| 65 nzdairy Family matters most Taking a step back The 112 hectare farm in Gummies Bush, Southland. Russell Fredric Richard Loader Life lessons from our dairy diary’ could be the title of Robert and Cate Willis’ book – if they ever decided to write one. During the past decade they have experienced gains and losses, challenges and changes and are now herdless but debt free since sharemilkers Gregor and Lynne Ramsay became 50/50 sharemilkers on their 112 hectare farm in Gummies Bush, Southland. Like many other dairy farmers, Rob and Cate had to find a way to navigate through the circa $4.00 milk solids payouts of the 2014 to 2016 seasons, and subsequently moved to a lifestyle block near Invercargill in 2016 after taking on contract milkers. This move allowed Rob to pursue his dream towards becoming a St John paramedic, but late 2021 he was dismissed after choosing not to be Covid-19 vaccinated. Rob and Cate were able to freehold their farm after selling their herd ahead of the Ramsay’s starting their sharemilking position last season, but there were some tough moments when he and Gregor reviewed the low forecast payout and challenging economic conditions at the start of the season. Rob also experienced a sense of loss over the sale of their top-performing herd in which he had decades of genetic gain invested. DAIRY PEOPLE » Robert and Cate Willis / Steve Ireland Steve has decided the time is right for he and Nina to take a step back. “We decided to liquidate our stock and release capital for us to look at other options externally from the farm,” Rob says. “Many years ago we thought that by the time I was in my mid-forties that was something we wanted.” In 2020 the Willis’ were a finalist in the 2020 Ballance Farm Environment Awards, having made considerable environmental improvements on the farm. They also lease a 120 hectare support block from Rob’s parents for grazing young stock. With an inherent propensity for working and a fairly blank calendar, Rob took on a role June 2023 as an overseer, working with the owner of an overseas-owned multiple dairy farm operation. Despite enjoying this, after 12 months he realised he was as busy as ever and, reflecting on what really mattered to himself and Cate, he resigned. “The whole idea of stepping back from dairy farming and liquidating the herd was to step back and say I’ve got time on my side a wee bit more and what can we do as a family. “I got myself so busy that I was still looking after the support block and overseeing seven dairy farms, four support blocks and 24 staff, reproduction, pasture management, everything. It was a rather large role. “I felt coming back to our own business and having more time to enjoy the family was really the plan.” Rob and Cate have two children, Luca, 15, and Isabella 20. Along with Rob being able to attend all his sons football games and even play himself, the couple have more time to socialise and are considering how they might be able to use their experience in helping and mentoring others, which potentially includes members of their church family. The support block winters 330 cows and grazes 90 calves and 90 yearlings under contract to the Ramsay’s, along with the Willis’ grazing 60 beef cattle. They are currently considering the possibility of purchasing the block which will provide ongoing income options as well as allowing Rob to still be hands-on without the early milking starts. “It’s reinventing myself in a way that I enjoy what I do, and I’ll just keep doing that until the day I die.” This year, under the mantle of the Contract Milker the farm will milk 450 cows, budgeting to do 225,000kgMS. “We are around 80% Jersey and 20% kiwi cross. We have a high genetic herd and supply a lot of bulls to the industry, and wanted to maintain that. Having a contract milker come on and milking our cows with us still having the genetics allows us to achieve that.” The Contract Milker is Philip and Julia Harrison. Philip had previously worked for Steve and Nina as 2IC three years ago, leaving to take a contract milking role in the Waikato. “When we were thinking about bringing a Contract Milker on we contacted Philip as we knew he was looking for a bigger Contract Milking position. Philip has also employed one of his brothers as 2IC and they are both just as keen on cow genetics as I am. That was a real advantage to us. They are so interested in recording, genetics, and motivated to keep the herd genetics going. John and Philip have twenty-seven of their own cows and do embryo work.” As part of the process, Steve and Nina employed a Farm Consultant, Heather Lawson from Living Land Consultants. “It was the first time we had used a farm consultant since our sharemilking days. But Heather was instrumental in putting the contract and legal work together and for us that was big part of going down the process, to ensure we were heading down the right track.” Robert: 027 439 5096 Email: rivertonfarmdrainage@xtra.co.nz 027 823 9446 slurrysolutionssouth@gmail.com • Muck spreading • Umbilical System • Full Baling service • Tip Trailers Ph: 03 684 8410 www.plunket-electrical.co.nz EcoSmart Plunket Electrical – Your one stop shop for all your electrical needs including Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Heating and Ventilation, Data and Security Member Electrical Contractors Association of NZ MASTER ELECTRICIANS Pleased to be involved with Steve Ireland Steve Ireland’s late mother always told him that when she and Steve’s Dad retired they had all these wonderful plans, but their health stepped in the way and the plans were like fine grains of sand in the ocean. Her advice was to do what you can while you can and young enough to enjoy them, and that is exactly what Steve and his wife Nina are going to do. Having made 58 orbits of the sun, SouthCanterbury dairy farmer Steve has decided the time is right for he and Nina to take a step back, and engage a Contract Milker, which they have done from the beginning of this season. The couple have farmed in coastal South Canterbury, just one farm from the ocean, since 2003 when they converted a dry block to dairy, adding a run-off a few years later that is used for calf rearing, heifers, bulls, and winter the cows. “We’re hands on active people on the farm and other things, which we enjoy, but we’re not getting any younger and it’s a lot to manage the two farms,” says Steve. “I’ve developed some off-farm interests including mountain biking and I have adventure motorbikes. Nina rides horses and has a group of friends that she rides with several days a week. Previously we’ve employed staff and not managers, so this move was about being able to step back a little bit and enjoy those things. We will still manage the dry stock farm and rear all the calves, because that is where our passion is.” Steve Ireland: 021 214 1613 | lynbrook13@hotmail.com LYNBROOKFARM SUSTAINABLE JERSEY EFFICIENCY
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