NZ Dairy Summer 2020

| 3 nz dairy BAY DIGGERS LTD Craig and Deanna Brown 148 Hallett Road, RD2, Otakiri WHAKATANE 3192 EARTH MOVING AND TREE FELLING info@baydiggers.co.nz 07 304 8494 or 021 167 1077 - Farm drainage - Trenching - Metal / pumice supply - Tree Felling - Maize & Silage Stacks - OWNER/OPERATOR - 13 TON DIGGER Budge ti ng and Forecas ti ng Tax Planning Equity Partnerships Company Restructures Succession Planning Financial Accounts GOLD PARTNER FARMit Accountants are proud to be associated with Bridie Virbickas (07) 307 7245 team@farmit.net.nz www.farmit.net.nz HARDWORKING GOOD BUGGERS NUTRIENT | EFFLUENT | CONTAINMENT 0800 ARCHWAY | WWW.ARCHWAY.CO.NZ DAIRY PEOPLE » Bridie Virbickas Through the ups and downs, Bridie keeps smiling Sue Russell T hrough some recent ‘tough’ times Bay of Plenty dairy farmer Bridie Virbickas has experienced the ongoing support of parents Bernard and Linda. “I remember when I asked my parents if I could have a go managing the then 270 cow farm Mum was initially reluctant but Dad said I should give it a go and I’m now in my fifth season. “Through the ups and downs, it has been a very worthwhile experience and I’ve really appreciated their support of my farming goals.” Bridie loves farming and though she has spent her fair share of time engaged in its academic pursuit, acquiring a degree in Agricultural Science from Massey University. “I am involved in lots of different things, continu- ally learning or getting involved to try to make a dif- ference to our industry. At the moment I am doing the Fonterra Governance Development Programme,” says Bridie. Her years working for Ballance Agri-Nutrients culminating as team leader for the North Island sustainability team provided her with invaluable background and appreciation for the importance of approaching farming with an understanding that care of her herd, the environment and the sustainability of her farming business are all equally important. Bridie now contract milks on two of her parents’ three farms. “I started mid-season when I first started manag- ing 270 cows sole charge five years ago. It allowed me time to decide if farming was right for me.” Today, she is in her third season on these farms, carrying 660 cows, while her sister and brother- in-law have 900 cows on the home-farm five kilometres away. For the first two seasons of contract milking Bridie inherited a manager and a farm assistant her parents had employed for the farm next door. She felt this season, with a change in staff she wanted to use the opportunity to restructure. “I decided I wanted to have a bit more input next door so put a 2IC down there.” Having two sheds was quite stressful when experience of staff is a bit on the lighter side and Bridie found herself having to be all over everything without sufficient time to teach staff how to do different tasks. “So I was in the position where I had to be doing a lot of the work.” When the farm assistant, who was visiting the country on a working visa said he was leaving at the end of October, Bridie used this shift in staff to make necessary changes to improve the overall working of the farm and to take some pressure off herself. Other developments which are going to make a huge difference to how the farm operates have just recently happened, with the addition of a new future-proofed feed pad and effluent system. The feed pad can accommodate 600 cows and has a GEA flood wash system. “It’s amazing and keeps the feed pad really clean.” The new effluent system consists of a Kliptank, slope screen solid separator and a reticulated green water flood wash. Because of the drought last summer, the home- farm didn’t have the feed to carry the autumn calvers and Bridie found herself winter milking this season. “It meant I didn’t get the break I normally would have and with COVID anyway I couldn’t do the trav- elling overseas I love, so it has been a tough time lately, but we’ve got through.” Aspiring also to give back to an industry she is so passionate about, Bridie is also involved in the local Federated Farmers as Bay of Plenty Sharemilker Chair. It’s an added responsibility, making herself avail- able to other share or contract milker’s who may need some-one to talk to about how their farming is going. Then to add to the busyness of her life, Bridie was nominated to be on Federated Farmers national executive. Asked about her future plans, one gets the impression that Bridie is just happy to have got through some recent challenging times and to enjoy the rewards that come from farming where she is, with her Jerseys that she loves. Taking each day in her stride she is rising to the challenges farming presents. And at the end of the day her philosophy is pretty simple: “I just love my cows and I kind of need people with me who love them too.” PHOTOS: Bridie Virbickas contract milks 600 Jersey cows on two of her parents’ three farms in the Bay of Plenty. A new feed pad and effluent system have helped future proof the business.