NZ Dairy Summer 2020

64 | nz dairy Our relationship is where high performance dairy and accounting and we’re business advisers too. Talk to us about how we can help your farming enterprise succeed. Rob Seerden and NLA are a great match 196 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North 11 Ward Street, Dannevirke Servicing Hawke's Bay with locations in Waipukurau and Hastings 068588983 & 068783289 (06) 374 9999 Farm Supplies & Servicing 24/7 24 hours - 7 days 06 374 9999 386 High Street Dannevirke www.dannevirkedairy.co.nz • Sales & Service • Milking Systems • Machine Testing • Water Pumps • Effluent Systems • Water Schemes • In-Shed Feed System • Farming & Domestic Electrical • Sales & Service • Milking Systems • Machine Testing • Water Pumps • W ter Schemes • In-Shed Feed Systems • Farming & Dom sti El ctrical 24 hours - 7 days 06 374 9999 386 High Stree Dannevirk dannevirkedairy.co.nz ON FARM » Rob & Shiralee Seerden Awards network helps couple through tough times Russell Fredric F or a couple who shun the limelight, the process of entering the The Hawke’s Bay/ Wairarapa Dairy Industry Awards in 2017 was deeply challenging, but helped them make better use of industry connections. Rob and Shiralee Seerden’s discomfort was well rewarded having won both the regional and merit categories, accolades that have seen them make positive progress since but not without a few chal- lenges. Three years ago the couple, who have seven children home-schooled by Shiralee, had been 50:50 sharemilkers in Norsewood, having been on the farm for 10 years. They were ready to move, but when the payout plummeted were forced to stay and were in survival mode until the payout increased, Shiralee says. “The only way we got through that was we were (also) contract milking on a farm next door during that time; knowing how much money you were get- ting through, we were able to survive.” In June last year the couple moved to Tutira, north of Napier, motivated by the opportunity of a better family lifestyle with easier access to the coast and recreational facilities. They 50/50 sharemilk 260 predominantly friesian cows, milked on a 120ha platform. Last year’s total production was 100,000kgMS with 120,000 budgeted this season. Rob and Shiralee again took on another contract milking position. “Part of it is necessity, when we moved on to the farm it was a hard year, the grass didn’t grow the whole season, the farm needed a lot of work, it was a lot more work than the farm consultant and everyone thought and that comes at a cost.” This nearby position supports 550 cows on a 280ha effective milking platform with a 50 bail rotary shed with two employees. Shiralee says winning the Dairy Industry Awards has been a game-changer during the past three years, despite the qualifying process being ex- tremely difficult. “For Rob and myself it was horrible because we are not public speakers, but we did it out of neces- sity.” That necessity centred around the difficulty of gaining another position without paper qualifica- tions despite their practical experience and farm track record. “That’s where we figured the Dairy Industry Awards would help us and it did. We were then able to start turning down jobs.” A further result of the awards is that the Seerden’s are better connected to industry net- works, and advisors, along with the realisation that people were ready and willing to help. This has been extremely valuable in the face of challenges with drought and Theileriosis, a disease is caused by a blood-borne parasite. This season is shaping up to be “fantastic”, but • to page 65 PHOTOS: A regrassing policy last year has paid dividends for sharemilkers Rob and Shiralee Seerden with a first cut of silage in August of 30 hectares and a second at the end of September of 30 hectares put into baleage. The Seerden boys are willing helpers on the Tutira farm where 260 cows are milked on a 120ha platform.