58 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Luke & Nicole Kane Ownership structure with succession in mind Virginia Wright Westholm Dairies can be found just south of Tapanui on the Pomahaka River in West Otago. It combines dairy farming with a beef fattening operation and two beef studs under an ownership structure designed with family succession in mind as well as playing to people’s strengths. For Luke and Nicole Kane, it meant a transition from share-milking on the family farm to holding an equity partnership in the farm. “I’m the fourth generation farming this same bit of dirt,” says Luke. “Rather than split the farm up to go through generations we decided to leave everything together so that I operate jointly with my younger brother Peter, and my parents Robert and Mary-Anne still have a stake at this stage too.” Westholm Dairies is around 900 effective hectares from a total of roughly 1000, with a milking platform of 235 hectares. They milk 650 Fresian- Jersey cross cows, targeting 300,000kgs to 320,000kgs of solids a year, with spring calving only. Whereas Luke and Nicole concentrate on the dairy operation, along with winter cropping and staff, Peter runs the beef side of things (his wife Alice is a school teacher), and the two Kane Farms studs, one Hereford and one Angus. The plan is for the two brothers to eventually be identical in their roles. “As my brother learns more of the dairy side of things it’s split the workload considerably and has taken a lot of pressure off us,” says Luke.With he and Nicole expecting their first child due in August, right in the middle of calving, the timing couldn’t be better. An unforeseen benefit of the new structure is the improvement in communication between all parties. The new board-like structure involves regular meetings characterized by open discussions leading to the rapid solving of any issues that arise. “Before we were each probably so focused on our own things that we didn’t necessarily communicate if I had spare grass or he had Whereas Luke and Nicole concentrate on the dairy operation, along with winter cropping and staff, Peter runs the beef side of things and the two Kane Farms studs. spare feed,” explains Luke. “Whereas now Peter and Nicole and I are talking all the time and working together as a matter of course.” As the local Federated Farmers Dairy rep Luke is concerned about what’s happening in the southern South Island with the effects of an extended dry spell being compounded by Omicron. It’s an unfortunate combination as Omicron has meant meatworks are struggling to fill their shifts just as farmers may be looking to offload some animals early in order to conserve the feed they have available. “People are running very tight on grass and supplementary feed but there’s no space available to offload,” says Luke. “Realistically some advice would be to update feed budgets and winter feed plans. Consider drying some cows off early or implementing a change in your milking schedule if they haven’t been done already. If you could really do with a hand you can get in touch with your local Federated Farmers rep, or Rural Support Trust if you’d prefer, for advice or potentially some practical assistance.” At Westholm Dairies they’re growing only 30% of what they would ordinarily be expecting at this time of year. There is one ray of light however while they wait for some rain to finally fall. “We’re still getting paid really well, which at least helps pay for the supplementary feed we’re having to buy,” says Luke. “Realistically some advice would be to update feed budgets and winter feed plans. 027 286 5333 Proud to be associated with Luke & Nicole Kane FOR ALL YOUR: • Baling • Wrapping • Carting • Mowing For more information check out our website www.kelsokontracting.co.nz Or call/email us, Hamish: 0274 306 869 Office: 03 204 8112, office@kkcl.nz • Stabilising • Rock Crushing • Stump Grinding & Mulching • Reefinator • Earthmoving & Excavation • Wood Chipping
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=