92 | nzdairy Farming demands met by Reymer While some paddocks struggled with dry conditions, other soil types performed better earlier in the season. Kelly Deeks Waikato dairy farmers rely heavily on skilled contractors to help manage crops and feed production, and for Reymer Ag Contracting the job rarely slows down, even when the season throws up challenges. The Pirongia based family business provides a range of agricultural services across the Western Waikato, including spraying, crop establishment, baling, precision harvesting, and feed management. Working within a roughly 40 km radius, the company supports dairy farmers through every stage of the cropping cycle, from seed to feed. Owner Chris Reymer says the past season again showed how quickly conditions can change across the region. “Last year was pretty dry overall,” he says. “The work was still there but the volumes of silage made locally just were not really there. A lot of feed had to be brought in from outside the district, from places like the Coromandel and South Auckland, because yields were down in some areas.” While some paddocks struggled with dry conditions, other soil types performed better earlier in the season. “On some of the traditionally wetter ground like peat soils, things were actually pretty good early on because it was so dry,” he says. Spring conditions also created challenges for crop establishment, with a very wet lead in to spring delaying planting in some areas. Some chicory crops were affected by cutworm damage. “It normally becomes apparent in the first four weeks after planting, but by the time you realise how much damage they have done it can be worse than you think,” Chris says. DAIRY SERVICES » Reymer Ag Contracting Ltd In some cases farmers had to spray affected paddocks out and start again. “You have to be really on the ball, checking crops in the early stages.” Despite the setbacks, later conditions proved favourable for some crops. “With the way the weather turned out, some of those replanted crops actually came away really well,” he says. Grass growth has remained strong, keeping contractors busy well into the silage season. “There has been plenty of grass around and we had the balers out every day right through to March.” Flooding along the Waipa River near Pirongia washed away some maize crops and damaged roads and bridges, keeping local contractors busy with diggers, tractors, trucks, and trailers helping clean things up, before getting into another busy maize harvesting period. “We always try to get the maize harvested before April if we can, before the wetter weather usually sets in,” Chris says. Feed demand has remained steady as dairy farmers respond to improved milk price forecasts. “There is plenty of feed around but people are still buying because the payout is looking good.” Like many contractors, rising fuel costs remain a key concern. “When you have machines using 50 to 120 litres an hour, and you can go through three or four thousand litres in a day, fuel becomes a huge part of the cost,” Chris says. After experiencing sharp price increases in 2021, the company now includes fuel clauses in its contracts to allow renegotiation if prices rise significantly. “It was a big learning curve for us, and now we make sure we have something in place to manage that risk.” Reymer Ag Contracting is proudly supported by Waikato Tractors. Hamilton 07 843 7237 • Otorohanga 07 873 6221 waikatotractors.co.nz @waikatotractors Offices in Otorohanga, Te Awamutu & Taumarunui info@baileyingham.co.nz | www.baileyingham.co.nz PHONE: 07 873 7325 | FREEPHONE: 0800 482 928 Quality Service to Farmers & Businesses Bailey Ingham Ltd is proud to be associated with Reymer Ag Contracting Ltd
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