NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

| 101 nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Ellen & George Bartlett Rural Support trust – ‘farmers helping farmers’ Sue Russell G eorge and Ellen Bartlett have had a busy farming life, extending from sheep and beef, dairy farming and agricultural contracting. Ellen, who moved to New Zealand from England in 1993, says they have grown their farming busi- ness simply by working hard, having a vision and seizing opportunities as these presented. George started off with a couple tractors doing agricultural contracting which earned enough money to purchase his first block of land, 30 hectares at Cheltenham near Feilding. Today, through sale and purchase of former properties the couple own two farms, milking a total of 1500 cows, with a sharemilker running the Halcombe farm and a farm manager running the other on the outskirts of Feilding. “The aim was to have a big enough farm to make it worthwhile to own our own machinery, so we could do our own contracting work along with a few other jobs around the district,” says Ellen. Always looking at ways of promoting and sup- porting the industry, Ellen is acting Chair of the Manawatu Rural Support Trust, an organisation that established in the 1980s, when farmers were feeling the pinch of high interest rates causing stress and impacting on their mental health. “It’s a vital organisation even to this day. Farm- ers tend not to talk too openly about how they may really be feeling and by definition are reasonably isolated people, so it’s easy for things to get on top of them,” Ellen explains. Today the support trust continues to support farming families experiencing difficult times. “We are farmers helping farmers as we under- stand the issues that arise.” Along with her farming interests and working toward creating a succession plan for their three children Ellen also has time to input into the edu- cational outcomes of children attending Feilding High School, as Board of Trustees chairperson. “I’ve been on the Board for several years now. The school has a sheep and beef and a dairy unit which are used as a teaching farm. It’s great to see students have the opportunity to be on a working farm. We need these young people to be the future farmers in New Zealand.” Their two daughters are both involved in farm- ing, with one working as a farm manager while the other milks for the sharemilker. Their youngest, a son, at 16 is still at school. Both farms supply Fonterra. Ellen holds strong opinions that the Fonterra Co-Operative model is a good one, serving the dairy sector well. She was the former Fonterra Shareholders’ Council repre- sentative for the Manawatu and she is passionate about the place and importance of dairying. Her nine years on the Council also gave her an opportunity to see beyond the farm gate and un- derstand what Fonterra is doing out in the world. She remembers the years when they grew potatoes on some of their land and the risk doing this created. “We didn’t have any guarantee that our potatoes would be sold – let alone for what price, whereas Fonterra must take our milk as shareholder farmers. Our milk is picked up every day and sold trying to maximise the price for the farmer shareholder.” The farms have Protrac and both have been winter milking for some years. “We split calve 60:40 spring and autumn. We’re on heavy clay soil and so by taking the dry cows off farm to graze over winter means we can really lighten the load on the ground during the wet months.” Weather patterns are quite predictable in the region, with usually dry summers and wet winters so the winter milking fits well, with cows being dried off in January and late May, as these are often pinch times for feed. On the home farm a Redpath shelter has been erected and a loafing shed has been built so they can now get cows off of the pasture when needed. The other farm has a very large feed-pad, so again cows can feed off to minimise pasture damage Depending on the season’s pay-out the farms operate either to a system 3 or 4. A focus on the farms has been planting trees for shade and shelter as well as planting, with the support of Horizons Regional Council, ten hectares of native bush and also riparian plantings. “I love the trees and the bird-life they bring”. George adds: “We have been very fortunate in our farming journey to have the freedom to buy and sell land in order to grow. We have also been very lucky with the employees we have had over the years who have all helped to make this busi- ness what it is today.” Stuart is in no doubt that today’s Ayrshires are a cut above what they used to be. He recently used a couple of old straws from bulls that were considered good in their day, 20 years ago. He says the resulting heifer calves were no match compared to today’s advanced progeny. “It is like comparing a Skoda to a Ferrari! It makes you realise how far we’ve come.” Stuart’s grandfather settled on the Taranaki farm in 1923 and was succeeded by his twin sons, (Stuart’s father and uncle). Stuart’s parents still live on the farm, along with Stuart, Delwyn and their son Scott, who is full-time on the farm. Herd ‘going in the right direction’ • from page 100 The herd and all replacements are run on the 161ha milking block, while a nearby 37ha runoff is used to graze yearling heifers as well as for haymaking. Further north, at Urenui, is another property used as a beef drystock farm, where beef calves are reared. Their elder son, Troy, works as a diesel mechanic in Inglewood and takes care of farm machinery servicing and maintenance. Daughter Rebecca, who lost her job as a travel agent due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is now retraining and doing some milking, lending a hand as needed. “Our herd is going in the right direction: we anticipate further genetic gains ahead.” Photos: A Redpath shelter and loafing shed has been built on the home farm, minimising pasture damage. Riparian plantings and the planting of 10 hectares of native bush has been another farm focus. 06 323 0309 | tractors@trctractors.co.nz Logan 027 224 7679 | Aaron 027 224 7677 | Peter 027 224 7678