94 | nzdairy Rising costs a balancing act for builder Sue Russell Asked how business is going toward the end of the first quarter of 2023, Winton-based rural building and concrete contractor Baz Janssen says it’s been a very positive start. “It definitely hasn’t slowed down for us. The dairy sector in Southland is very buoyant and has been established long enough now that some dairy sheds and other infrastructure are due for replacement or upgrade.” And with winter grazing compliances bearing down on dairy farmers, some are even considering adding roofs to existing feed pads. As always though, Baz says the biggest consideration is the cost factor as plant of this nature isn’t cheap to build well. This takes time – conversations with the bank manager and planning – and for these reasons, Baz says council and the public need to exercise some patience as farmers grapple with the new off-paddock winter grazing regulations. “I think when it comes to the media farmers feel really frustrated about all the flack they get. My clients are top farmers who care about the environment and their stock but they also have to operate their farming business profitably because its profit that drives new farm development.” For those farmers in a situation to afford to get ahead of the regulations, Baz Janssen Building offers an end-to-end construction service. The company’s concrete plant is always busy, creating feed bunkers, effluent ponds, stand-off pads and milking shed infrastructure. Baz Janssen effluent system (top) and nearly completed feed pad. DAIRY SERVICES » Baz Janssen Building Balancing cost of feed with benefits to the environment to stand cows off over the wetter winter months can be a tricky process too. “I was talking with a farmer recently. They have wintering facilities and the cows are off-farm over winter and come home to calve on a pad, however while wintering cows off-farm costs about $45/kg, by the time they build the infrastructure and adding on cost of feed, takes wintering costs upward of $85/kg.” Likewise Baz says his own business is grappling with increasing and ongoing cost in materials which to some degree can be passed on to customers, but he stresses there’s a limit to how much he can pass on because projects run the risk of becoming just too expensive. “Cost of labour impacts on all our subbies as it does for me with our team of 15.” Finding more staff is problematical too. It’s a balancing act between needing experienced people to train-up entry-level staff. “I’ve been talking to schools, to SIT down here, and there just aren’t enough people attracted to work in this industry. I also think there are a percentage of people who just don’t have a decent work ethic to start with.” When NZ Dairy spoke with Baz he had two dairy shed projects underway; one project, adding another shed to a large farm to create two dairy herds to ease staffing shortages and, two, a new 60 bail Waikato plant not far from Winton, replacing an existing Herringbone shed. Baz also owns a dairy farm with a herd of 450 cows at Lochiel, run by a manager, 10 minutes from where he and the family live on 10 acres at Winton. It’s their third year on the plot of land. Apart from replacing or upgrading dairy sheds, Baz says there’s a lot of upgrading of effluent storage system happening. “Some farms are due to have their effluent consents renewed and this has prompted clients to improve and future-proof capacity.” • Turn key packages for complete design & build of shed • Hot-dip galvanised structural steel • Chain effluent scrapers • Full concrete placement • Full range of latex and rubber bedding • Stall dividers • Cow brushes Phone (03) 236-6077 or (027) 411-2805 53 Great North Road, Winton “Cow barn design and building specialists with 25,000 cows comfortably housed” Suppliers of: • Kitset Fabricated Structural Steel • Ready to bolt Together • Hot Dip Galvanised Finish • Meets all NZ Standards Advanced Dairy Darns Ltd have been building wintering barns since 2003. Recent demand has exceeded their ability to build, and the decision was made to supply kitset structural steel and materials direct to clients for their own builders like Baz Janssen to erect. This has resulted in ADB Ltd supplying shed material throughout New Zealand for commercial buildings, deer and dairy wintering sheds and even a church. Using their long-term relationship, they import the fabricated structures direct from the workshop of the steel mill producing the steel and have this transported direct to the building site in NZ. All structures are hot dip galvanised to a minimum 85-micron thickness. ADB Ltd.’s 20-year direct relationship with their supplier cuts out several middlemen resulting in a top-quality galvanised product at a very competitive price, particular on larger structures requiring bigger spans and heavier beams. Ensuring the highest quality of materials and workmanship has always been a priority for ADB. To ensure this all welders and materials are tested to NZ standards. Throughout the fabrication process internationally renowned 3rd party inspection company “SGS International” are contracted by ADB to carry out rigorous testing and inspections to ensure the highest quality at all stages. In addition to turnkey building packages ADB Ltd can also supply a full range of bedding, stall dividers, water troughs, cow brushes and effluent scrapers for Dairy Wintering sheds. STRUCTURAL STEEL KITSET SUPPLIES ReadyMix Concrete &Gravel Cell: 027 430 1012 Email: admin@mcgregorconcrete.co.nz Free phone 0800 225 850 • Phone plant 03 225 8503 MCGREGORS
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