| 51 nzdairy Despite reducing cow numbers by 100 over the past decade, the 180-hectare milking platform has maintained production levels around 160,000 kilograms of milk solids from 420 crossbred cow. “The worms are actually breaking down the shit now,” says Megan. “So it now incorporates into the soil a lot faster and the land looks healthier.” Healthy soils are the foundation of thriving , resilient farms and food systems. Verdi helps farmers showcase and be rewarded for the positive work they do — improving soil, boosting biodiversity, and storing more carbon. By turning these improvements into recognised credits and claims, Verdi creates new income streams while honouring the legacy of stewardship that Kiwi farmers are proud to carry forward. Rewarding Good Farming, Growing Strong Futures www.verdi.nz Verdi — Connecting Ecology with the Economy. Local Experts in Weed Control & Landcare Servicing Rotorua, Bay of Plenty & Waikato • Forestry • Agriculture • Native Planting • Scrubcutting • Forest Data Collection 027 529 0696 | enquiries@goodsonspraying.co.nz | goodsonspraying.co.nz • from page 49 providing more nutritious crops for longer extending the milking period. Waionehu Farm has also dropped all synthetic fertilisers except for seven kilograms of nitrogen per hectare and essential trace elements. This has been due to developing an on-farm composting system using waste from two herd homes, woodchip, biochar and straw. Worming protocols have also been reduced by two-thirds through faecal sampling and egg count monitoring rather than blanket treatments. Megan says this approach has improved soil biology, as drench also kills worms in the soil, and cut animal health costs by $1,500 without affecting young stock growth rates. “The worms are actually breaking down the shit now,” says Megan. “So it now incorporates into the soil a lot faster and the land looks healthier.” Technology has played a role in the changes to the farm and the herd now wears Halter collars allowing precise cattle movement up to seven times daily. This technology enables better grazing management, reducing environmental impact and optimising nutrient distribution. “That’s been a huge game changer for the hill country, just being able to push the cows away easily from high fertility or wet areas,” says Shane. The system provides detailed rumination data, helping optimise transition cow management and achieve pre-cycling mating targets. Non-cycling cows receive targeted B12 and multi-mineral injections based on data insights. Despite reducing cow numbers by 100 over the past decade, the 180-hectare milking platform has maintained production levels around 160,000 kilograms of milk solids from 420 crossbred cows milked once daily, something Shane and Megan largely put down to their focus on multi-species pastures. Their brother Daniel is also involved in the farm and takes care of all the maintenance, fertiliser application and effluent systems. The family’s commitment to environmental stewardship includes participation in Project Rerewhakaaitu, of which Megan is treasurer. The project encompasses Lakes Okaro, Rerewhakaaitu, and Rotomahana, promoting nutrient management plans across catchments. Plans for their farm include retiring six hectares of pasture and establishing a willow and poplar nursery for on-farm woodchip production. “We need a lot more woodchip for composting on farm so it will provide a source of woodchip for that,” says Shane. The focus in the next two years is getting more species into all the pasture, putting a lot of seed on with the tow and fert and refining the system. “Our farming philosophy,” says Megan, “is about making sure every mouthful the cows take is as healthy and balanced as it can be.” DAIRY PEOPLE » Waionehu Farm
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