| 17 DAIRY PEOPLE » Brendan Lochhead and Gordon Anderson / Cameron and Cassandra Spencer Diverse operation Seeking new opportunities Nicki Woodhouse Kim Newth Brendan Lochhead and his wife Ali are 50:50 sharemilkers at Fern Flat Farm, located in Murchison, two hours south of Nelson. The operation spans over 500 ha, comprising the 265 ha dairy farm and runoff properties - milking 650 Kiwi crossbred cows. In addition to dairying, they finish 1,000 lambs and grow chicory for summer feed, fodder beet for autumn, and raphno and kale for winter. Brendan is both the farm manager and sharemilker, while Ali handles farm administration, rears calves, and works as a sales representative for Ballance. The couple have been sharemilking since 2015. Their team includes three full-time staff: two herd managers and a drystock manager. Fern Flat Farm was purchased four years ago by Brendan’s Scottish father-in-law, Gordon Anderson. During the Covid pandemic, Gordon and his wife Catherine returned to New Zealand, and with Ali keen to be closer to her parents, the family found a solution—Gordon and Catherine bought the farm, and Brendan and Ali took on the role of share - milkers to manage and run the operation. Brendan says: “We’ve been able to be more secure as sharemilkers thanks to Gordon and Catherine owning the farm. It’s a privilege. We also get the grandparents being close to our kids. Everyone gets their say on the farm”. Brendan also serves as the Federated Farmers Sharemilker Representative for Nelson. With ongoing uncertainty in the industry - particularly around climate change and environmental regulations -he’s proud to help ensure local farmers have a voice on the issues that matter most. Brendan comments about Federated Farmers: Award-winning sharemilkers Cam and Cassy Spencer are not waiting around to see what the future holds. Instead, they are working hard to create their own path and achieve their vision to build a life and a business to be proud of, with their family at the centre and surrounded by people who share their values. Operating as Hoofprint Dairies, the couple are now in their 11th season sharemilking. Together with their herd, they moved to Marlborough from Southland in 2023 after the farm they had been milking on near Otautau went on the market. They are currently 50/50 sharemilking 650 cows on a 242 ha farm in Canvastown, producing 280 milk solids a year and employing two full-time and two part-time staff. In a tight market for 50/50 sharemilkers, the couple were grateful to make the move to Marlborough even though the farm they moved to was also being prepared for sale. It is currently on the market. While staying on under a new owner once their three-year contract expires could be a possibility, the couple is keen to look at all available options. “Rather than just waiting to see what happens, we’re actively looking for new opportunities in this region or in Canterbury or Southland, and thinking long-term,” says Cam. “Ideally, we’d like to buy equity on a farm we like but stay 50/50 share milking it too. It’s not a typical model but having that equity would give us the buy-in and longevity that we’re seeking.” The couple love sharing their rural way of life – both on and off-farm - with their daughters Mackenzie, 9, Sienna, 6, and Kaylee, 3. Their focus is very much on their family and driving their business forward with hard work and integrity, surrounded by like-minded people who share their passion for sustainable and future-focussed dairy farming. As they weigh up their future, Cassy and Cam are open to a range of different setups and variations involving 50/50 sharemilking, equity partnerships and vendor finance. “They are a good voice in parliament. We get taken seriously”. Federated Farmers supports sharemilkers by providing input on animal welfare policies and employment matters - including staff work visas and employment contracts, which are also available for purchase through the organisation - along with support on many other issues. An exciting recent proposal from Federated Farmers is their advocacy for a change to KiwiSaver rules, allowing farmers to withdraw funds to purchase their first herd. This proposal is currently under review by the government. Brendan states: “Federated Farmers is a good community to be part of. You’ve got farmers that are a large distance apart in New Zealand. If we can all help each other in some way it lessens the burden. You get a wider connection to what’s happening from Federated Farmers”. With recent once-in-100-year flooding events in the Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough regions, Brendan urges: “The community needs to pull together. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it”. Farm owners Gordon and Catherine are committed to ongoing farm improvements. They recently extended the cowshed yard, allowing the entire herd to fit comfortably, and have enhanced farm drainage and irrigation across 200 hectares - drawing on Gordon’s engineering background to boost efficiency and performance. Future farming goals for Brendan and Ali include farm ownership. Brendan states: “Our first goal was to buy a herd and we’ve achieved this. Then it was the land - and we’ve just purchased a 30 ha runoff block. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to buy Fern Flat in the future”. Having cleared the idea of promoting themselves with the current farm owner, the couple have recently launched a website – www.hoofprintdairies.co.nz - providing a snapshot of who they are, what they’re seeking and outlining their vision, purpose and values. “We’ve started putting that out to a lot of different parties from stock agents to real estate agents and bankers to try and create opportunities that will help us move forward with purpose,” says Cassy. Cam and Cassy have achieved a lot of success in their dairy careers to date, including at the NZ Dairy Industry Awards. In 2020, they came second in the Southland/Otago Share Farmer of the Year as well as receiving regional awards in pasture performance, and farm recording and productivity. They have successfully adapted to Marlborough’s variable conditions and use a 3-in-2 milking roster that suits both their herd and farm logistics. The recent higher milk price pay-out has been a welcome boost. Even though inflation has pushed up operational costs, the favourable pay-out has enabled them to get further ahead. “It has been a really good year and that has put us in a great position equity-wise,” says Cam. “We’re excited by the future and the prospect of new possibilities on the horizon.” For all your agricultural and horticultural spreading Proof of placement GPS mapping 0800 542 383 | Dean 027 431 4090 office@brooksspreading.co.nz www.brooksspreading.co.nz 0800 541 8512 www.hogarths.co.nz office@hogarths.co.nz For all your Fertiliser, Lime & Seed Requirements Supporting Cameron and Cassandra Spencer to grow our region QUALITY SERVICE | COMPETITIVE RATES | PROFESSIONAL RESULTS FARM, FOREST, VINEYARD AND CIVIL PH: 027 490 6313 Over 15 years experience in earthworks & roading • Grader, Digger & Dozer Services • Road Construction / Maintenance • Site Clearing / Levelling • Farm Tracks • Stock Lanes • Driveways • Building Pads • Vineyard Headlands • Vineyard Development • Drainage • Landscaping • General Earthworks Cassy and Cam Spencer. For all Livestock brokerage and Valuation Services Maclane Dixon - 027 290 1332 Rod MacKenzie - 027 432 7699 Dallas Gerkin - 027 306 1738 Gerry Molyneux - 027 432 7701
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