80 | nzdairy Sue Russell DAIRY PEOPLE » Ryan Burton Ryan Burton and cow no. 88. A new feed-out wagon and stockyard on the new block has further added ef ciency. Major strides towards self-sufficiency PROUD TO SUPPORT RYAN BURTON HAURAKI PLAINS MOTORS LTD For all new and used farm machinery 1 Pipiroa Road, NGATEA Ph: 07 867 7021 E: admin@hpmotors.co.nz www.haurakiplainsmotors.co.nz Miles Shelley 027 227 1121 Michael Duffin 027 440 4681 Ryan Burton and partner Annalise Page operate a 180 ha dairy and beef grazing unit near Kopuatai in the North Island’s Hauraki Plains district. Along with the milking platform; the business also owns a 55 ha run off and a recently acquired a 72ha runoff, 20 ha’s of which is leased, enabling the operation to be entirely self-suf cient. “It was always our goal to become a closed system, growing all our crops and having room to winter-off the cows.” Today milk is produced from a 600 mainly Friesian X herd who now wear All ex collars in another move to gain ef ciencies and increase farm production outputs. “The collars have made a big difference. They automatically pick-up heat and automatically draft off cows accordingly. Information is sent to our computers and it certainly means a quicker milking time,” Ryan explains. One staff member has been on the farm now ve years. In all Ryan engages two full-time staff and a part-timer who takes care of calf rearing and relief milking at times. Each year, production has lifted and Ryan says there’s still plenty of potential to get more from the herd. “We lifted our production last season to 266,000kgMS and I think we could probably do another 20-30kgMS per cow. We’re concentrating on re ning our calving time as one way of achieving this outcome.”Chicory has been the stable crop grown now for several years, however just recently 5ha of maize is also added to the mix. When NZ Dairy spoke with Ryan early September calving was all but through with about 60 cows left to calve down. A new feed-out wagon and stockyard on the new block has further added ef ciency and houses on the farm have also been renovated. A new home on the 72ha runoff is currently in planning stage for Ryan’s father to live in. “We’re extending the irrigation and we did a new ef uent pond as well, so there has been a lot of expenditure and improvements which, in the long-term will add signi cantly to the business and future-proof it in terms of environmental compliances.”Ryan says growing heifers better and moving into a bit of beef rearing is further securing the business and creating additional income streams, utilising all parts of the farm’s footprint. “We currently have 60-80 beef animals and have done so just over the past two years. The farm has also been a monitor farm for the P3 ‘Progressive Plains’ farming group. Data on grass growth is analysed against other farms. Meetings are held regularly involving dad John, Ryan’s brother Alex, who is an electrician, and his wife Amy and Annalise. It’s the forum where major future developments and direction for the farming business are discussed and agreed. Ryan is building his equity in the farming business and is engaged as the contract milker. “Dad is still involved taking care of the dry stock and being part of strategic decisions.” It’s Ryan’s long-term plan to remain on the farm, gaining further equity to secure the future in a smooth, carefully thought-through succession plan. “This is de nitely where I intend to remain. I’m looking forward to seeing just how much production potential can be achieved here.”
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