NZ Dairy Summer 2020

60 | nz dairy years 39 Where quality and service count For all your contracting requirements Phone 07 872 0000 www.johnaustinltd.co.nz ON FARM » Chris & Rachel Numan A n o ld David Brown 1390 tractor has become the inspiration for a new children’s book penned by Rachel Numan from Agvista Ltd, near Te Awamutu. The tractor, which was purchased for roadside mowing and spraying round the farm had become a firm favourite with Rachel and husband Chris’ children Jack, 3 and Oscar, 1. So while on mater- nity leave Rachel wrote her book and hired an il- lustrator to complete the visual side of the project. Tractor Dave is now available in select Paper Plus and independent bookstores nationwide and on Rachel’s website www.tractordavebooks.co.nz where she says the book is selling well. Rachel plans to write a series of books based on the character and 50 cents from every sale is donated to Meat the Need - helping Kiwi farmers feed Kiwi families in need. Rachel and Chris are farming in an equity partnership with Chris’ parents on a 193ha dairy unit in Te Awamutu. They milk 680 cows through a 50 bail rotary shed. Chris was brought up on his parents’ dairy farm located nearby and started working on the farm when he left school progressing to contract milk- ing the unit. They then took on a 50:50 sharemilk- ing position on the Te Awamutu farm and in their first year the owners decided to sell, providing Chris’ parents with an opportunity to buy the farm. Chris and Rachel initially continued sharemilk- ing and investment was made in buying in feed, soil fertility and growing more grass. This allowed them to increase herd numbers and by the third year production had increased from 229,000 kilograms of milk solids milking 600 cows to 293,000 kilograms of milk solids milking 680 cows. They are now achieving 330,000 kilograms of milk solids. They bought into the business as equity partners in 2018 and investment was made in stripping back the dairy shed to its shell and an entirely new platform with automatic cup remov- ers, teat sprayers, Protrack and a new yard. This has allowed them to reduce one labour unit and make the shed a one-person operation. It’s had benefits in terms of allowing the three full time staff more flexibility regarding time off and made the job easier. The couple aim to save money where possible to improve profit per hectare. Rachel, a qualified vet, performs a lot of these duties on the farm. She is also an accredited mastitis vet allowing her to be available in this capacity as demand arises to help other farmers. Chris, Rachel and the employees complete their own metrochecking, de-horning, race maintenance, tractor servicing and other jobs on the farm. “If we have the time and skills we’ll do it ourselves,” says Chris. “Saving in little areas really adds up over the whole farm.” Likewise they are not afraid to spend money if it will benefit the overall operation. They would Old tractor inspiration for popular new Karen Phelps rather buy in feed if the numbers stack up to keep cows milking longer and in better condition. “We try to create an efficient system in all areas. We’d rather be proactive than reactive,” says Chris. They say they are constantly looking at how they can improve the farm and this year will plant 700 trees as part of an on-going project over the last eight years along with fencing off waterways and wetlands. Farm ownership is the ultimate goal but they remain flexible about how they get there – wheth- er it be buying Chris’ parents out or investing in a grazing block or something else. “There are a lot of options. It just has to be the right time.” “If we have the time and skills we’ll do it ourselves. Saving in little areas really adds up over the whole farm.” PHOTOS: The old dairy shed was stripped back to its shell in 2018 and a new platform installed. An old David Brown tractor was the inspiration for a new childrens’ book penned by Rachel Numan. 50 cents from every sale is donated to Meat the Need – helping Kiwi farmers feed Kiwi families in need.