| 51 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Merivale Farms / Kylie Evans of sustainability Taranaki dairy farmer Neville Ardern. Kylie and mum Celia on the quad loaded with sunflowers for the market. Stayingpositiveinhardseason Hauraki Plains dairy farmers Kylie Evans and Fran Walker are two proud rural woman who are putting a positive spin on what could have been a nightmare season, with two extreme weather events taking out 40% of their farm. Kylie and Fran count amongst a few local farmers whose farms were flooded twice in two weeks, first with the Auckland floods at the end of January, then Hurricane Gabrielle followed through soon after to take down what was shaping up to be a really great summer season. “The wet summer had the pasture looking beautiful, perhaps even the best I’ve ever seen for a summer on the plains, there was so much clover about,” Kylie says. “The flood took us by surprise. It was a big shift to go from feeding very little supplement to 80% of the cows’ diet in a very short space of time.” Thanks to a great growing summer, Kylie and Fran had extra grass silage on hand and got on to feeding the water damaged bales first. “It was quite a sight driving through the flood waters in the tractor retrieving them like bobbing apples as they floated about.” The couple had just received their herd pregnancy test results, achieving a 9% empty rate. It was an easy decision to de-stock and focus on feeding the incalf cows better. “We sent as many empty cows to the sales as we can, not only do they get to live on and continue to produce milk for someone else, we have found it to be more profitable. Young empty cows with good udders and good figures can fetch $150 to $200 more than at the meat works.” The whole family pitched together to get the farm back in shape, spraying out the weeds, drilling seed, rolling, fixing damaged fences and down trees, while continuing with the day to day feed management and milkings. “I am so grateful for the support of my parents,” Kylie says. “We are of the same minds and work together well, to see the farm business improve every year.” Some Hauraki Plains farmers escaped any flood damage. Where Kylie and Fran are, on the Miranda hills and Waitakaruru plains the excess water runs down the hills, through the hump and hollowed plains and out to sea. The canal at the back of the their farm is tidal, and with king tides coinciding with the flooding, the water couldn’t get away. Kylie says they could expect similar flooding events down their road for the next couple of years, as Council are awaiting consent to clean the silt out of the canal. “So we have taken steps to mitigate the flooding on our farm at our own cost, purchasing four new floodgates to reduce the tidal influence.” Kylie and Fran have still celebrated some wins this season, buying their first property together with a 60ha drystock block nearby. They have also started a small scale side hustle, a new flower farming business called Two Girls Farm, growing many different flowers and making bouquets for locals and covering event florals. They grew a paddock of sunflowers this season and hosted an open weekend, as well as offering private hire of the paddock for people to set up amongst the sunnies and even pick their own. “The public just loved them,” Kylie says. “Sunflowers bring such happiness. Their faces lit up and the events were a success, so we will do it again next year.” Farm Effluent Services P: Trevor de Malmanche on 0508 GET FES M: 021 964 150 A/H 07 873 8224 Effluent Spreading of Oxidation Ponds • We have over 2 kilometres of hose • We run high horse power pumps and WE HIRE: WATER PUMPS, STIRRERS, TRACTORS, TRANSPORTER needed CHARTER D ACCOUNTANT E P. 07 862 9090 www.hoogeveen.co.nz | office@hoogeveen.co.nz Specialists in Farm Accounting • Cashflow Budgeting • Fonterra Shareholding Advice • Farm Sale & Purchase Advice • Equity Partnerships • GST • Livestock Valuation Options • Income Equalisation Kelly Deeks As an experienced, reliable local electrician Brett Harris Electrical (2016) Ltd is skilled in electrical installations and repair services for dairy sheds as well as other commercial plants. Phone: 07 867 5196 Cell: 027 270 2804 Email: bhelectrical2016@gmail.com ELECTRICAL Brett Harris (2016) Ltd Servicing the Hauraki Plains area. 0800 80 66 66 wwww.hydraulink.com Proudly supporting Merivale Farms
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