| 37 RURAL PEOPLE » Reuben & Deb Connolly Drystock block complements dairy operation Richard Loader Inflation adds to weather woes • from page 36 “These new plans will need to be workable and affordable, particularly now that costs are rising on everything, and it looks like we have a methane tax coming in 2025 as well.” He says fertiliser costs have gone up 34 per cent and shearing costs are on the rise too. “Unfortunately, the wool isn’t worth anything. It’s a huge loss for us.” In ationary pressures come on top of a very hot, dry summer and autumn that sucked the grass dry all the way to June. “Our covers were way down going into winter and our ewes have also been lighter than they should have been simply due to the tight feed situation. “We can usually rely on great autumn growth but we didn’t get any; no ushing could happen this year and weaning the calves was hard work.” At time of writing, scanning was imminent but Dean was not expecting great results. Lambing on the terminals side is due to start on 7th September, followed by the maternals on 15th September. Some 1800 lambs are generally kept as hogget replacements each season with the balance of lambs nished off Pukerata at an average weight of 18kg cwt to Affco. “We can usually rely on great autumn growth but we didn’t get any; no ushing could happen this year and weaning the calves was hard work.” As a journalist writing farming stories, there is something warmly familiar about talking to the same people over the course of time and learning about how their farming journeys have progressed, along with their personal journeys, since last you spoke. Otorohanga dairy and drystock farmers Deb and Reuben Connolly are two such people, and you can imagine sitting down at the table with a cuppa, and scones hot from the oven, chewing the fat. When I last spoke to Deb and Reuben mid-way through last year they were still fresh from winning the Waikato region’s dairy industry award for Share Farmer of the Year and being named Runner-Up at the National awards. At the time the couple had secured a one-year lease on the dairy farm that they had previously owned in equity partnership with Deb’s uncle and auntie, and were exploring their opportunities and options for the following season. Five minutes west of Otorahanga, the farm is 110 effective hectares of mixed contour country side, and home to the couple’s herd of 300 dairy cows. Now in their second year leasing the dairy unit, Deb and Reuben have recently purchased a 315-hectare drystock block 25 minutes east of Otorohanga, that they had been leasing from Reuben’s parents for the last ve years, and which complements their dairy operations. “We use the farm for a bit of everything really,” says Reuben. “We rear all our own replacements out there, along with our own beef calves from the dairy farm, either Friesian bulls or white-faces. We also have about 600 sheep. We’re fully self-contained as far as stock goes between the two farms. We also have a little Hereford Breeding herd. We tail the herd with our own Hereford bulls, and breed our own jersey bulls for mating with the heifers. Purchasing the drystock farm has been in the planning for some while. Dairy and drystock work in with each other, and we’re really just looking for another dairy opportunity in the area now.” Deb and Reuben are now in their 10th season dairy farming. While Reuben came from a drystock background, Deb grew up on a dairy farm, but is a quali ed as an early childhood teacher. While both are passionate about farming and the dairy industry, Deb suggests they each have different but complementary preferences. “I like the genetic side, while Reuben enjoys the land, growing things and improving the farm operation.” Common to each other though is their young family of ve daughters Laura 7, Vanessa 6, Zoe 4, Isla 2 and Chelsea just a month old. Reuben adds that the farming is a great way to bring up kids.. “Laura and Vanessa spend a lot of time on the farm now. They have really enjoyed these last school holidays, helping with the calves. They enjoy seeing the calves being born and doing the night checks.” Excited about the future of dairy farming, Deb says a lot of the progression now is around sustainability and pro tability rather than making things more intensive. “It’s more around sustainability, the environment, the cows and the welfare of the people. For us it’s really exciting. There is a huge amount of advice freely available and DairyNZ is really onboard.” Purebred Hereford breeding herd on the Connolly’s drystock block. 40 Turongo St, Otorohanga 07 873 8673 www.pumpn.co.nz Patented Product OTOROHANGA 9 Wahanui Crescent | 07 873 7089 OPENING HOURS: Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm Sat 9am to Midday 24 / 7 EMERGENCY - PHONE 0800 843 838
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