| 5 nzdairy RURAL PEOPLE » Ben Burmeister Charlie (above) and Josh Burmeister survey the damage to the Taranaki farm after ooding in September. Support network key for solo farming dad Richard Loader When Ben Burmeister became a solo dad in May last year, a number of adjustments had to be made to enable him to look after his three young sons every second week, while still looking after his Taranaki dairy farm. Ben says he has been extremely lucky to have had the support of his parents, a very good network of friends and the wider community. “I also have a pretty good worker, Jamie, who has been with me for a few years now. The week that I have the boys, Jamie does the heavy lifting, and I’m there when I can. “I’ve installed automatic cup removers to make it a one man shed. We still have two in the shed during calving but basically I only do a couple of milkings when it’s my week with the boys. “I also dropped the stocking rate from 285 to 275 to take a little pressure off. It was only ten cows but I needed to make a little more room for error, because when you are not full time on the farm you can make mistakes. I’m quite lucky in that I have been on this farm for most of my life and know it very well. I know what problems are coming up and how I’m going to solve those problems.” Being highly organised, exible and making sure the boys – Ryan 12, Josh 9 and Charlie 4 – are prioritised over the farm’s needs has also been a key to managing the adjustment. “The weeks that I have the boys, I still get up at 5.00am, which is force of habit. I get the school lunches done, do some housework, get the kids breakfast, and into school. I go at tack on the farm from 9.00am till about 2.30pm when I pick up Ryan and Josh, do what jobs I can do with them, “It’s quite a pull if something needs doing on the farm, but the kids need me too. I have ti be organised. You have to think in two week blocks how you will get through and what jobs are coming up.” Charlie Burmeister held by dad Ben, with Josh and Ryan (front). S A G Contracting Ltd Earthworks, Drainage and Metal Supplies. Proud to support Ben Burmeister Phone Steve Gibson 027 475 2006 NZ Farmers Livestock and Livestock Specialist, Bryan Goodin are proud to be associated with NZ Farmers Livestock are 100% owned and operated, and have a long-standing and established history Bryan Goodin - Livestock Specialist - Coastal Taranaki - 027 531 8511 and then there is dinner to organise. Josh often has sport after school and I get to spend that time with him as well.” Charlie is in Day Care two days a week, with the rest of the time spent with his dad doing fun farm stuff. “I’m trying to spend as much time with Charlie as I did the two older boys,’ says Ben. “Those early years are just so important for bonding. Charlie comes feeding out with me, and feeding the calves after breakfast. But a full day on the farm is a bit too much for Charlie at the moment. It’s quite a pull if something needs doing on the farm, but the kids need me too. I have to be organised. You have to think in two week blocks how you will get through and what jobs are coming up.” Ben says the week he doesn’t have the boys is a struggle. “It’s a family home with no family, so I don’t stay at home much when I am by myself. It’s been hard for the boys with both parents not here too. Farm kids are brought up to have a close relationship with their parents, because we’re always there and now they only see us one at a time.”
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