| 35 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » John Stevenson Farming Chair of the Fonterra Co-operative Council and Councillor for Wairarapa, John Stevenson. Beef valuable revenue stream • from page 34 Council ensures farmers’ voices are heard Karen Phelps land without consuming too much labour that pulls away from the dairy farm. We currently grow twenty hectares of maize on the dairy farm solely for silage and over the last ten years have got very good at growing it. There are opportunities to lease quite a few blocks of land up here but its finding things to do that doesn’t consume a lot of labour, and maize might be that crop.” The team at Amorangi Farms milk 465 cows, and each year 90 heifer replacements are reared, mostly targeted with sexed semen along with some other Friesian stores. “Every other animal will get an angus bull. We’ve experimented with other breeds, but we find angus works well for us. They just seem to finish that little bit easier.” While the Carpenters beef business has the effect of minimising visits by the bobby trucks, it also provides a valuable revenue stream that balances the dairy payout. Always looking outside the box, Amber suggests that the growing demand for hemp, be that as fibre, food or some other product, might present an opportunity worth investigation. “It’s sitting in the keen to do basket, but we need to do a lot more research. That would provide further revenue diversification, and I would be not be surprised if we do it.” Chair of the Fonterra Co-operative Council and Councillor for Wairarapa John Stevenson says that sometimes there is a misconception around the role of the Co-operative Council. “We are not involved in a decision making capacity re decisions Fonterra makes. Rather we are here to represent Fonterra farmers to ensure their interests, needs, views and expectations are clearly represented to the Fonterra Board to help inform its decision-making. Our vision is that, through effective representation, farmers feel valued, heard and connected to their co-operative and have confidence in its enduring success.” John says that he has always had a real interest in what happens with his milk when it leaves the farm gate and that the council is an important way for farmers to be involved. “In a co-operative we are not just suppliers but also owners and investors and we need to have an active interest in Fonterra’s strategy and performance,” he says. “We’re seeing significant cost inflation and a lot more interest in what happens behind the farm gate. There is increased pressure for farmers to demonstrate the continued evolution of our farming practices. We are in the game of sales and we need to meet our customers’ demands but as we’re a co-operative it’s important that we can see the value from change and that we are supported by our co-op to change.” He says the annual letter of members’ expectations that council sends to the Fonterra Board has consistently reflected that members want their co-operative to prioritise milk price. Also that there is a lot of support for Fonterra’s focus on the provenance of New Zealand milk and for Fonterra investing sensibly in innovation. But there is more work to be done by Fonterra around what sustainability means in practice and what value that creates, he says. “There is positivity around Fonterra’s recent results and support for its strategy but there is some caution around investments and we want to see the co-operative deliver repeated good performance over time around earnings and dividend,” he adds. John balances his council role around actively managing two dairy farms with his wife Lisa. There is the family home farm just east of Carterton and a farm north of Masterton. Both have Ayrshire and Friesian mix herds totalling 1500 cows across both farms averaging 400-470kgsMS. Production sits at 650,000-670,000kgsMS total. The family also owns two support blocks totalling 660ha and leases a further 100ha, all within Wairarapa. The key driver for the family is efficiency, aiming for 1kgMS per kilogram of bodyweight. This will be achieved through a focus on improving genetics, calving spread and empty rates. The family has invested in in-shed milk metering systems so the production of animals can be monitored in real time enabling better decision -making. On both farm and council John says people are key: “We work really hard to be good employers and we’re lucky that we have a really great team on farm. Within council we have a diverse group of people and a good executive team that support us to carry out our role as representatives. We can only do what we do with good people around us.” He remains extremely positive about the future of dairy farming: “As food producers of a natural premium product I’m really confident about the dairy industry and where we’re heading in New Zealand. “There certainly are some challenges but I’m confident farmers will overcome them through efficiency and innovation.” The largest range of side by sides in the Wairarapa We service and repair all makes and models of ATV's, Side by Sides and Bikes. YOUR THREE SOLID CHOICES Sargent Motorcycles | 388 High St South, Carterton 5713 | sargentmotorcycles.nz
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