NZ Dairy Summer 2020

| 57 nz dairy ELECTRICAL KING 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE www.kingelectrical.co.nz MATAMATA Phone: 07 888 7578 TIRAU Phone: 07 883 1130 mail@cooperaitken.co.nz | www.cooperaitken.co.nz HELPING BUSINESSES THRIVE FOR OVER 100 YEARS MORRINSVILLE THAMES MATAMATA 07 889 7153 07 888 8002 07 868 9945 Work with a team who can help your business thrive! Vaughan Laurent 027 228 8450 Livestock, Groundspreading & General Rural Transport ON FARM » Matthew & Carolyn Zonderop M atthew Zonderop and his wife Carolyn have been on their current dairy farm in the Waikato for the last five seasons. Although Caroline grew up on a sheep and beef farm, Matthew describes himself as a career changer. Having left New Zealand when he was 18 to spread his wings overseas Matthew travelled and worked on fishing trawlers and oil rig supply ships all around the world. He made the transition from the North Sea and systems IT administration fifteen years ago, and he’s been sharemilking for nine. They milk 410 Kiwi cross cows on 150 hectares of flat to rolling country in Te Poi, Waikato, of which 140 hectares is the milking platform farm. “It’s a system-2 farm in the old Dairy NZ scheme of things,”explains Matthew. ”We don’t import any feed whatsoever – it’s all grown on farm so we do maize and turnips and grass sile- age,” They aim for 1000kg’s of milk solids per hectare, weather dependent, and until six or seven years ago the weather did dependably deliver enough rain in mid-January to mean the farm was considered summer safe. “But it’s now a different story” says Matthew. “There seems to be corridors of area that don’t get rain. We’re lucky that we’ll get a good dosing of rain but people five to seven kilometres away from us won’t get anything!” While 1000kg’s per hectare is considered pretty good for a system like their’s according to Matthew, it’s a system he likes working with, not least because of what it offers to younger staff members. “It’s very good grounding for staff who need to learn about pasture management instead of just pulling the cord in the shed with in-shed feeding.” The additional feed they grow on farm was ex- pected in previous years to be an additional boost to milk production whereas in more recent years it has instead simply been what’s enabled them to keep milking through the dry period. While they clearly manage it still takes its toll according to Matthew. “If anything it’s more the psychological thing really of knowing that all the work you’ve put in to spring to get through to the summer can be un- done within a month of no rain and Nor’westerly winds that dry us out to a crisp and there’s nothing left on the farm. That makes it hard going after that.” Nevertheless, it’s still not enough to dampen Matthew’s enthusiasm for what he’s doing. “I wouldn’t change it. It’s very fulfilling, every day’s a challenge on the farm. We’ve been on the farm five years but there’s always a new aspect, always something new we can implement that will make our lives better and improve the farm.” Having joined Federated Farmers a few years ago because he liked what he saw they were do- ing for the agricultural industry, Matthew was then elected as the sharemilkers rep for the Matamata district. “There’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff you don’t necessarily see or even hear about. As well as all the lobbying they do to the government there’s the advocacy and helping people through stressful situations. I’m happy to do my bit for the ‘Career changer’ now dedicated sharemilker Virginia Wright sharemilking side of things, too. “We’re a big part of the future of New Zealand dairy farming and we need to look after each other and we’ve got to look after the industry going forward.” On an individual level Matthew believes the most important thing for farmers, as with any industry, is to keep talking to each other and maintain your relationships, not just with the fam- ily but also your broader circle. “By yourself it can be pretty lonely, so keeping your relationships going with the banker, and the guy that fixes your tractor or the vet is what will help you be successful as a farmer but also as a person. Relationships are the cornerstone really.” Waikato sharemilker Matthew Zonderop has a diverse career history, including working on fishing trawlers and oil rig supply ships. He made the transition from the North Sea and systems IT administration fifteen years ago, and he’s been sharemilking for nine.