| 63 A few upgrades at Whakatohea Between 730 to 750 cows are wintered on farm. Sue Russell Josh Collier has been managing Whakatohea Maori Trust’s dairy unit ‘Te Riu O Kanapanapa’ for 10 years now, having returned a decade ago to home-base from farming in the South Island. He’s philosophical about how many more years in the manager’s role he has. “I really enjoy my job on the farm but there is probably a time when it will be quite good to see a younger one coming through. Working for the Trust in some other way would be an option I’d certainly consider if this were to happen,” Josh explains. The farm’s 60 bale Milfos rotary is also in its 10th season having experienced a few upgrades, including inshed feeding, changing of the auto teat sprayers from a 2 nozzle sprayer to GEA Isprayer 4 nozzle. A 20l container serves as a useful tool to bang on the bars to move the cows off from feeding following milking. “Some are a bit reluctant to move on but we’re going to set up an air spraying system soon.” Four staff work with Josh. One of the purposes of the dairy unit, beyond operating as a viable business entity and income earner for the Trust, is to offer Rangatahi within the Iwi the chance to acquire solid dairying skills and be usefully engaged. Josh says he’s pleased with the effectiveness of monitoring the pre-mating heat cycles and how cows are dried off based on condition score. Early calving cows with a condition score of 4 or less we dry off at the start of April and continue to dry cows off through until mid May using calving dates and Condition score as the guidelines The feed blend is also adjusted according to the condition of the herd, with a slow-release carbo blend used to keep the energy level up over calving and mating. A slightly higher protein blend is used through summer to make up for the drop in protein we see as the summer grasses come through RURAL PEOPLE » Whakatohea Between 730 to 750 cows are wintered on farm on with the heifers arriving home mid May from our grazing block in Motu which is leased by the Trust Board. Genetics is predominantly Friesian. “We’ve used a little bit of ‘easy-calf’ crossbred as well but we don’t want to bring too much ‘cross’ or jersey into the herd. This farm also has a no bobby-calf policy.” Which means all calves are reared with Low birthweight Angus bulls used over the heifers and a mix of Charlois and Hereford used over the bottm 10% BW of cows in the herd and hereford bulls used to tail off Asked to provide more detail on how the farm engages youth Josh says there are two streams. First of two collaborations is called Whakatohea Y2 Youth Hub, enabling Rangatahi, not at school, support to get their drivers licence, something the Trust understands is a big helping hand for those wishing to find employment. “They will come out and do a few milkings with us and if they show interest we will get them out to do fencing. We’ve picked up a couple of young ones that way.” Second, in 2023 an initiative with Opotiki College was established, providing students with the opportunity to gain Primary ITO Level 2. Seven students came through this programme last year, starting with calving. “The great thing about how the programme is structured is that students do their practical in the morning and then go into classes to discuss the theory and learning behind what they have seen and done first-hand.” Josh says he gets quite a buzz seeing students gain confidence and experience and just what they’re capable of achieving. “This year it may increase in number to 14, so its going from strength to strength. It’s great for females who make some of the best farm workers.” Working for a Trust Board that is answerable to 17,500 shareholders is a privilege Josh says. Whakatohea is about to go through a Treaty settlement process and Josh says this may well provide the impetus for new land-based initiatives to arise in the future. “It’s certainly a water-shed moment for our people and an exciting time for our people to engage in.” Josh engages with the board’s farm committee at a monthly farm hui, made up in part by members of the Board and the organisation’s CEO. “We have a very good farm advisor in Mark Johnstone. I have an awesome support structure.” With challenging weather in recent months reproduction took a bit of a hit Josh says with 13% empty rate last year. Before that, the empty rate had been reduced to under 10%, something he and the team have focussed on through the years. Proudly supporting Whakatohea www.rmt.co.nz E. dispatch@rmt.co.nz P. 07 315 6454 (Opotiki Depot) Proud to supply logistics and transport solutions to Whakatohea Carriers of bulk fertiliser – PKE and animal supplements Agent for Ballance Agri Nutrients Limited and Graymont Lime Agricultural Spreaders available (Opotiki / East Coast / Matawai) MPI Approved Transitional Facility (27901) – AS/NZS ISO 9001:2015
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