| 37 Season finished strong Emma Bailey RURAL PEOPLE » Gavin Davie - Harihari / Hurunui Limited Partnership The season started out tough on the West Coast in the South Island for JJJ farm but finished strong when the grass finally started growing. JJJ Farm is near the small rural settlement of Hari Hari. It is owned by Steve, Karen and their son Gavin Davie, having purchased it in 2002. Half way between Franz Joseph and Hokitika it is a reasonably isolated spot. It is also a wet spot, with a waterlogged spring making it tricky, Gavin said. “It went alright in the end. It was rough during spring, we were really waterlogged and it took a long time for the grass to come away, and it only just came away in the last month or so. So we should finish strong.” The dairy farm is a mixture of softer ground and river bed paddocks. It is 400 hectares (380 ha effective) with a herd of around 550 cows and is self contained. “It’s been our third tough spring so we are looking at calving about 520. It just gives us a bit of room if the grass doesn’t play ball. We don’t want to be struggling to feed them, especially as we have an all grass system.” The cows are mostly jersey but last year he used kiwi crosses as well. “It worked out quite well; we got a mixture of everything. This year we will just concentrate on breeding jersey again. “The kiwi crosses had a little bit of size on them and a good udder confirmation and other traits.” The farm milks once a day. One year becomes 10 Vojtech and Eliska Jelinek with their son. Karen Phelps A move to New Zealand that was meant to last a year has turned into a decade-long farming journey for Vojtech and Eliska Jelinek, culminating in national recognition at the 2026 Canterbury/North Otago Share Farmer of the Year awards. The Culverden-based contract milkers were awarded third place in the competition and also took home two merit awards, recognising both their environmental stewardship and their commitment to farm safety, health and biosecurity. “Coming here was meant to be temporary, just a working holiday before returning home to finish our studies,” says Vojtech Jelinek. “But once we experienced farming in New Zealand, we knew we wanted to stay and build a life here.” Originally from the Czech Republic, Vojtech studied business and finance while Eliska specialised in animal genetics. The couple began their New Zealand journey backpacking and working on a dairy farm in Geraldine before securing full-time roles on a farm in Clydevale and steadily progressing through the industry. “We started as farm assistants and worked our way up to farm managers with the same owners,” says Vojtech. “That gave us a really solid foundation and confidence to take the next step.” After further farm management experience in Geraldine, the couple moved into contract milking and are now in their second season with Hurunui Limited Partnership, managing a 214-hectare Culverden farm milking 631 cows through a 54-bail rotary shed with in-shed feeding and automatic cup removers. The farm, developed from a former forestry block, presents unique challenges, particularly around pasture management. “Because of the history of the land, we have to be very careful about the grass species we use,” says Vojtech. “Grass grub can weaken root systems, so we’ve found certain fescue varieties hold up much better and stop cows pulling plants out.” Environmental considerations are also central to the system. With each re-grassing programme, the couple incorporates plantain into pasture mixes to help reduce nitrate leaching. “Plantain increases the frequency of urination in cows, which dilutes the nitrates,” says Vojtech. “We went down to once a day with the whole herd about 16 years ago and we haven’t looked back.” The farm is in the process of getting a new Reporoa gate to help make day to day operations easier. “I’m looking forward to it being installed. It will make it easier to train the heifers up for milking and for AI.” He had been looking at installing the gate for a while. “Five years ago I started looking at them but back then I would have had to have got a whole new yard. Now they can install it on our old yard and just put on new railings.” With the global fuel crisis, he didn’t expect the increasing cost of fuel to impact until next season. “Everything is pretty much done and the cows will be dried off soon. It won’t be until next season that it will hit everyone I think.” His parents Steve and Karen are still quite active in the farm but looking at slowing down. The name of the property reflects the family’s middle names, his mum’s middle name is Joy and both him and his dad’s middle name is James, hence the three Js. It has been a journey for the family who built up to farm ownership. In 2021 they purchased an adjoining 100 acres allowing them to increase their herd from 400. The cows are milked on a 38 a side herringbone which has had some significant upgrades over the years as the family continues to invest in the operation. “That means less nitrogen going into the groundwater, which is really important for us.” Seasonal conditions also influence pasture decisions, with different grass mixes used to maintain growth during drier periods. Fertiliser application is carefully managed through soil testing and annual planning. “We work closely with Ballance and adjust depending on the season,” says Vojtech. “This year we had more summer rain than usual, so we applied an extra round of nitrogen with sulphur, which has helped extend grass growth later into autumn.” Health and safety systems on the farm were recognised with the Honda Farm Safety, Health and Biosecurity Award. Measures include QR code sign-in at every gate, clear hazard boards, strict biosecurity protocols and regular staff meetings. “It’s about making sure everyone who comes onto the farm knows the risks and follows the same standards,” says Vojtech. The couple employ two full-time staff, with additional help during busy periods. While Vojtech oversees farm operations, Eliska manages calf rearing and monitors young stock grazed off-farm. Balancing farm life with family, the couple have a six-year-old son and a newborn baby, adding another dimension to their busy routine. They plan to continue contract milking while building equity, having recently purchased a rental property in Christchurch. “We enjoy being hands-on and working closely with the animals and the land,” says Vojtech. “For now, contract milking suits us, but we could see ourselves on a larger farm in the future.” Ryan Arnold 0275 484 586 | Tommy Arnold 0275484587 | atacon@xtra.co.nz ARNOLD TRANSPORT LTD Transporting goods throughout the South Island including lime, fertiliser & stock feed, timber & logs, rock, woodchip and all general goods. Proudly supporting Gavin Davie - Harihari The Backing & Top Gate Experts Existing Gate Up Grades & New Gate Installations New Zealand Wide For over 25 years Reporoa Engineering continue to lead the way in Backing Gate Technology. Quality robust construction and clever designs provide New Zealand farmers high performance in the yard from day one. Drilling & Cultivation Nick Abbott 0274 302 413 Proud to support Hurunui Limited Partnership Locally Owned & Operated Since 1990 Flintoft Contractors for all your Stock transport and Agricultural Contracting requirements across the South Island we pride ourselves in great service BOOK NOW! For all your Stock & Contracting Needs contact Peter 027 438 8097
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