82 | RURAL SERVICES » GJ Graham Contracting / Seedlands Umbilical effluent spreading system. Smart effluent spreading Kelly Deeks GJ Graham Contracting is helping West Coast dairy farmers meet rising environmental standards with a new umbilical effluent spreading system that reduces paddock damage, improves compliance, and delivers valuable winter work for the Ikamatua-based business. Owned by Gary and Stacey Graham, the family business has spent more than three decades providing a full range of agricultural contracting services across the region. The latest addition to the fleet is an umbilical effluent system fitted with pipes that can clean ponds right to the bottom and a chopper to break down solids, a point of difference that some umbilical systems lack. “There was a real need for it locally,” Stacey says. “Westland Dairy, the other dairy companies, and the Regional Council are starting to come down pretty hard on farmers on how their effluent is dealt with. This system puts it straight onto the paddock, and it empties the pond properly.” The machine has been in operation for just over a year and has already proven itself on some challenging jobs. Stacey says the business took a quiet approach at first, unsure how well the new setup would perform. “We didn’t want to go raving about something that wasn’t going to deliver,” she says. “But it really does. We have cleaned out some really horrific ponds, and we’ve cleaned them out really well.” The system has also become important winter work for the team. Dairy farms Simon & Debbie Lawn: 027 228 4385 Agricultural Services General Aerial Services Hunting & Fishing 03 732 3668 | office@ahaurahelicopters.co.nz 96 Ahaura-Kopara Road, Ahaura, West Coast prefer effluent pond work to be done while cows are dry and paddocks are not being rotated regularly. It also gives GJ Graham Contracting a productive fill-in during the quieter months. “You can’t do it with tankers in the winter, they’ll get stuck,” Stacey says. “The umbilical can suck right down to the bottom of the pond and the mulcher lets us take everything out, not just the liquid off the top.” Umbilical systems also offer advantages for soil health, labour efficiency, and compliance. With no heavy tankers making repeated passes, there is reduced soil compaction and far less damage to gateways, tracks, and laneways. LESS (low emission slurry spreading) applicators place effluent directly on the ground, reducing wind drift, odour, and nitrogen loss. GPS and flow meters provide accurate application rates, which supports compliance reporting and nutrient budgeting while reducing reliance on synthetic fertiliser. Alongside effluent services, GJ Graham Contracting operates excavators, seeders, silage and balage equipment, spreaders, and general earthworks machinery. The business employs seasonal overseas staff from October through to late autumn, alongside a trained permanent local crew. The umbilical operators have undergone specialist training to ensure the system is used safely and efficiently. GJ Graham Contracting began more than 30 years ago when former farmers Gary and Stacey struggled to get timely services for their own property. Gary bought machinery to complete the work himself and neighbours began asking for help, seeing demand steadily grow. Today the couple run the contracting operation full-time with a small amount of winter grazing on the side. Stacey also works as a travel agent, adding a different dimension to the busy family enterprise. Stacey says clients who have experienced the complete clean-out from the umbilical system are already seeing the benefits. “Their ponds are completely empty, and the dairy companies and councils are happy. It’s made a big difference,” she says. With retirement on the horizon in the next 10 years, Stacey and Gary are now focused on stability and continuity. “For now it’s just keep going how we’re going,” Stacey says. “The umbilical has been a great addition, and it’s available now for all our farmers across the West Coast.” Cultivating seed value Karen Phelps For decades Seedlands has been ensuring that every seed leaving its Timaru facility meets the exacting standards that have made New Zealand’s seed industry renowned worldwide. General manager James Anderson says that what sets this processing company apart isn’t just its longevity but the fact that it remains firmly in the hands of three local farming families who understand the product from paddock to export market. “Our core purpose is to unlock the full value of every seed for every customer,” says James. “It’s a philosophy that has successfully guided the company through generations of processing grass seed, clover and grain for both domestic and international markets.” He says the family ownership structure provides Seedlands with an advantage that money simply cannot buy: intimate knowledge of what customers require. “All three families are themselves seed and grain growers, giving them a unique perspective on the entire supply chain. They understand the product and process and we process their product as well. So that gives them a very intimate knowledge of what customers require.” This understanding extends throughout the organisation. The team of ten, which expands seasonally, brings more than 80 years of combined experience on the processing machines alone. “That’s something money can’t buy to ensure the seed meets the customer requirements,” says James. “Specialist knowledge is required to know the best way to process each seed or grain. Our team has a relentless focus on performance, quality and continuous improvement.” 03 303 7266 admin@pmr.co.nz www.pmr.co.nz NZ Specialists in seed cleaning & processing plants. Agents for World Leading Brands He brings over 30 years of agribusiness consulting experience to the role. The irony of his career transition isn’t lost on him. “I’ve spent my career ensuring grass is vegetative, so now I’m helping people who want their grass to go to seed, so it’s been an interesting change,” he says with a laugh. Operating from a purpose-built processing facility in Timaru, Seedlands handles the complete spectrum of seed and grain services: cleaning, drying, mixing, treating, storing and packing. Grass seed and clover form the majority of the business, with the remainder comprising grains and other seeds. The company’s export qualification enables it to send 70 to 80 per cent of its grass and clover seed overseas, particularly for turf applications, while all remaining seed and grain serves the local market. Seedlands can also procure, mix and treat seed to deliver specific blends tailored to growers’ requirements, and is capable of applying any treatment clients request. Significant storage facilities accommodate both undressed and dressed product, with the company having processed up to 9,000 tonnes in a single year with capacity for more. As an MPI Registered Export Facility, James says that Seedlands works closely with independent auditors to ensure ongoing compliance with strict industry standards for purity, traceability and market requirements. Every bag of certified seed leaves the facility with a label containing complete information about traceability, verification and purity required for its destination market. James says the company’s future ambitions remain grounded in its founding principles. “Our vision is that we want to be the first choice for seed and grain services. Not necessarily the biggest but the most trusted.” Operating from a purpose-built processing facility in Timaru, Seedlands handles the complete spectrum of seed and grain services. Your local distributor of Pirtek products Proudly Supporting GJ Graham Contracting 027 512 7760 coasthydraulics@xtra.co.nz Family Owned & Operated
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