102 | nzdairy ON FARM » Te Awa Land Co Te Awa Land Co supports families and the community Tracey Edwardes Brent and Hayley Schrider of Te Awa Land Co support families and community, as much as their own. The third-generation dairy farmer has owned two farms at Te Awa, near Temuka, for 13 years - with 200ha milking 750 crossbreed cows, and 255ha with 850 cows across the road. The combined 440ha effective joins another 300ha of owned and leased support runoffs. The 42-year-old was born and bred on his parent’s Taranaki dairy operation where his brother still farms. After Brent’s agri-commerce degree, and stint travelling and working for Ravensdown, he share-milked in Ashburton for a year. “We moved south as my wife, Hayley, is from Fairlie. Our familes helped us invest in developing this first farm, then two years later we converted the other block from sheep and bull beef. “We have recently offered Contract milking positions on each unit. One has been managing with us for 10 years, the other was with us 6 years ago, before returning last year. They are running their businesses well alongside ours and its always rewarding to help good people grow through the industry’s clear business pathways. Possibly the next step for these guys is 50/50 sharemilking, or becoming shareholders with us in other future opportunities. Brent looks after the support land including some cultivation, fertilising, admin, finance and compliances, and talks with the contract milkers everyday. Our part time handymen are also there to help with everything when the pressure comes on. “Hayley helps me out on the runs offs, native plantings, weed control, and rearing the calves - as do our three daughters. And nine-year-old Zackary is the keen future farmer of the family. My parents, still shareholders, gave us the opportunity to swing off their equity and still enjoy being involved in the strategy and growth of the business. As time moves on and the businesses position improves we will look to grow together. The farms run all their own young stock, and winter most of the cows. The two rotary sheds are 60-bale and a 44-bale, with automatic cup removers and auto drafting. “AI is used for the first five weeks, and sexed semen in the herd’s top 25%. For the bottom 25%, we use Wagyu beef straws with an arrangement with First Light Wagyu. The Wagyu calves are sold at seven-day-old, and we take some through to 95kgs. We are seeing good genetic gain from this strategy which will hopefully flow through to more milk from less cows. Target production is 775,000km/ms from 1600 cows. “We are spoilt with excellent local suppliers and services who we enjoy working alongside. The combined 440ha effective joins another 300ha of owned and leased support runoffs. www.pyegroup.co.nz KEN CAIRD SALES m 027 268 4299 k ken@pyegroup.co.nz JAYDEN WARNER OPERATIONS m 027 686 1173 k jayden@pyegroup.co.nz Baling | Chopping | Mowing | Feeds Sales | Beet Harvesting | Cultivation | Drilling | Cartage | Effluent Greg Bailey Colin Scannell 027 449 9062 (Stockfood) 027 297 7648 (Seed) We also enjoy offering sponsorship around the schools and various clubs in the community to give something back. After borrowing for development in the first four years, we’ve now consolidated into a steady state, focusing on farming efficiently to reduce debt and set up things up for options in the future.” “We’re considering water storage options at the moment, whether it be community or individual. And increasing areas of fixed grid and pivot irrigation. But right now we’re tweaking and tidying things, like improving effluent handling, staff accommodation, adding riparian planting and more efficient recycling – lots of small improvements make the farms more enjoyable for everyone.”
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