14 | nzdairy Record production from pasture focus Karen Phelps “If Three Waters goes through all of us rural taxpayers will be paying for water infrastructure in towns that we don’t use. So I think it needs to stay with councils and very much a user pays approach. It’s been heavy on the minds of the rural community; we see it as another levy we won’t benefit from.” A focus on improving pasture has contributed to record production for Waikato farmers Jenny and Andrew McGiven. Using the services of Smart Forage & Pasture in Gisborne the aim has been to increase cow pasture intake and reduce reliance on bought in feed. Production has gone from 245,000kgsMS three years ago to 264,000 kgsMS last season. A 26ha leased run off used as a cut and carry block growing grass and maize silage was another factor as was a contract milker with a talent for fully feeding the herd. The McGivens favour direct drilling and pastoral cultivation methods to protect soil profile and reduce topsoil organic matter loss to the atmosphere. With turnips and grass seed Andrew has been using a spike rotor with an air seeder on it in one pass. He believes this has helped his crops to germinate better. He’s interested in the possibilities of a strip till drill, which means he could eliminate ploughing and power hoeing instead spraying out then one pass with the strip till drill. Andrew and Jenny, a qualified vet, farm an 182ha total/135ha effective dairy farm at Waihou. Andrew grew up on a farm, worked in the city for a few years before returning to work on the family farm for a year before purchasing half the herd and going 25% lower order sharemilking. In 2000 the opportunity came up to lease a 70ha farm at Waihou owned by a family trust. Andrew leased it with his parents and made improvements. Three adjoining farms were added over the years to give the present land holding, although the original farm is still leased. Waikato farmer Andrew McGiven is concerned about how the proposed Three Waters legislation would affect the rural community. DAIRY PEOPLE » Andrew McGiven They milk a herd of 510 cows through a 50bail rotary shed with automatic cup removers, Milk Hub and in-shed feeding system. There is also a covered feed pad, calving barn plus other stand off areas. The herd is predominantly Jersey and Jersey/ Ayrshire cross. Friesian genetics have been introduced into the breeding programme as the farm winter milks around 200 cows and Friesians, being larger cows, assist with this. Ayrshire genetics were introduced to increase the protein to fat ratio in the milk to capture the premium at the time. The couple say they are ‘future focused’ farmers. They have fully fenced waterways with most averaging three metres of riparian strip. Like many farmers Andrew is concerned about how the proposed Three Waters legislation would affect the rural community. “If Three Waters goes through all of us rural taxpayers will be paying for water infrastructure in towns that we don’t use. So I think it needs to stay with councils and very much a user pays approach. It’s been heavy on the minds of the rural community; we see it as another levy we won’t benefit from.” Andrew and Jenny’s current aim is to consolidate their business and improve what they’ve got. “It’s about trying to maintain consistency in what we are doing rather than chopping and changing. I think cows like consistency as well. “It’s also about consolidating farming practices and debt. We had a good payout year last year and managed to pay a bit of debt down. We’re always looking at ways to reduce our financial risk.” FOR ALL YOUR SALES, SERVICE, REPAIRS & SPARES! Support Agent for: Andrew McGiven McCormick · Landini · Strautmann · Lemken · Polaris · Husqvarna Pearson · Masport · Rata · Tyremax Tractor Sales · Servicing & Repairs of all makes and models · Farm Machinery Sales & Service (new & used) · Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings · Truck & Digger Servicing · Automotive Servicing WOF’s & pre COF Auto Electrical & Air Conditioning Service · State Roadside Rescue · Breakdown Service EWP & Crane Specialists · Sales, Parts and Service for all Garden & Lawn equipment NZ Designed Filtra�on Systems for the Removal of Iron and Manganese and Other Rural Problems Results guaranteed Fully automated NZ designed systems tailored to suit your water issue Latest in electronic technology, wireless alert systems Servicing the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki & Gisborne Full Scale portable demonstration plant available* CALL RON TODAY FOR YOUR NO OBLIGATION FREE SITE ASSESSMENT AND QUOTATION* (water test report costs not included) Phone: 0800 109 202 www.ironfiltra�on.co.nz (*Conditions may apply; dependant on circumstances, demonstration plant dependant on availability)
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