40 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Paul Franklin Paul Franklin’s enterprise milking 4,500 cows Paul and Rosie own and operate a substantial farming business which extends over three dairy units. Karen Phelps NZ Dairy has had the opportunity to speak on many occasions these past few years with Hawkes Bay dairy farmer Paul Franklin. This time, when contact’s made, he’s sitting on a Forage harvester chopping silage. Paul and Rosie own and operate a substantial farming business which extends over three dairy units, each with a manager overseeing the day-today tasks, a combined staff of over 30 farm assistants, along with several run-off/support blocks, enabling the enterprise milking 4,500 cows to tick over smoothly. Most recently two new farms have been bought into the fold, one right next door to an existing farm. “I bought that farm which extends over 170ha just over a year ago. Fortunately I had a little bit of surplus water and I invested in a new pivot irrigator as well as completely refenced it.” The other new farm at 100ha is just down the road. This second property was purchased in November last year. It has a centre pivot on it and will be used as a support block A business of this scale isn’t for the faint-hearted and for Paul, carrying a clear sense of purpose, an open disposition and a real feeling of care for the people, the animals and the land, underpins his substantial success. “I don’t take a thing for granted. Even though we are a big business in terms of scale and balance sheet, I know how important it is to keep my finger on the pulse when it comes to expenditure. Everything we do is scrutinised through the lens of being a financially prudent cost and bringing benefits to people, the land or our stock.” As Paul puts it ‘the day I don’t worry about spending $5,000 is the day I should get out of farming’. Each farm runs to the same farm management system making the conversations at monthly meetings when he sits down with the collective of farm managers a really productive space. A regular cycle of visits to each farm in the network keeps the team together in terms of the bigger picture. With highly competent managers and farm workers on board, some of whom have been working for Springhill Dairies a number of years, Proudly supporting Paul Franklin Contact Stu Davies 021 025 74676 fogartyspraying@gmail.com 06 374 9999 386 High Street, Dannevirke Dairy Supplies &Servicing, 24 hours - 7 days Milking Machine Sales & Service Water Pumps Water Filtration fromHousehold to Entire Farm StockWater Systems New& Servicing Engineering, Machining - Repairs, Manufacturing & Solutions Electrical - Commercial & Agricultural For all your dairy livestock requirements contact Brownie: Phone: 027 271 4722 Email: sandfly1@xtra.co.nz Proud to support Paul Franklin
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