90 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Waytemore Farm: Rick & Shirley-Ann Mannering Rick and Shirley-Ann Mannering are passionate about enhancing their farms’ environments, however they stress the only way to do this well is to do it sustainably, taking into account the financial realities of running a commercial farming business. They own two dairy farms and a sheep and beef operation within easy distance of the Hunua Ranges, south-east of Auckland. It’s a special environment, with large tracts of native bush and the couple have devoted years doing justice to the properties flora and fauna. This year, Shirley-Ann and Rick were the supreme winners in the Auckland Region Ballance Farm Environment Awards, something they were surprised to receive, given the quality and range of other finalists in the competition. The Mannering’s have been in the district since 1991, when they bought an existing sheep and beef farm, completing a conversion to dairying by June 1992. They then took over the Waytemore Farm in 2011 and today employ contract milkers on the Kauri Hiwi and Waytemore dairy farms, who engage their own staff. Located at Paparimu, their sheep, beef and dairy farm extends over 1455ha. It is three farm holdings, operated as one by Rick and ShirleyAnn. Of this footprint, 1177ha supports one dairy farm and their sheep and beef operation, while another nearby block of 277ha supports the other dairy farm. Stock includes 2100 Romney ewes with 500 replacements, 830 beef cattle and 860 predominently Frieisian dairy cows with 360 replacements. A focus these past five years has been to create a mostly closed farming model where dairy and beef support each other. Switching from Jersey bulls to low-birthweight Herefords on the dairy farms from 2014 was a commitment to reducing bobby calf numbers. Herefords are also used over the MA Cows after AI. This produces white-face Dairy Beef calves that are raised on the Sheep and Beef Farm. For evidence of their commitment to the environment Shirley-Ann and Rick employ a Farm Manager with a Bachelor of Parks and Recreation (Wildlife Management), a Farm Ranger, with an MSc Major in Conservation Biology, as well as a full-time fencer and a 2IC. “We wanted to ensure that our pest-control is effectively being managed as we have some magnificent indigenous forest remnants. Our focus is to continue the ongoing management of Profitable business Sue Russell Rick and Shirley-Ann Mannering were the supreme winners in the Auckland Region Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Many of the signi cant native forest blocks and waterways are fenced and include areas protected by QEII convenants. pests and predators, such as possums, rats, wild cats and mustelids, and we are seeing gains in terms of bird-life and health of the trees. It also means that as the largest farm in the area we are not a source of pests moving on to our neighbours’ properties,” says Shirley-Ann. The couple also want to engage and encourage neighbouring properties including many smaller life-style blocks nearby, in also doing their bit to bring down pest numbers on their patch. “That’s important to do because even if we got rid of all our pests, they would just move in from other properties, so it has to be a community effort to be effective long-term” Rick says. Many of the significant native forest blocks are fenced and include areas protected by QEII convenants. Waterways and wetlands also feature prominently in the landscape and to this end an emphasis is put on persistently fencing, as the budget allows. both Rick and Shirley-Ann acknowledge there’s still plenty of further restoration work and environmental care to dispense on the land. Judges noted that their efforts are definitely delivering positive environmental gain with forests thriving and the song of native birds a familiar sound. Rick and Shirley-Ann are achieving great things all while ensuring the farming operations remain viable. “I think that’s one of the tensions that exist especially at this time when there is so much emphasis on improving farm environments. It’s not possible to do anything if you’re not running a profitable farming business to start with, so we ensure the farms are also operating effectively. It’s a balancing thing,” says Shirley-Ann. As a couple they really enjoy the beauty of their farms and enjoy getting into the bush and special places. Along with taking the Supreme Award, Rick and Shirley-Ann also received four special awards The DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award; Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award; Massey University Innovation Award, and Auckland Council’s Water Quality Enhancement Award. Asked what prompted them to enter the prestigious awards, Shirley-Ann says it was suggested by a friend in the industry. “They just kept asking us until we decided to give it a go.” And the Mannerings have the perfect philosophy guiding their farming; practical in every way it needs to be. Rick sums it up: “There is not an end point to our work, there is simply a journey that goes on and on.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=