NZ Dairy Spring 2021

| 41 nz dairy Karen Phelps DAIRY PEOPLE » Grant & Danielle Petterd G rant Petterd says that the 272ha farm he and wife Danielle are lower order sharemilkers on at Waimate North is an “evolving beast”. This is because it was recently sold to new own- ers Marsden Limited Partnership that have decided to convert part of the farm to a horticultural block to grow avocados and kiwifruit. The partnership has also purchased a 160ha block next door, which will be incorporated into the dairy platform. Some of the Marsden Limited Part- nership owners operate a similar successful dairy/ horticulture model on a farm in Opotiki. The Petterds are going to continue to be em- ployed in their current role on the Waimate North farm but would like to be involved in the horticulture aspect of the farm as well. They are excited about the possibilities to grow and diversify their knowledge. It’s led them to alter their goal of farm ownership seeing the potential to be involved in the larger Marsden Limited Partner- ship operation. The Petterds are in their fifth season on the farm and milk a herd of 640 friesian cross cows through a 40 bail rotary shed equipped with automatic cup removers, Protrack and in-shed feeding system. There is also an automatic calf feeder. They are in the process of moving from spring to autumn calving, which they say will help the farm to cope better with droughts when they hit. Their aim is to make the farm more self-suffi- cient by growing oats to increase silage, along with maize. The oats crop is followed up with a crop of oats, peas and sunflower to provide a higher protein feed for autumn cows. Their aim is to always feed the cows fully. They use a C-Dax pasture meter each week to monitor pasture growth. In their time on the farm Grant and Danielle have focused on fencing all the waterways including the Waiaruheiti Stream plus the large dams and ponds. A number of unproductive wet areas have also been retired and are now fenced off and work has already begun planting them into wetlands. They actively trap stoats and rats with possums the next target. In 2020 their efforts contributed to them winning the DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award and Massey University Innovation Award at the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust competition. Photos: Danielle and Grant Petterd with daughters Charlotte (4 months), Sarah (9) and Ruby (5). Grant and Sarah planting out wetlands. The Petterds like to think of themselves as JAFFAS who “saw the light”. Both originally from Auckland the city was no draw card for the pair who left the big smoke to start dairy farming. “I always wanted to go farming but was born and grew up in the wrong place,” says Grant. It helped that they had family farming in the Taranaki region and could first get experience helping out before making the big decision to change careers for good. Grant and Danielle are both fully involved on the farm. They have three daughters Sarah, 9, Ruby, 5 and Charlotte, four months. Last season the unit achieved 277,000 kgMS – a farm record – and are targeting 300,000 kgMS. “I always wanted to go farming but was born and grew up in the wrong place.” 160 Hariru Rd, Ohaeawai RD2 Kaikohe office@tractorthomas.co.nz 021 813 421 • Round & Square Hay and Silage • Cultivation, Cropping & Drilling • Maize Planting & Harvesting • Bulk Haulage • Conventional Hay • Weighbridge Services • Lime and Fert Spreading Ryan and the team at Ryan Thomas Ag Contracting are proud to support Grant and Danielle and congratulate them on their achievements. BAY OF ISLANDS VETERINARY SERVICES Proud to be supporting Grant and Danielle Petterd Kaikohe 401 1536 Kerikeri 407 7354 Waipapa 401 6654 Kawakawa 404 0842 POST PEELINGS | WOODCHIP | SAW DUST PALM KERNEL | FERTILISER DELIVERIES | SILO DELIVERIES Dairy, horticulture model an ‘evolving beast’