88 | nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » John Austin Ltd “I understand that the Health and Safety Act is there for a reason and that common sense plays a role here, but there is a hidden cost in our children not being able to experience farm life – because they consequently don’t feel as connected to the ground.” He says the values that helped shape him remain integral to his success and those family values are still needed in society. “Agriculture has really wholesome values. It burns me up how these climate change people treat farmers like they don’t care about the environment. I don’t think anybody cares more about the environment than farmers do. It’s their livelihood. “Their footprint in the cities is a lot more damaging that what ours is in agriculture. I think that absolutely frustrates everyone in agriculture.” And in the future... John says the future in contracting comes down to accurately managing inputs. “I think that our ability to be resourceful and frugal with crop inputs is going to be vitally important. We can now put them on precisely and we’re starting to have the tools to know what is happening with regard to not only the crop, but also Nitrogen leeching, and moisture levels.That is going to be more and more important in the future so we are reallygood stewards of the land and of the products we are using.” Outside of that he says the rest will be in someone else’s hands. “There is huge opportunity for young people in agriculture, and they all bring new and exciting views. • from page 91 • Off-shore skills sorely needed 94 John Austin Contracting Ltd’s forage harvest team ready to go at sunrise. Proudly supporting John Austin Ltd. CALL US 0800 40 10 40 Pr oud l y suppo r t i ng LIME LIMEMAG AGRIBLEND FERTILISER DICALCIC PHOSPHATE ORGANICS www.agpac.co.nz Long standing supplier of packaging products to John Austin Ltd Congratulations on your 40th year anniversary
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