78 | nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » Optium Ag Ltd Focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability Nicki Woodlock Optium Ag is a Southland-based agricultural contracting company, serving areas from Invercargill and South Otago to Tapanui and Riversdale. With a focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability, they deliver expert contracting services using the latest equipment to help farmers get the best out of their land. Optium Ag specialise in baleage and silage, full cultivation, beet harvesting, strip tillage, and fertiliser spreading - using dependable, high- performance equipment to get every job done efficiently and effectively. The team delivers professional baleage and silage services to keep crops safe, full cultivation to prime the land and boost yields, and strip tillage precision planting for fast, efficient beet harvesting. Erik states, “We offer full agricultural contracting services - from grass harvesting and cultivation through to beet planting and harvesting.” Optium Ag was founded in 2014 and is led by Managing Director Erik Smak, who not only runs the business but also supervises jobs onsite and leads a skilled team of nine, including five full-time tractor drivers. With over 15 years in agricultural contracting and hands-on experience running his own farm, Fresh Acres in Woodlands, Erik combines practical know-how with strong leadership to deliver reliable, high-quality services across Southland. Erik founded Optium Ag after spotting an opportunity in the agricultural market for beet harvesting. He later expanded into beet planting and fertiliser spreading, and in 2023 grew the business What sets Optium Ag apart is their specialised machinery. further by acquiring a local contracting company in Woodlands. The Optium Ag team is dedicated to delivering high-quality service tailored to each client. They specialise in precision planting and strip tillage for beet, swedes, and maize, as well as precision fertiliser spreading to provide crops with the right nutrients at the right time. Their expertise extends across all farm types, including dairy, sheep and beef, vegetable, and even tulip farms. Erik says, “Every client has a unique way of doing things and we adapt to their way”. The Optium team operate a fleet of specialised machinery, including a beet harvester, strip-tillage precision planters for beet, swedes, and maize, hay bailers, drilling and cultivation equipment, and silage harvesting machinery. The team also handles all machinery maintenance in-house, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. What sets Optium Ag apart is their specialised machinery such as the strip tillage spader and beet harvester, combined with the team’s extensive contracting expertise - Erik brings 25 years as a tractor driver, including 15 years in contracting. The team also has deep experience working on dairy farms, with over 80% of their clients coming from the dairy sector. With extensive experience in beet planting and harvesting, Erik recommends feeding beets in smaller amounts over a longer period, rather than giving a large quantity all at once - measured per cow, per day. Erik has noted strong performance in the New Zealand dairy industry this year, with farmers enjoying record financial results, high milk payouts, reduced debt, and robust export growth. One of the challenges farmers currently face is navigating government environmental rules and guidelines. Erik and the team at Optium help farmers achieve compliance by precisely applying fertiliser exactly where it’s needed using GPS technology. All of their machinery - including strip-till equipment, fertiliser spreaders, and other machines - is fitted with GPS to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Erik has a passion for farming. Erik says, “No day is ever the same; there’s always something to challenge you and make you think.” ANOTHER LEMKEN JUWEL 8 PLOUGH SUPPORTING OPTIUM AG LTD TO ACHIEVE PLOUGHING EXCELLENCE 0800 EUROAG EUROAGRI.CO.NZ JAMES MCCLOY 027 782 7606 JOHN BRADY 027 251 9801 SEAUN LOVELL 027 611 1892 RELIABILITY, EASE OF USE 3 TO 7 FURROW OPTIONS OUTSTANDING WEARING ABILITY OF WEARING PARTS DISRUPTION FREE PLOUGHING IN ANY CONDITIONS
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