. “For a lot of farmers, the farm becomes their identity,” he says. “Getting off-farm can help put things into perspective, and it’s a great example for staff too.” After years of ‘waiting for the right time’, Jon finally applied for the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship. “It’s still not the ‘right time’, but I don’t want to get to 50 and regret not taking the opportunity,” he laughs. “I had some great conversations with past Nuffield scholars, and the opportunity to engage with broad thinkers - people who can adapt, and who challenge themselves – was appealing.” Each year, four chosen scholars receive $50,000 to carry out research and travel overseas to learn about global agriculture and bring back new insights and ideas for improving the food and fibre sector. Jon’s scholarship research will focus on developing commerce around nutrient management that supports local land-use change, keeping money circulating within communities. Jon may explore solutions beyond water quality, considering other environmental and economic aspects. “We can change how we interact with the environment while still farming profitably,” he says. Jon has visits to New York state and the Netherlands in his sights ,where innovative approaches to land use and sustainability are being implemented. “The main thing is that I have the confidence to have a crack at the Nuffield Scholarship,” he says. “And even if I hadn’t been successful, it was a really enjoyable process. They really look at how people analyse things and how they process situations, not just which research topics they’ve chosen.” With a strong team managing the farms during his absences, Jon is ready to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. His passion for the industry and commitment to making a difference ensure his Nuffield experience will be of great benefit—not just to him, but to the wider agricultural community. PLATFORMHEREFORDSTUD ARE OFFERING VIA PRIVATE TREATY INMAY 2025 Enquiries: Mark&CharmaineWill | 125 Coopers Road, Masterton 06 372 4896 | FACEBOOK@PlatformHereford Stud VERYWELLBREDR2 GLACIERHORNEDBULLS SIREDBY: GLACIER UNIQUE 591 • GLACIER UNIQUE 786 • GLACIER UNIQUE 759 GLACIERMORT 779 • JANDOC LAUDER 914 Glacier Unique 786 Glacier Unique 591 0800 VETSOUTH Working with you for happy, healthy & productive animals in the south. 0800 SGTDAN (748326) Gorton Street, GORE Ph: 208 3965 E: admin@sgtdan.co.nz
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