NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

4 | nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Burmeister Farm: Mike & Heather Burmeister Robust The Burmeister farm team: (Back row from left): Jamie, Toby, Nacey, Simon, Keegan (dry stock manager), Mike. Front: Wayne (2IC) and Shyloe. Cows on feedpad before milking; Mabey contracting drilling new grass. Kim Newth W ith more than 30 years in the Tararua dairy industry, Mike and Heather Burmeister have weathered a lot of ups and downs, including a challenging drought last year followed by COVID-19. The couple, who milk around 970 cows on 323ha at Mangatainoka, north of Pahiatua, say it helps to be part of a close knit rural community with good support networks available if needed. “We’re all in it together – we’re on the same ship,” Mike observes. “Last year’s drought did take a toll as everyone around here is pretty tied to agri- culture and then there was Covid on top of that.” Local farmers continued to share information through last year’s lockdown, with many discussion groups moving online. “There were guys under a fair bit of pressure who were able to get some good advice over Zoom. It played a pretty important role in facilitating support and keeping people together.” The Rural Support Trust is another valuable source of help and advice in local rural com- munities. “They’re a fantastic group of people, all volunteers. They tend to fly under the radar but they do an awesome job.” Mike and Heather’s dairy farm, a stone’s throw from Mangatainoka’s iconic Tui Brewery, is an award winning business. In their early years in dairying, the couple worked strategically on building equity, gradually expanding on Mike’s parent’s origi- nal milking unit. Their two adult children – Grace and Ian – are both Massey University graduates now forging their own successful careers. Grace joined the BNZ’s graduate agribusiness programme last year and has recently taken up a job in Taranaki as an agribusiness manager. Their son Ian is a DairyNZ consultant in North Taranaki. “We’re really proud of them. They’ve both worked hard to establish themselves in their own right.” A flair for agribusiness certainly runs in the family. In 2003, Mike and Heather won farm busi- ENGINEERING CREATIVE HEAT-PUMP, AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION SOLUTIONS Call us today for a FREE Consultation & Quote Finance Available 0800 RING JUDD Visit our showroom: 175 JFK Drive, Palmerston North Showroom Hours: Mon/Fri 8-5pm, Saturday By Appointment Website: www.jrl.co.nz Email: admin@jrl.co.nz Design, Installation, Service and Maintenance of: • Milk Vat Refrigeration • Agents for Packo Ice Builders • Cool Rooms & Freezer Rooms • Process Coolers • Heat-Pump & Air Conditioning Systems • Ice Machines • Car Air Conditioning • Qualified & Experienced Technicians Delivering Excellence FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 51 YEARS pahiatua@tvg.co.nz | www.tararuavets.co.nz Tararua Veterinary Services is proud be associated with Mike and Heather Burmeister and to provide all aspects of animal health care