38 | nzdairy Profitability and environment a fine balance Ange Davidson Focusing on a sustainable farming operation that balances profitability and environment stewardship with raising their four children earned Jacques and Vanessa Le Prou of Java Farm the Regional Supreme Award at last year’s Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The couple are guided by a clear vision that is based on analysing the business and setting environmental, business and family goals. “Every decision we make on the farm is looked at as a three-legged stool. Is it good for the farm, the finances and the family? If we can say yes to all of those things, it’s a goer,” says Vanessa. The Le Prous purchased two rundown dairy farms near the coast at Opunake in Taranaki 12 years ago and took on the challenge of combining them into a145-hectare sustainable DAIRY PEOPLE » Java Pastoral: Jaques & Vanessa Le Prou unit through focusing on breeding higher-quality cows and an extensive re-grassing programme that has boosted production. Much of the land was in 80-year-old pasture producing only 10 tonne of feed per hectare. To deal with the weeds, a four-year cropping regime was instigated using a maize and chicory rotation and lots of spraying to knock back weeds before going into permanent pasture. Through pasture renewal, the animals are fuelled by plentiful nutritious grass, enabled by modern effluent and water systems. Cow health and heat detection are monitored via collars, enabling the Le Prous to access real-time results anywhere there is internet access. The farm infrastructure also needed replacing which provided the opportunity to predict what they would need in 20 to 30 years in order to be to be low labour, low power operation and meet environmental pressures. “We try to use new technology wherever we can, and we’ve figured on a ten-year payback for our investments. “As we were building a brand new cow shed, we were able to incorporate the pipes for green water into the concrete. It would be more difficult to convert an existing shed,” believes Vanessa. “We now have storage for 75,000 litres of green water and a 25,000 litre tank just for washing the yards. “The cost and environmental savings are significant per cow per day and it justifies the extra cost of that technology,” she says. “People tend to look at environmental improvements as regulatory, and yes, you do have to meet them but we’ve found that they work in a complimentary way for the farm and for us 100 % of the time,” she says. Streams and wetlands have been fenced and riparian planting is in place with Jacques and Vannessa’s children actively involved in predator control and the monitoring of waterway biodiversity. The focus on family life is behind the decision to milk cows once a day from Christmas to June as this gives them time to do other jobs, watch kids sports and make the most of the nearby surf. “Research shows that the cows hold their condition and milk better which is good for when there’s a drought. The system saves us time, gives us flexibility, and works for both the cows and people,” says Vanessa. Java Farm also took home awards for Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management, Bayleys People in Primary Sector, DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship, Norwood Farming Efficiency, Rabobank Agri-Business Management and the Taranaki Regional Council Sustainability Award. Java Farm’s Jacques and Vanessa Le Prou and family. www.plusmore.co.nz “Jacques and Vanessa Le Prou have trusted us for over 10 years, and we've proudly supported their journey every step of the way. We're not just specialists in dairy farming – we're dairy farmers ourselves. We know first-hand the challenges you face day in and day out. That's why we're passionate about providing rural advisory and accounting services that cater specifically to the needs of dairy farmers like you.” Experts in Dairy Farming Advisory & Accounting From left: Paul Duynhoven, Glenys Schreiber, Chris Sole
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