NZ Dairy Summer 2020

52 | nz dairy Proud to be Associated with John Atkinson Tractors & Machinery P 07 349 6528 • F 07 349 6584 • M 021 891 058 • E sales@truckandtractor.co.nz PH: 021 148 0322 | bluffcountry.co.nz | karl@bluffcountry.co.nz | like us on • Round & Square Baling • Loaderwagon Silage • Fertiliser Spreading • Earthworks & Development • Cultivation & Seed Drilling • Rock Crushing & Stabilising • Vegetation Mulching • Hedgemulching • Feed Supplies • Transport Your local supplier of quality agricultural services throughout the Rotorua region Proud to work with John Atkinson Feel free to call in, visit our shop and discuss any requirements you have in regards to your dairy shed. DeLavalServiceandSupport milking solutions Ph 07 348 3628 19 White Street, Rotorua www.abcmilkingsolutions.co.nz ON FARM » John & Susan Atkinson J ohn and Susan Atkinson own a farm in Waikite Valley, between Rotorua and Taupo, and have been on the property 21 years. At this stage in their farming journey they are facing some big decisions including selling the property, given none of their combined nine children are now pursuing dairy careers. The valley is 80-90% dairy and going back in history the area was mainly ballot farms, provided to those seeking a life on the land following the war. “These were tough areas to farm in, marginal land that needed a lot of work done to improve them to a point where they became viable busi- nesses,” says John. John’s first farm was also in a ballot farm area – Galatea. His dairying career was enabled by the sharemilking system. Despite his parents not being farmers, or being in a position to assist financially, he was always interested in farming. He completed a degree in agricultural science at Lincoln and had a short stint as a farm advisor. He quickly felt he would rather be working on a farm, so began as a farm worker, then came ‘up through the sharemilk- ing ladder’, and bought a farm with his first wife in 1989. Having sold the Galatea property, purchasing another farm in 1999 was challenging equity wise. After some jockeying with banks John and new partner Susan finally moved to Waikite Valley in 1999. Fortunately land prices rocketed shortly after. “It meant we gained valuable equity in a short space of time. Then after four years on the farm PHOTOS: A sight to behold: John and Susan Atkinson’s farm in Waikite Valley. With retirement looming, and none of the family pursuing dairy careers, the couple are contemplating selling the property. The hard yards done ... retirement beckons Sue Russell the bank lent us the whole amount to buy the farm next door. Banks seemed to encourage farming for capital gain in those days. Now, prudently, there is more emphasis on return on investment.” Having grown from an original 80 hectares and 200 cows the farming business evolved and grew to 400 cows with two small cow sheds. The couple then decided to sell 60 hectares of the steeper country to reduce debt and have capital to upgrade one of the cow-sheds, and their home. Today, the farm is 110ha effective (has 6ha in pine trees) and the herd is milked through one 35-aside herring- bone shed. “We kept the best part of the farm and threw a lot of inputs in the following years including a tonne a cow of PK. We managed to produce as much on the 110ha as had been produced on the original 170ha. Then after three years of disappoint- ment with the quality of grazing for young stock, we bought a run-off down the road,” says John. Acknowledging runoffs aren’t always economically viable, John says it did enable him to ensure the young stock for the farm was well grown, that there was wintering for half the herd, and sufficient good quality supplement. In 2011 the couple put lower order share-milkers on the farm so John could be ‘out of the cowshed’, and it created opportunities for young farmers wanting to go up the ladder as John had done. Su- san’s son spent eight years on the farm as a lower order and 50:50 sharemilker before returning to an electrical career. Neighbouring farmers are now interested in buying the farm but John thinks he and Susan will put the farm up for tender. “I have always said to Susan that if a young guy has done the hard yards like I did I would let him have a fighting chance at securing the farm.” Production per hectare is between 1300 and 1400 per ha, and the lay of the land is a 45 % flat, 45% rolling with 8 hectares steeper. The couple’s home sits above the farm on a separate block, and John says looking down over the farm is a sight to behold. With retirement looming in the near future, the couple plan to retire to their beach home at Ohope.