NZ Dairy Winter 2021

78 | nz dairy Effluent upgrade Karen Phelps P roduction is simply a means to an end for Dayne and Sophia Addison who keep their eye firmly on profitability with every farming decision they make. The couple are targeting production of 1050kgMS/ha at a cost structure under $4. Big changes have taken place over recent years to help them achieve this along with environmental compliance. Dayne and Sophia are in an equity partner- ship with Dayne’s parents on two farms totalling 265ha effective in the Ngahape district, south of Te Awamutu. Total cow numbers are around 800, split into two herds – the two to three year old cows and cows four years and older. By playing around with stocking rates they have now reached that magic number, which enable them to keep on top of pasture while running a predominantly pasture- based system. The farms are run effectively as one unit, with dedicated staff for each farm with the flexibility to move people around as needed. Significant investment has been made in infra- structure. A five million litre lined effluent pond including sand trap and solids bunkers has been built on the newer farm, which was purchased four years ago. This replaces a small 5000 litre sump with no storage so the extra capacity of the new pond means that it doesn’t have to be emptied un- til after the busy calving and AI mating period has finished. On the home farm an eight million litre lined effluent pond has been built to replace an ex- isting unlined two pond system. The new pond has 20% more capacity than needed to future-proof the farm but has already proved useful. “I can drain it by early May and not need to worry again until October/November when the cows have finished calving,” says Dayne. The biggest surprise though is how much the new ponds have affected production. DAIRY PEOPLE » Dayne & Sophia Addison “Where we used to produce eight tonnes of dry matter per hectare, with chicory under effluent and a quick crop of annual we can produce 22 tonnes.” · SILAGE · HAY · DIGGER · TRACKS · RACE ROCK · GENERAL CARTAGE WALTERS Agricultural Contractors i l l p. 07 873 2828 m. 0274 947 684 RD2, Otorohanga Robert Walters OLIVER'S TRANSPORT PROUDLY WORKING ALONGSIDE DAYNE ADDISON SPECIALIZING IN: LIVESTOCK CARTAGE HAY & SILAGE WOOL GENERAL FREIGHT Phone: 07 873 7772 | DEPOT: MAIN SOUTH ROAD, PO BOX 251 OTOROHANGA The dogs cool off in a trough at the Addison farm. The cows on both farms are milked through two herringbone sheds, a 40-a-side with 20 ACRs and auto teat- sprayers, and a 36-a-side with ACRs and Protrack drafting system. “I used to see effluent as a bit of a hassle be- cause I didn’t have the storage. Now it’s an asset. With good travelling irrigators we can irrigate over 70ha, apply at a reasonable rate and it’s been hugely beneficial. Organic matter in the paddocks has gone up, we’re growing better grass and pro- ducing more milk and have saved on fertiliser.” Investment in the farm water system is likewise paying dividends. New reticulation systems and water troughs to distribute the water to stock have also seen production rise. Cows are milked through a 40-a-side herring- bone, with 20 ACRs and auto teat-sprayers, and a 36-a-side herringbone with ACRs and Protrack drafting system. Dayne says a challenging dry season last year saw the herd produce 255,000 kgs/MS, followed by 271,000 kgs/MS this season. The target is 280,000 kgs/MS, which the couple will achieve through continuing to tweak the sys- tem. For example growing chicory has seen them gain huge ground in terms of feed produced. “Where we used to produce eight tonnes of dry matter per hectare, with chicory under effluent and a quick crop of annual we can produce 22 tonnes.” Dayne is the fourth-generation to farm the land and on 7 July this year the farm will mark 90 years in family ownership. It was in1931 that Daynes great grandfather, Albert, acquired a ballot farm, allocated by the government following the World War 1 and set foot on the land. That first farm covered 60ha and ensuing gen- erations have worked hard and brought significant tracts of additional land into the business. Sophia, an early childhood teacher who had never farmed before marrying Dayne, has now come onto the farm as the full time relief milker and is loving it. “It’s definitely a legacy being fourth generation and drives my passion to do my part to leave this land in an even better state for the next genera- tion.”