Business Rural Winter 2021

| 19 Advocating for Coast farmers a challenge Frano Volckman, Federated Farmers Dairy Chair for the West Coast, lands a couple of snapper with the help of daughters Georgie and Frankie. Richard Loader DAIRY PEOPLE » Frano Volckman A seventh generation West Coast farmer on his mother’s side, Frano Volckman is not one to shy away from a challenge. When the opportunity arose to become Federated Farmers’ Dairy Chair for the West Coast region a little less than 12 months ago, Frano embraced it. “There are a lot of challenges out there for any farming sector and someone has to get their head around these things and be a voice for the farmers. I do enjoy it but it can be challenging on the Coast because West Coast dairy farms stretch from Fox Glacier to Karamea.” That’s 392 kilometers as the crow flies with a lot of dairy farms in between and the challenge is to get everyone’s concerns heard. “I just saw a good opportunity to do that, get involved, hopefully do a good job for the West Coast farmers and take our views and concerns up the chain to Wellington. There are a lot of new policies and regulation coming out and they are a real concern.” Frano says by far the biggest issue is that Coast- ers are being put in the same basket as everyone else whereas it is such a unique climate and contour of land. “It’s not just one size fits all that the policies and regulations seem to reflect. The waterways is an example of that, especially South Westland where a creek might be a metre wide for 350 days of the year and then a certain weather event could increase that to a raging river for a day or two. The new rules and regulations require those creeks to be fenced, which is just impractical and an ex- pensive exercise for the farmers to keep having to replace fences after they get blown out by weather events.” Frano and his wife Kylie have been in equity part- nership with Frano’s parents, Geoff and Maryann, for the last four years. “I enjoy the challenges that dairy farming brings, especially on the Coast with its weather,” says Frano. “Dairy is a pretty rewarding industry if you’re prepared to knuckle down and work pretty hard. Frano Volckman and wife Kylie operate a 240-hectare unit at Karamea milking 600 cows, with an adjoining run-off. The world needs food and we’re certainly doing our fair bit to supply that. You tend to lose sight of that sometimes. I think that Coast farmers supply the best milk really and that’s something you have to remind yourself you’re doing.” Karamea enjoys quite a micro-climate. It’s good country for growing grass all year round and utilis- ing that to get a good product but Frano says the Coast’s weather dictates what can be done and his family farms within the limits that Mother Nature throws their way, conscious of the environmental boundaries. The Volckman’s farming business encompasses two dairy units that are separated by a river. Frano’s sister and her partner milk 200 cows, on a smaller 90-hectare block, while Frano and Kylie operate a larger 240-hectare unit, milking 600 cows, with an adjoining run-off. Loving the career he was born into, Frano says it is all about the farm dynamics. “There are a lot of cogs and moving pieces to a farm and no day is the same. It’s a great environ- ment and certainly a great way to bring up your children. We have three children aged between four years to eight months. Kylie is just as much hands on as me. She’s probably the dooer, while I’m the dreamer. That sums our team up. I’m always questioning what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and looking at better ways, while Kylie keeps me grounded and reminds me that the day-to-day things have to carry on.” “I just saw a good opportunity to do that, get involved, hopefully do a good job for the West Coast farmers and take our views and concerns up the chain to Wellington. There are a lot of new policies and regulation coming out and they are a real concern.” TRANSPORT FOR ALL YOUR RURAL AND BULK TRANSPORT We are proud to support Frano Volckman Ph: (03) 789 7609 | e: despatch@jbt.co.nz Proud to be marketing quality Dairy Stock from theWest Coast. West Coast established livestock agents for dairy and dairy beef. Phil Struthers 03 789 7411| 0800 20 20 31 | 027 247 6754 | 2020livestock@xtra.co.nz CALL COLIN REDPATH, DEALER PRINCIPAL TODAY KEOGANS ROAD, HOKITIKA Ph: 03 280 9643 | Mobile: 021 755 818 www.westlandfarmservices.co.nz