NZ Dairy Spring 2021

| 9 nz dairy ‘really positive’ DAIRY PEOPLE » Geoff Kane Photos: Emptying the effluent from a herd home on Shannon farm (above). Geoff with a group of Fed farmers members he took biking through the Timber trail in March (below left). “Having a working partnership, including engage- ment with the wider community, is vital to ensure the project is successful in its own right before we see the environmental benefits begin to occur,” says Chair Keedwell. The Lake Horowhenua Trust has welcomed the deepening relationship and spirit of co-creation between Muaupoko, Horizons, the Horowhenua Dis- trict Council and the Ministry for the Environment. The Trust hopes to see the confirmed involvement of the Muaupoko Tribal Authority as the Iwi Authority over the lake catchment and Arawhata project area considering this as paramount to the success of the project. Geoff has also been an integral part of getting the project off the ground and it was an initial discus- sion with a council planning officer that led to the inception of the idea. “For me it’s really positive that this land will go to community good,” he says. But for now it’s business as usual as although Geoff has sold the farm he has an agreement to lease it back for two years to continue to run his dairy operation while planning for the wetland pro- ject takes place. It’s given him time to wind down his business in a way that is most beneficial as well as taken away many of the common stresses of farming in the meantime. Although Geoff and wife Cynthia had organised farm succession the project is evidence that well laid plans don’t always come to fruition. Fifteen years ago they thought he had things sussed with three farms and three sons who they thought would take over one day. But when one son decided farming wasn’t for him and another sadly passed away from cancer, Geoff’s succession plan had to suddenly change showing him clearly that farmers need to have flexible succession plans for when life throws curve balls at them. Now Geoff and Cynthia are equity partners in a farm in Dannevirke to help a young couple into farm ownership. They also have a 100ha total/70ha effective unit at Shannon milking 270 cows and are employed on a 100ha drystock farm at Horowhenua owned by the district council and used for filtering wastewater from Shannon township. The Kanes pay the council for grazing 250 young stock on the unit. Geoff grew up on a sheep and beef farm, did a diploma of agriculture at Massey University then worked his way up the dairy ladder. By 1975 he was 50:50 sharemilking and by the time he was 30 owned four farms. Winning the Young Farmer of the Year competition in 1981 helped him through the rough decade for farmers due to the contacts he made whose experience stood him in good stead to weather the tough times. That is why he is such an advocate of more experienced farmers mentoring newer people coming through the system and of young farmers developing good business relation- ships. Although ‘semi’ retired he remains an active part of the farming community involved with Rural Sup- port and on the executive of Manawatu/Rangitikei Federated Farmers. Geoff says he is looking forward to finally finding more time to enjoy their lifestyle block with a brand new home and their Lake Taupo holiday home, which until now has proved challeng- ing to get to. For all your agricultural and building requirements contact Gary The team at Davis Contracting Levin Ltd are proud to support Geoff Kane • Grass & Maize Silage • Round & Square Hay & Baleage • Cultivation • Cartage • Hedgecutting • Tube or Individual Wrapping • Fertiliser spreading • Cultivation • All bulk silage requirements • Round baling & wrapping • Bulk cartage • Square baling & wrapping • Hay - large rounds / large squares • Stockists of Hatuma Lime • Ravensdown consignment store with certified weigh bridge Agricultural Contractors - Levin Contact Garry 027 232 2380 Rowan 027 452 2562 Serving the Horowhenua since 1924 SERVICES OFFERED: “Having a working partnership, including engagement with the wider community, is vital to ensure the project is successful in its own right before we see the environmental benefits begin to occur.” For a quote, or to make an appointment with one of our legal team, get in touch P - 06 368 8886 A - 27 Queen Street, Levin E - office@toddwhitehouse.co.nz