| 77 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Tessa & Brendan Hopson Like farming in a whole new world There was no infrastructure damage from the cyclone, but because of the amount of flooding and the time it was on the paddocks there was some pasture damage. Russell Fredric Despite their experience and achievements, the past season has been like farming in a whole new world for Brendan and Tessa Hopson. Used to dealing with summer dry in the Paeroa region, plus putting Cyclone Gabrielle into the mix, it has been like farming a different season in a different province, Tessa says. “This whole summer hasn’t even been normal; even now we’ve got green grass out in the paddock. “I guess we’re a bit nervous going into winter and how much rain we might actually get between now and then and over winter because that would be pretty hard. If it’s back to normal we would probably look back on this in 10 years and wonder how we got through it really; we’ve had such a wet summer.” “It’s a different set of challenges compared to no rain.” Because it is like farming in a different system, the challenges are not only physical as the effect of the weather is also mentally challenging. Adding further complexity, it is the first season Brendan and Tessa are sharemilking on the generational farm owned by Tessa’s parents Stuart and Kaaren Davey. The 214 hectare farm peak milks 630 Kiwicross cow through a 50 bale rotary shed. It is supported by a 60 hectare run-off on a farm where Brendan and Tessa were previously equity partners and lower order sharemilkers for five seasons. They were the 2020 Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards Share Farmer of the Year winners and employ three staff on the farm. The milking shed has automatic cup removers, teat spray, in-shed feed and Protrack automatic drafting in combination with Allflex cow collars. “It was a time for us to step up and go a bit bigger and we had the opportunity to keep part of the previous place as a run-off, so it all slotted into place.” There was no infrastructure damage from the cyclone, but because of the amount of flooding and the time it was on the paddocks there was some pasture damage. This necessitated a significant amount of regrassing and under-sowing on both the dairy platform and the run-off. Brendan and Tessa made the call to go to once a day milking immediately before the cyclone. Half of the herd comprised their own cows brought from the previous farm while half, which were a perfect fit, were purchased from a farm in the Matamata/Tirau area. Despite the difficult season, Brendan and Tessa are pleased with the cow’s performance, while having the collars fitted has been another boost. This season’s production is up 27% on the previous season when the farm carried 650 cows. This striking increase is the result of a more condensed and earlier calving period and more feed being available, as well as having corn gluten pellets available in the in-shed feed. Not surprisingly, they are “real happy for our first season here”. “The herd we bought, their production would have been a bit higher than the herd we already had as well.” “I guess we’re a bit nervous going into winter and how much rain we might actually get between now and then and over winter because that would be pretty hard. If it’s back to normal we would probably look back on this in 10 years and wonder how we got through it really; we’ve had such a wet summer.” PROUD SUPPLIER TO TESSA & BRENDAN HOPSON PAEROA egional ransport 2020 td REGIONAL TRANSPORT • LIVESTOCK CARTAGE 021790296 rtlstock@gmail.com JONO TESSELAAR | PH 07 884 7974 | 0800 956 106 • Maize Planting & Harvesting • Loaderwagon Silage • Baleage - Rounds & Squares • Cartage • Cultivation • Hedgecutting • Spraying • Crop Planting
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