| 53 The area has been renowned for being summer safe, but that hasn’t been the case for about seven years now. RURAL PEOPLE » Clapcott Dairy Enterprises widely associated with sheep and beef farming, with the majority of dairy farm conversions occurring within the last 25 years. Chris says there was enough good land in the area for people to expand into it for dairy as New Zealand’s dairy industry gained momentum. “The area has been renowned for being summer safe, but that hasn’t been the case for about seven years now, and we’ve had some pretty dry summers and autumns. On farm, we grow 75 hectares of maize for silage, and we get a lot of growth over the spring so we can make quite a bit of grass silage as well, which we use during the winter and dry autumns. There wouldn’t be many farms in this region that are not growing some kind of supplement for those dry summers.” Despite a positive and enthusiastic lens on farming’s future, Chris is frustrated that a one size ts all approach is being applied by policy makers in Wellington. “Every region is different. There are climatic factors, topography, soil types, location, but the policy makers are trying to get something that ts the whole of the industry in New Zealand and that’s just not how it works. The bulk of farmers look after their animals and their land, but they often get painted with this picture that they need a regulatory framework for them to be good farmers. I think in general most farmers would be trying their hardest to improve the environment, and the quality of their animals. Farming has a great future and the world needs feeding. We have to be smart about how we farm in the future — but that’s taking place anyway. The farmer getting by with the number 8 wire and making things happen still stands true today - they will innovate and things will change.” • from page 52 Call the office to arrange a no-obligation consultation with one of our team 80 Market Street TE AWAMUTU 3800 Phone: 07 871 7055 Email: info@finnz.co.nz www.finnz.co.nz Allan Spice is proud to support Clapco Dairy Enterprises Agriblend Fertiliser • Soil Testing & Fertiliser Recommendations Dicalcic Phosphate • Organics • Lime • Limemag 0800 40 10 40 | www.rorisons.co.nz Proudly supporting Clapcott Dairy Enterprises &Otorohanga Agricultural Development A&L Earthworks Proudly supporting Clapcott Farms Calf Sheds • CoveredYards • Trenching • Landscaping&Supplies • CartingMetal Contact Aaron 021 412 486 aandlearthworks@gmail.com Piopio Calf Sheds • CoveredYa i i li i l .
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