| 25 nzdairy Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award win Emma Bailey His stewardship of the environmentally sensitive Lake Ellesmere catchment and wider involvement in the industry saw Tony Dodunski win the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award at the New Zealand Dairy Awards. Tony wears many hats including being a founder of rural marketplace Ag Assist, a director of Southland’s Fortuna Group and overseeing a 140 hectare support block. This is alongside his farm Beaumaris Dairies which is located in the environmentally sensitive Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora catchment. Tony’s win was announced at the Annual Awards held in Rotorua on May 9. The judges cited Tony’s outstanding leadership in delivering responsible dairying outcomes on farm, while also making a significant and sustained contribution to the wider New Zealand dairy industry. Tony said he was pretty rapt with the win. “There were nominations from all over New Zealand, but it gets narrowed down to three finalists at the national awards. You spend the whole night crapping your daks until they finally announce the winner.” The Dodunski family purchased the property in 2017. It is in a culturally sensitive zone with the main concerns being phosphorus, Mahinga Kai species and habitats and heavy soils. Since taking over the farm a feed pad has been created and thousands of plantings. The farm spans 221.5 ha, with a 189 ha milking platform running 610 cows. “We knew what we were buying and knew the area and the environmental risks attached to the Tony’s win was announced at the Annual Awards held in Rotorua on May 9. DAIRY PEOPLE » Beaumaris Dairies Short Staffed on Farm? Visa ready international students for dairy farms here in New Zealand. Job ready, pre-trained in dairy farm operations. Full support to get you accredited as an employer. Accreditations/Visas: Gerard 021 770132 | gerard@alpinenz.co.nz Licenced Immigration Advisor 202100547 Recruitment: Kris 021 287 2044 | kris@alpinenz.co.nz Recognised & Respected in the Dairy Industry 03 325 4444 | admin@srvets.co.nz | www.srvets.co.nz We offer a full range of dairy herd services along with covering all your companion animal & lifestyle block needs Proud to support Beaumaris Dairies property. Sediment and the overland flow was the biggest risk of the farm.” “At the lowest point of the farm it ends up with an 11 ha wetland. “Every year we establish around two kilometres of native plantings. Much of the earlier work was dominated by Carex secta to stabilise the wetland margins, but as those areas reach canopy closure we’re now introducing a greater diversity of native species.” He does grid soil testing to better target nutrient applications across the farm. He has also upgraded the farm’s effluent system and invested in solar power as part of a broader focus on improving both environmental and farm performance. “It’s been a good season, spring was slow and autumn was dry which was great for the farm.” His stewardship approach to farming was impressed upon him growing up on a farm in Southland with his family. “It was definitely the family way, trying to be forward thinking, not waiting for regulation. The best time to plant a tree was yesterday and things like that.” He is mindful of balancing the financial side of the operation with the environmental aspects. “You have to be profitable to be sustainable; you have to be in the black to be green.” He has a farm manager Jonty at Beaumaris Dairies, 2IC Anna and herd manager Govind for the 610 cows and Tony lives off farm. His 140 ha support block is managed by Kevin. He’s a busy man having set up the website Ag Assist during Covid “Ag Assist was established during Covid to help farmers solve workforce challenges. Today it is a rural platform connecting farm businesses with workers, agricultural services and equipment, while continuing to develop new technology for the sector.” He is also a director for the Fortuna group in Southland which operates 24 dairy farms and six supporting farms.
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