| 37 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Jaden and Carey Gray Farming for the future at Maihihi An entire gully on the farm has been retired and planted out with close to 5000 natives. Inset: Jaden with the farm team. Kim Newth Jaden and Carey Gray, along with their four children, aged 5, 8, 10, and 11 years, are proud to be part of a family farm story that now encompasses four generations at Maihiihi, near Otorohanga. With a focus on ongoing improvement, the couple are taking good care of their land, stock and people. Jaden’s grandfather Jim Disher was the first generation in the family to go dairy farming in Maihiihi’s rolling hill country. His original block is still part of the family farm today. Jaden’s parents Brian and Michelle Gray took over Jim’s block and more land was acquired through the years to achieve today’s current farm area of 171ha (165ha effective). Succession for Jaden and his family has been achieved through many years of hard work. Jaden grew up on the home farm and, on leaving school, followed his parents advice to do something different: he chose to train and work as a motorcycle mechanic before returning to farming. “In my first season, I went sharemilking with another young guy,” says Jaden. “We each owned 250 cows and I leased another 250 cows off my parents, so we were sharemilking 750 cows on the home farm and a neighbouring farm too. “Then once Carey and I were married, we wanted to go out on our own. We sharemilked for 12 years, built up the stock numbers and leased stock out, built small herds and sold them, all to try and get ahead. We definitely put in the hard yards to get to where we are now.” The couple have owned the family farm for six seasons now. Carey, who also grew up on a farm in the Waikato region, takes care of all their paperwork, health and safety, HR and fills in on the farm where needed. Their productive heard of 500 KiwiCross cows is milked through a 34-a-side herringbone shed, with the farm run as System 2-3. “We feed summer crops, chicory, and buy in a little maize. We’re happy with our production; last season, we did around 230,000kgMS. We do twice a day milking as long as possible, weather permitting. Through winter, our goal is to feed the cows well. We don’t do autumn calving – it takes pressure off the staff as well as the cows.” This season is their first using sexed semen to seek further genetic improvement in their good cows. “We’re always looking at how we can improve.” Jaden and Carey enjoy taking part in local farm discussion groups, run by DairyNZ. Their local group is well-supported and attracts other young farming families. Last spring, they hosted a session covering topics like summer crops and mating. They are also involved with a local planting group and work hard to enhance their farm environment. “Around four years ago I retired a whole gully area and we’ve since planted it all out with close to 5000 natives and put in a couple of ponds. We plan to keep chipping away at different areas on the farm over the long term. This season we’re putting in another 2000 plants.” Supporting the couple on farm are a 2IC and a farm assistant. “We try to give a good work-life balance in the way we operate the farm and work together as a team to reach quality results.” OTOROHANGA 9 Wahanui Crescent | 07 873 7089 OPENING HOURS: Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm Sat 9am to Midday 24 / 7 EMERGENCY - PHONE 0800 843 838 Sam 027 540 1754 Nathan 0275 421 155 hallandwilson@gmail.com Specialising in Grass and Maize , Forage Harvesting, Round Bale silage, Pasture renovation and renewal and Crop Cultivation. Grass, Maize andWhole Crop Silage Specialists Meat work processing plants www.actionelectrical.co.nz We provide professional quality advice and friendly service to dairy, drystock, forestry, horticulture and rural businesses throughout New Zealand. Bailey Ingham are proud to support Jaden and Carey Gray 18 Maniapoto Street Otorohanga 07 873 7325 41 Bank Street Te Awamutu 07 870 1888 | 29 Hakiaha Street Taumarunui 07 895 7315 info@baileyingham.co.nz | www.baileyingham.co.nz
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