| 59 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Kylie Evans / Orcada Farm Refocus on long term strategy Passion only growing Karen Phelps Emma Bailey Fourth generation Waikato dairy farmer Kylie Evans says there is a noticeable lift in mood across the sector, with improved payouts, easing interest rates and favourable weather helping restore confidence on farm and in rural communities. Milking on the Hauraki Plains with wife Fran, Kylie says the past 12 months have allowed them to refocus on long term strategy after several tight seasons. “It feels like a number of things have lined up. When payout was down and interest rates were high it was about survival. Now we can actually get on the front foot again.” A key part of that strategy for Kylie and Fran continues to be the use of sexed semen. They first adopted the technology to accelerate genetic gain and increase the number of high quality heifer replacements from their best cows and the results have reinforced that decision. “Last year our conception rate for sexed semen was 70 percent, well above our 60 percent target and actually higher than our conventional straws,” Kylie says. “Because heifers are guaranteed we can put lower producing cows to beef semen, and beef calf returns have been strong. It has been a real win win.” Alongside breeding gains, the couple have invested heavily in environmental and infrastructure improvements. Native bush remnants on their runoff block have been fenced to protect native & regenerating trees, and around 200 shade trees have been planted across the dairy platform. “With the storms we have had in recent years, a lot more trees are coming down. It takes so long to grow a tree that can properly shade cows, so planting now is about thinking ahead. “We are not waiting decades for shade - we are planting a mix, combining quicker growing poplars After two decades Louise Errington’s passion for the dairy industry continues to grow, having started out on a farm at just 16, from where she has quickly progressed. Louise and her husband Keiren and their two children Lexie (14) and Cooper (12) are at Orcada Farm in KeriKeri, Northland. They have been sharemilkers there for four seasons now and Louise, 38, is also the Dairy Vice Chair for the Northland branch of Federated Farmers. Orcada Dairy Farm is has 300ha effective (milking platform). They milk 680 cows in a 54 bail Waikato Milking Systems rotary cowshed. It is a big operation overall with 55 ha grazing support block, 100ha of Pine trees, 100ha Native bush, 20 ha riparian planted natives and waterways and 20 ha of tracks, buildings and houses. Totalling a 600ha farm block It is a career she would highly recommend, especially to young people looking at entering the workforce. “We started out as farm assistants, and have worked our way up to being sharemilkers, over various sized farms over the years. “Our first contract milking job was on 300 cows and we did that for seven years by ourselves, then decided to take this opportunity to run this large farm,” Louise said Louise’s own start came at 16. “I had always spent school holidays working on my aunt and uncle’s dairy farm. To my aunt’s disgust (she joked) I left school at 16 and went farming.” and willows alongside oaks that are built to last’’ Effluent management has also been upgraded, including installation of a new solids bunker to strengthen compliance and future proof the system. “Even though the compliance push has eased slightly, sustainability is still front of mind for farmers. With better cashflow we are putting money into infrastructure and debt reduction alongside having more flexibility in how we spend.” Feed security remains another focus, with maize playing a key role in the system. On this farm, maize fits the shape of the block, with parts of the platform a long walk for cows, so cropping those areas over the summer helps reduce walking pressure. Yields on their clay soils typically sit between 20 to 23 tonnes per hectare. Lower than what can be achieved on peat soils. Kylie says undertaking much of the groundwork themselves keeps costs down. “What we lose in yield we save in doing the work ourselves. It makes it stack up.” “In reality storing maize in stacks wasn’t working. On the Hauraki Plains, where wet springs are a reality, flooding made it clear we needed a better solution.” She says The couple are now close to completing a new dedicated maize bunker to improve feed storage, and reduce risk heading into the spring. A lift in cashflow has allowed the couple to apply capital fertiliser, tackle deferred maintenance, and commit to an additional staff member. Alongside the dairy business, the couple have found a creative outlet through diversification.” A sunflower paddock and small cut flower venture supplying blooms to the local Four Square, something Kylie describes as a passion project. “The flowers we grow are resilient. If they get knocked by weather, we cut them back and they come again.” She says. “It is something we genuinely enjoy and works well alongside the dairy system” “Dairy farming can be physically demanding and relentless at times, so having something creative on the side is a nice contrast.” Having recently stepped back from her role as Hauraki Coromandel Sharemilkers Section Chair with Federated Farmers, Kylie remains vice chair and says sentiment among farmers has shifted markedly. “There is far more positivity. Farmers have been through tough years and now the extra cash is going into infrastructure and future proofing. People are being smarter and thinking long term.” For Kylie, that renewed confidence signals more than a good season. It reflects a dairy sector rebuilding strength, resilience, and pride in its future. Twenty- two years later she still loves it and has definitely noticed significant changes in the industry over her time. “The biggest change is the number of women in the industry now and the technology that is available now to help us run the farm more efficiently. I love the diversity of dairy farming and the problem solving aspect – you have to have a lot of ingenuity. “I currently employ a 19 year old girl who I am so incredibly proud of, she has come so far in the last five months here and it is inspirational seeing the progress and learning she has had. “We have also just had a 15 year old girl start doing work experience here over the holidays, who is absolutely loving her days on the farm.” “We have two staff members and my husband, without their support I couldn’t go out and achieve the things I do without them.” She became the Dairy Vice Chair for the Northland branch of Federated Farmers a year ago, a role she is relishing. “I wanted to be involved with helping the industry combat the problems we face with changing regulations and rules within local councils and national Government. “Federated Farmers do so much for the industry; they are the quiet achievers who are out there fighting changing rules that would greatly affect how we farm.” The role also saw her attend the PINZ (The New Zealand Primary Industries Summit) summit in Christchurch last year which covered topics like Succession planning, climate change, tariffs and carbon amongst others. “I came back really inspired. It was great being surrounded by like-minded individuals.” CHARTER D ACCOUNTANT E Specialists in Farm Accounting • Cashflow Budgeting • Fonterra Shareholding Advice • Farm Sale & Purchase Advice • Equity Partnerships • GST • Livestock Valuation Options • Income Equalisation www.hoogeveen.co.nz | office@hoogeveen.co.nz | 07 862 9090 Pleased to support Kylie Evans Proudly supporting Orcada Farm Waipapa 401 6654 Kawakawa 404 0842 Kerikeri 407 7354 Kaikohe 401 1536 MANGONUI HAULAGE Livestock - Logs - Ready Mix - General · Livestock · Bulk Cartage · Water · Readymix Concrete · General Cartage Kaitaia / Mangonui / Waipapa 09 406 0087 | mangonuihaulage.co.nz
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