38 | nzdairy Earnslaw team loving the organic journey Karen Phelps Farming organically is good business, according to Earnslaw farm manager Scott Kupa. Located in Reporoa Earnslaw milks 780-820 Kiwicross cows on a 340ha effective dairy platform with a 335ha attached support block. It is located on a complex, which also has 19 other dairy units which are both conventional and organic. The farm began organic certi cation in October 2016 and became organic fully certi ed in 2019. Earnslaw is one of eight organic dairy farms across Pamu and was one of the rst farms to start the journey to organics. Scott says the results across all four pillars of the business – environment, animals, people and nancials – have bene tted from conversion. For example, Earnslaw has had a greater than 30% reduction in nitrogen loss and GHG compared with conventional farms in the business (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide). Earnslaw’s herd condition score was the best out of 19 dairy units on the complex at the start of this season. Last season Earnslaw’s production was comparable to the conventional farms. Scott says there have been good reproduction averages for the organic group of farms on the complex with an average six week in calf rate of 68% and 10% empty rate. One of the other organic farms, May ower, had one of the best somatic cell counts, using no antibiotics, of any Pamu farm in New Zealand. Of the 19 farms in this Pamu group, Earnslaw had the second highest EBIT/ha last season. Scott says that the organic milk price is more stable and has averaged a premium above the conventional milk price of $1.70 more per kgMS over the last six years. But organic farming doesn’t come without its challenges. Scott says it requires more attention to detail to front foot issues and that means a greater reliance on brilliant staff. That’s why he is passionate about his people and developing his team. Scott oversees a team of four staff plus a couple of calf rearers. There is also a staff member who looks after the attached 335ha run off block along with the other organic runoff on the complex. Management board that Scott designed. Farm Manager Scott Kupa. DAIRY PEOPLE » Earnslaw 16 Miro Street Taupo office@mainlandeng.co.nz • Dairy shed milking plant and water systems • General engineering for the agricultural sector • Feeding systems for herringbone and rotary sheds AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Miers Contractors(1995) Ltd • Harvesting • Cultivation • Supplements for sale & supply • Undersowing (all pastures & crops) • Earth moving • Truck cartage • Balage & Hay • Effluent Management 198 Butcher Road, RD2, Reporoa P 07 333 8259 | Gordy 021 593 163 | Mark 021 948 472 | Reece 021 240 5090 E mierscontractors@farmside.co.nz TALK TO THE EXPERTS FOR FARMING SUPPORT FARM SERVICES HOMEOPATHIC farmservices.nz info@farmservices.nz 07 858 4233 @HomeopathicFarmServices These blocks are used for rearing young stock from Earnslaw and Pamu’s organic Moutua group in the Manawatu. “I’ve made a big push with my team to ensure everyone understands what we’re doing and is able to deliver it on the ground. Pamu is passionate about growing future leaders in the business and helping people to develop. For example, my production manager and assistant production manager were both staff that we promoted into these roles. This season we also have two new dairy assistants that have come from outside the dairy industry.” Scott says a good team that is happy to be there means he hasn’t struggled to nd staff. He prioritises his people and has good systems in place to support them to do their job, resulting in an engaged and motivated team. A key tool has been a management board he has devised. It’s important as organic farming is all about getting the basics right.“I can’t pull feed levers and order feed in, as other farms can. It has to meet certain criteria to be used in this system and it would be too expensive to buy in. So we have to be really good at what we do and need to manage the grass really well. We cut all our own silage off the dairy farm and run off.”Scott also appreciates the support that Pamu has offered him in his personal development, starting as a production manager and moving through the ranks to a large-scale organic farm management role. “That fact that Pamu allows me to farm in an environmentally friendly way is challenging, but equally rewarding.”
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