| 21 Reduced stock numbers during the dry Sue Russell DAIRY PEOPLE » P & J Riley and J W & R Johnson Warric and Rachel Johnson are contract milkers for Phil and Jocelyn Riley, taking care of just shy of 1200 cows on the Riley’s 375ha Tapawera property. Conditions on the farm Warric says are somewhat drier than the previous year at this time and so the decision was made to reduce stock numbers to compensate for the dry. This is the Johnson’s sixth season on the farm and to operate this large scale dairy option, the couple employ five full-time farm workers. One thing Warric says they are really proud of having achieved is a working roster that has decreased working hours to 1950 average per year per employee. “This means that everyone is earning over the living wage and a good work/life balance is encouraged,” says Warric. In 2023, having farmed for more than two decades, Warric and Rachel decided to enter the West Coast/Top of the South Island Dairy Industry Awards in the sharemilker category, coming runner-up to their surprise. For this achievement they received $3,500 and took home three merit awards. Warric says the region is a great one to farm and live in. “I just love this area because we’re surrounded by hills and bush. It’s pretty special.” The herd, Warric says, have been performing well. A mild winter helped the cows approach calving in good condition to set the season off positively. His assessment is that, given this, milk production will exceed last season. Asked how, if at all, any further production could be achieved Warric is of the opinion that this would need a system change. “It’s always a balancing act about making decisions to change how we manage the herd. Bringing more feed comes at costs and I’m not sure whether that would be justified in terms of milk return. I am focussing on better reproduction.” Milking is twice a day through a 60 bale rotary, reducing to once a day when the summer dry really impacts pasture condition. “Rachel does an amazing job rearing the calves, an activity I don’t involve myself in.” Instead Warric, along with other farm workers takes care of the morning milking, ensures the farm machinery is in good working order and puts time and energy into training the team. On the decision to re-enter the Dairy Industry Awards in 2025, Warric says this came down to the fact that he and Rachel felt they could have presented better to the judges out in the paddock. “We’re always looking to improve and we decided to re-enter the competition fairly early. We’ve got judging starting in February so we’re honing our presentation around the judging criteria and ensuring we provide really solid information.” Another new development on the farm is the introduction of Allflex Collars to the herd. Providing services in: Baling/Balage/Hay | Cultivation | Direct Drilling | Drilling Fertiliser Spreading/Spraying | Harvesting Forage/Silage/Maize Harvesting Grain/Alka/Seed | Horticulture | Precision Planting Spraying Broadacre PHONE: 027 714 2799 TRANSPORT LIMITED • Stock Feed - PKE, Cereal grains, baleage, hay • Lime / Fertiliser • General Freight for a competitive quote! Contact Aaron or Guy 027 541 2103 027 297 7455 These were chosen because the collars are compatible to the farm’s Minder software and also to Protrac. Having spent so many years on the farm, Warric says it would be a real highlight to receive the top award in their category at the next Dairy Industry Awards event. “We’re not getting any younger and this is our opportunity to really stamp our mark and reflect just how we’ve developed our farming business in the time we’ve been here.” Staff Patrick Cooper, Michel Audit, Talia Mason and Josh Johnson. Proudly supporting P&J Riley and JW&R Johnson
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