38 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Oppertunity Farming Taking every oppertunity to secure their future Kelly Deeks From contract milkers to equity partners, Te Puke couple Kevin and Nicole Oppert are embracing every opportunity to strengthen their future in dairying, with a little help from technology, local partnerships, and the Dairy Women’s Network. The Opperts, who won the Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year title in 2023, have been contract milking since 2017. This season marks another milestone, as they join Don and Andrea Hammond in an equity partnership on the 260 effective hectare Te Puke farm, a 20-year forestry conversion now hitting its stride. “It’s been a big step for us,” Kevin says. “We’d love to own cows one day, but when a chance like this comes along, you’ve got to grab it. Equity is what will push our career forward.” The Opperts continue to contract milk the farm, peak milking 750 cows through a 60-bale rotary with in-shed feeding, CowManager® and Protrack® drafting systems. Their 90-hectare support block rears all young stock, with Nicole taking charge of that block as well as calf rearing, while also balancing the demands of family life with two young children. The couple are determined to run the farm efficiently and sustainably. Last season, in their very first year on the property, they set a new farm production record, harvesting 13.5 tonnes of dry matter per hectare. “The infrastructure is solid, and the farm is really starting to show its potential,” Kevin says. The herd is a mixed breed, carefully selected using TOP (Traits Other than Production) criteria to build cows fit for the system. The Opperts continue to contract milk the farm, peak milking 750 cows through a 60-bale rotary. • to page 40 Visit our website WWW.JCLCONTRACTING.CO.NZ Your agricultural contractor in the greater Bay of Plenty Services Grass silage • Cultivation • Maize silage • Earthworks • Feed supplement Get in touch P: 07 533 1828 | M: 021 244 9481 o ce@jclcontracting.co.nz Proudly supporting Oppertunity Farming
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