NZ Dairy Winter 2021

| 39 nz dairy DAIRY AWARDS » Diego Raul Gomez Salinas dairy awards Not just residential building... From milking, implement and pole sheds WR HI½XHQW V\VWHPV IHHG SDGV EXQNHUV and vat silo stands. Trust the builder with extensive rural build experience. M: 021 160 8495 E: duncanwillsltd@live.com W: www.duncanwillsbuilders.co.nz Electrical Contractor Rural, Residential & Commercial For ALL your electrical requirements Lee: 027 444 2226 or 06 765 7868 philboyeselectrical@gmail.com Proud Service Provider to Diego Gomez PB ELECTRICAL Central Plateau Sharemilker of the Year award winners Andrea and Blair Muggeridge went on to place third at the Nationals, winning merits awards for Human Resources and Farm Environment. A rgentinians are apparently urged not to cry, however Diego Gomez could justifiably have shed a tear or two at the Taranaki New Zea- land Dairy Industry Awards held in March this year. The winner of the 2021 Taranaki Dairy Manager of the Year category scooped $5,800 in prizes and three merit awards: the Dairy Trust Taranaki Feed Management Award, DeLaval Livestock Manage- ment Award and the Westpac Personal Planning and Financial Management Award. “The feeling when the prize came was over- whelming to us,” Diego says. Diego is farm manager for the Michael D Burr Trust’s 142 hectare property, milking 400 cross- breed cows near Stratford. Diego’s path to the dairy industry in New Zealand is rather unique. He began his career as an agribusiness profes- sional in Argentina, where he was a professor and researcher in a university and came to New Zealand in 2009 to learn about dairy farming at the age of 21. He initially worked as an assistant farm manager in South Otago near Balcutha and was eventually promoted to dairy manager before moving to a 600 cow farm in Bay of Plenty. The number of immigrants who excelled at the awards highlights the important role they have in the New Zealand dairy industry, Diego says. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Gisela Medina and two children, Emma, (7) and Ignacio, (4) and believes if you do what you really love everything is enjoyable. However having left family and friends behind in Argentina, work takes on even greater importance, he says. “We come here to work and to embrace what we do and to do something we are proud of.” Gisela is equally motivated, having established two online businesses importing and selling sustainably hand-made soft furnishings and decor from Argentina, and women’s recycled clothing and accessories. Diego took on his present position two years ago when the farm was bought by its present owner, with the herd coming from two different farms. Apart from Diego, the farm employs a 2IC, sea- sonal staff and someone for the calf season. The first season was very challenging because of coming to a new farm, especially with an early, condensed calving that made it complex to run. Also, a lack of grass necessitated drying off some cows early, but a good team effort resulted in a positive outcome of 165,000kgMS. The past season has been “right on” with a good balance of sun and rain helping the cows produce an average of about 390kgMS each, or 93% of their body weight for a total production of 149,000kgMS. “Next season we are aiming on getting more efficient for the same system. Hopefully we can produce more; based on the production this season, we have found a few things we can improve.” Entering the awards has enabled Diego to bench- mark various aspects of the farm including animal health, business management, managing the farm’s overall biomass including grass and supplementary feed. “The dairy industry is very complex where you find yourself involved in different and challenging scenarios year after year.” “The capacity of the industry in New Zealand allows everyone who wants to be part of it to be involved and grow.” “We come here to work and to embrace what we do and to do something we are proud of.” Success highlights role of immigrant workers in NZ Russell Fredric Argentinian Diego Gomez was ‘overwhelmed’ when named Taranaki Dairy Manager of the Year.