4 | RURAL PEOPLE » Baden and Donna Priest A niche, high-value manufacturer The Priest farm sits between Morrinsville and Te Aroha on 94 hectares. Karen Phelps For Baden and Donna Priest joining one of New Zealand’s smallest and most specialised dairy co-operatives Tatua more than 15 years ago has reshaped both the stability and direction of their business. “Shifting from a large commodity processor to a niche, high-value manufacturer has made a huge difference. It’s a real family feel and we’ve found the payouts better as an added bonus,” he says. Tatua, based in Tatuanui in the heart of the Waikato, is New Zealand’s oldest independent dairy company. With just 101 supplying farms and a focus on premium, specialised products rather than bulk commodities, it has built a global reputation for innovation. Its portfolio includes nutritional ingredients for medical and wellbeing sectors, dairy flavours for international food manufacturers and consumer favourites such as the iconic Dairy Whip. It processes around 250 million litres of milk each year and exports to roughly 50 countries. The co-operative recently doubled the size of its food plant to meet rising global demand. For the Priests, being part of a small, tightly knit cooperative has brought both financial and personal advantages. “I know everyone and they know who I am,” explains Baden. “Tatua suppliers always budget on a $10 payout, but there is also a high expectation that our farms are well looked after and presented well.” That expectation aligns perfectly with the family’s ethos of careful land management and grassfocused farming. The Priest farm sits between Morrinsville and Te Aroha on 94 hectares (90 effective), milking 280 Jersey-cross cows through a 30-aside herringbone shed with meal feeders and automatic cup removers. The couple bought the property outright in 2008, following years of moving through the sharemilking system, equity partnerships, and even a brief break in Australia. Baden left school at 15 to go dairy farming near Morrinsville, later marrying Donna, who had also grown up on a dairy farm. “We couldn’t have got to where we are without Barrie and Lyn,” says Baden of Donna’s parents, who helped them into equity partnerships that ultimately enabled them to purchase the farm. Sustainability and efficiency underpin the operation. Solar panels line the cowshed roof; hedges, trees and fenced drains enhance environmental protection and the stocking rate sits at three cows per hectare or fewer. After Christmas the herd moves to once-a-day milking, and from February only 220 cows are milked, reducing pressure on both land and livestock. Nearly all farming is grass-based, with spring supplements and targeted feeding. Despite last season’s drought, production reached 122,000kgMS, well above the farm’s typical 112,000kgMS, thanks to careful management and a mix of 70 percent PK and 30 percent molasses. Baden is targeting similar output this year. Family remains central to the farm’s future. The Priests’ four adult children have pursued varied paths but two remain connected to the land. Sam, previously a mechanic, now works full time on the farm, while Megan supports as a relief milker and calf feeder. Succession planning is a work in progress, with their other two children, Zach and Carrissa. Beyond the farm gate, Baden serves as chair of Te Aroha Federated Farmers. Governance was new territory but he embraced the challenge. “I just want everyone - and I mean farmers and the general public - to have a fair go,” explains Baden. “If there are rules coming in that hurt farmers, they will eventually hurt the community. The more money we’re making, the more that gets spent in the economy.” - DRAIN CLEANING - EFFLUENT POND CONSTRUCTION - V DRAINS - - UNDERPASS & BRIDGE INSTALLATION - TRACTOR & SCOOP - - SITE WORK & DEMOLITION - HEDGES & STUMPS REMOVED - - BULLDOZER & SCOOP HIRE - SAND & METAL CARTAGE - GRADER & ROLLER HIRE - - TRUCK / TRAILER HIRE - RACE CONSTRUCTION / MAINTENANCE - - 4, 13 & 22 TONNE MACHINES - 15 METRE LONG REACH - Ph 07 889 3143 or A/hrs 027 497 6386 FOR ALL EXCAVATION & CARTAGE L I M I T E D CONTRACTING Contact 07 889-0598 service@mgfs.co.nz www.mcgregorsfarmservices.co.nz Proud to be associated with Baden Priest “Tatua suppliers always budget on a $10 payout, but there is also a high expectation that our farms are well looked after and presented well.”
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