| 39 nzdairy A display of solidarity and resilience Richard Loader DAIRY PEOPLE » Southern Meadows In the aftermath of a challenging spring, a northern Southland farming community has come together in a display of solidarity and resilience. Among the many who have felt the brunt of adverse weather conditions is Adam Waite, a lower order sharemilker at Southern Meadows in Riversdale. Adam is in his third season managing a 680-strong crossbred herd on 195ha. The herd achieved record production last year, delivering 308,000kgMS with fewer cows than this season. This is despite the challenges the weather has thrown at them: sitting alongside the Mataura River, the farm is exposed to flooding - and flood it has. Four mini-floods have already affected the farm this year, encroaching on about 12-15ha of the milking platform. But it was in September 2023 that a particularly severe flood hit the farm. “We were unable to access around 80% of the farm for three days,” Adam says. Ironically, the farm is also prone to drought, being situated on river gravel. “We are able to mitigate this with our robust infrastructure,” Adam says. “Eighty percent of the farm is irrigated: 135ha is under centre pivot and 38ha under K line irrigation.” Despite these disruptions, Adam remains focused on the farm’s long-term productivity and resilience. At the heart of this is the tight-knit, hard-working farm team. “My wife Jenna and our three sons Kieran, Bayden and Reid play a big part,” Adam says. “We also have a team of two in Pramil and Rukshan that make the magic happen. We couldn’t do what we are doing without a strong team atmosphere first.” In late October, the crossbred herd is ABd to LIC Premier Sires and tailed with Jersey bulls; any ‘undesirables’ go to beef. Adam is breeding some of his smaller animals back to Holstein Friesian, trying to keep size and capacity. Heifers start calving around July 27, with the herd following August 5. They keep around 175 replacements heifers. There has also been a change in supplementary feeding this season: the cows now receive 700kg of concentrates annually, twice that of previous seasons. Dairy farms like Southern Meadows contribute significantly to the Southland economy by creating jobs, supporting related industries and fostering regional growth. However, Adam is quick to acknowledge that it’s not just dairy farming that keeps the area thriving -arable and sheep and beef farmers are also integral parts of the broader agricultural network. The tight-knit farming community in northern Southland has been instrumental in helping each other weather both literal and metaphorical storms, particularly during the last two months of unrelenting wet weather. Adam is in his third season managing a 680-strong crossbred herd on 195ha. “We’ve learned to lean on our neighbours and peers for help,” Adam says. “We have a fantastically close community.” The Rural Support Trust has also been an essential resource, providing guidance and mental health support. Adam praised the Trust for giving the local community the tools to handle the stress and uncertainty caused by extreme weather. “It has come to the fore how much we need to work together,” he says. “Southland agriculture has had a fair hiding recently with the weather conditions, but the Rural Support Trust has given us the tools to share the load.” RM SPRAYING I utilise a Tow and Fert1000 to apply liquid fertilizer, primarily focusing on foliar feeding our grass with a blend of fertilizers for accelerated growth at reduced rates. I possess the capability to convert urea into a liquid form, enabling application at up to 50% lower rates without compromising results. I can apply over 100 hectares per day, depending on the specific product. LESS FERT, MORE GRASS. For all your liquid fertiliser applications needs, Call Rik 027 4142931 PROUD SUPPORTING SOUTHERN MEADOWS www . w i l k i n s f a rmi ng . co . nz FOR MORE INFO For pricing & contracts: 03 201 6246 or 027 249 9317 GRAIN, BLENDS AND CUSTOM STOCKFEED • wrapping • silage • straw For all your AG contracting needs: • ploughing • cultivation • sowing • mowing • raking • baling Johny Shallard 027 943 5599 wendoncreekcontractingltd@gmail.com
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