26 | nzdairy Dairy Trust provides Rachel Graham “These are all topical issues that the Dairy Trust Taranaki farms are looking at. For me and Brendon that was the goal to achieve that, and we’re pretty rapt about how it’s worked.” Graham Robinson has seen plenty of changes in the dairy industry over the last forty years, but despite the changes and challenges, he says it is still a great industry to be part of. Graham grew up on the farm but didn’t enter the dairy industry until he was 21, after a couple of years working in an engineering workshop. Following the death of his father Graham started helping on the family farm, looking after a herd of 80 cows. He then bought the herd and machinery and started his farming career going 50/50 sharemilking. Forty-four years later Graham now looks after 1210 cows across two properties in Inglewood. He says the changes he’s seen in the technology used are like a quantum leap, such as the Protrack System and All ex collars. “The All ex collars on the cows monitor the cows’ movements and ruminant function and that links with Protrack to identify all the cows that are cycling and ready to be mated,” says Graham. “It removes some of the thinking from the job. You don’t need to get people in to do that. You can just check on your phone any time of the day.” He says, while the technology is making things easier, the bureaucracy around farming is making it harder with more time taken up complying with Government regulations. Graham says his advice to younger farmers struggling with all the new requirements would be to not rush into anything and wait to see how effective new developments are. Graham Robinson (centre) with Junior Herd Manager Tyrone Piripi and his wife Tara. DAIRY PEOPLE » Gralyn Dairy Farms: Graham Robinson A project which can help farmers with that is the Dairy Trust Taranaki which Graham helped establish, along with Brendon Attrill, back in 2016. The Dairy Trust Taranaki brought together three research farms – the Stratford Demonstration Farm, the Waimate West Demonstration Farm and the Taranaki Agriculture Research Station. He says the Dairy Trust can highlight current issues for farmers and determine techniques which might be bene cial. Issues being looked at recently include a regenerative pasture trial, and a low/no carbon trial. “These are all topical issues that the Dairy Trust Taranaki farms are looking at. For me and Brendon that was the goal to achieve that, and we’re pretty rapt about how it’s worked.” Graham was the vice chair of the Trust for ve years but stepped aside last year. He says he’s very con dent about the Trust’s future. Graham Robinson says farming can be a hard lonely slog at times, and one thing that has helped get him through is his involvement with the Lions Club. A recent project Graham was involved in was the development, initiated by the Lions Club, of a minigolf course in Inglewood. Graham was elected the chair of the Inglewood Mini Golf Community Trust, which built the mini-golf course and now manages it. Graham says when they built the mini-golf course he never expected it to be so popular. The project was nished a year ago, and has had around 15 thousand people come out for a putt. Graham says it has been great to be involved in a social outlet like the Lions. B.J. Bishop Transport For Metal, Fert and Palm Kernel Contact: Barry Bishop Owner / Operator 1914 Mountain Road, Inglewood P. 06 756 7354 | M. 027 447 9232 39 Cutfield St, Inglewood 94 Broadway, Stratford 0800 662 6455 www.moamilking.co.nz Congratulations to Gralyn Dairy Farms on 40 years!
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