62 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » The Bartletts: George & Ellen Bartlett Sustainability initiatives pepper the property, including planting native trees and fencing waterways and native bush. Sue Russell George and Ellen Bartlett own two farms in Manawatu, one with a 50/50 sharemilker near Halcombe and the second farm, near Feilding which has a farm manager. Their farming business ‘Gemel Trust’ is involved in dairying, sheep and beef. Stanway Farm, near Feilding, which extends over 510ha, is home to about 1,000 cows. Other income streams are derived from fattening about 4,000 lambs and 200 or so beef cattle. They do all their own cropping and harvesting as George has long been involved in agricultural contracting. About 60% of their contracting work is on their own farms, where growing maize and grass for silage is the main stay. George and Ellen have been steadfastly improving Stanway Farm with a focus on environmental sustainability and ensuring their three children will reap the bene ts of a farm set up beautifully. That commitment has been recognised this year when the couple were named as nalists in the region’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards. That recognition caps off a nearly 20 year journey adding environmental value to the property while also securing the business’s nancial footing. “The awards was a great thing to be involved in. We had some people come on to the farm and look at what we’ve been doing with tree planting and our water usage,” says Ellen. Sustainability initiatives pepper the property, including planting native trees and fencing waterways and native bush. All together there has been about 25ha’s of native trees planted. “Our farm water at Stanway comes from a community rural water scheme. We only receive 70 units (1 unit = 1000lts) each day so we have to manage water carefully. Green Water (recycled wash water) is used to wash the cow shed yards, saving a lot of clean water,” George explains. Ellen adds, the fact that there are limits to how much water they can use means they never lose sight of how it is being used and are very cautious with it. Installing water metres connected to phone apps keep them informed of usage and alert any problems. Judges commented the focus on reducing environmental impact through reducing, reusing and recycling farm resources is a big step in the right direction. Ellen had recently returned from a trip home to the UK when NZ Dairy spoke to them. “I was there when the Queen passed away and felt very lucky to be there at a special moment in time.” She expected, when she got home, everyone to be at out with silage making but the weather-gods had not been co-operating through September and into early October with lots of rain making everything dif cult. Staff engaged in the contracting business work Environmental commitment recognised on the farm when their normal work has slowed down. “It’s incredibly wet here at the moment and with four guys in total engaged in the contracting side of the business the frustration was to ensure they were kept suf ciently employed. Fortunately the dairy farms have been doing well, though Ellen describes this season as challenging. Both George and Ellen have appreciated the hardwork staff have put in to keep things ticking over as well as possible. “Our winter grazing got cut short so we had to use other farmers’ grazing and we’ve just managed to buy a new piece of land to give us winter security for the future. We bought it in conjunction with our sharemilker and it will take a lot of stress out of the pinch times for us.” The run-off measures 120ha’s and the intention is to send cows grazing when not milking. Another alternative is to grow crops and bring the additional feed on to the main farm. “It just means we’ve got more control and more options.” Ellen has recently been re-elected on to the Feilding High School Board of Trustees and Chair. The school has a 50 cow dairy unit on it and a 80ha sheep and beef operation, giving students opportunities, while at school to get a taste of working on a farm. The school is fortunate to be able to upgrade facilities, giving students the opportunities to excel. “We have excellent teachers at the school exciting students about agriculture, alongside the other subjects, which I’m sure has really contributed through the years to strengthening farming and agri business.” Ellen is also a trustee on the local Rural Support Trust, an organisation she says has a valuable place 06 323 0309 | tractors@trctractors.co.nz Logan 027 224 7679 | Aaron 027 224 7677 | Peter 027 224 7678 • Tractor & Machinery Sales • Side by Sides P 06 323 0255 M 027 928 8630 W farmworxbikes.co.nz - On Farm Service - New and Used Sales - Fully Equipped Workshop to play in the farming sector. Asked what things have contributed greatly to their success Ellen says the quality of their staff is a huge positive. “We’re very lucky. We have some really good long term staff that hold the place together. When they go off to do a job you know they are going to do it well, and better, than we could do it!” Looking back on a long and busy farming journey both George and Ellen say they are where they are now due to working hard, working together and gathering great people around them.
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