NZ Dairy Winter 2021

| 95 nz dairy Tim Murdoch and Tania Riddington are 50:50 sharemilkers on a 480-herd farm at Culverden. DAIRY PEOPLE » Tania Riddington & Tim Murdoch Decision to grow right one for couple Richard Loader Attracting right people key • from page 94 Jacqui says that has largely fallen by the wayside. ‘They are now focusing on what they want to do and forgetting to bring people on the journey. As Federated Farmers, we will keep reminding them. We have some MPs coming to visit Waikato farms soon so that will be another opportunity. And we have some good relationships within Government so we will keep pushing our point and we do have some good fighters in there. It was great to see The Reserve Bank Governor, Adrian Orr, recently P rogressing relatively quickly on their farming journey Culverden dairy farmers Tania Rid- dington and Tim Murdoch are achieving their ambition of one day owning their own dairy farm. The couple are 50:50 sharemilkers on Ken Rid- dington’s 160ha (145ha effective) farm carrying 480 mainly Friesian/Friesian cross cows, with a few token Jerseys. “When we first started in 2011 we peaked milked 300 cows but improvements to infrastruc- ture enabled another 180 cows to be milked. The original border-dyke irrigation was replaced with centre pivot and we spent time carefully re-grass- ing the farm,” says Tania. The farm is consented for 480 cows and com- pared to others in the district carries a relatively low stocking rate of 3.3/3.4 per hectare. “We have always been mindful of our environ- mental impact and have farmed accordingly. Our focus is looking after our cows and feeding them well on a pasture based system.” Describing the farm as a System 3, the cows are fed small amounts of PK on the fringes. Fod- derbeet is planted in the autumn to extend round length and 8 hectares of kale is grown on the platform for winter. Another strategic step in the farm-ownership journey took place when Tania and Tim bought a 120 hectare runoff, some 25 minutes drive away. They are hoping, after a long process, dating back 20 years and well before they bought the property, to be consented for irrigation. “If we could irrigate that block it would be sig- nificant in terms of being able to rear all our young stock on that land and to summer safe-us.” They describe the farm as tidy and plan to invest soon in 6 hectares of solid set to replace long-line sprinklers to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce labour. The purpose of the runoff is really to build equity outside of the cows and to have full control of their operation. The couple are open to moving further afield in time to progress their business. “Dad said to me don’t be afraid to take the next step in farming and that’s what we intend to do.” Tania and Tim entered the 2020 Canterbury/ North Otago Dairy Industry Awards, and came runner-up, an experience they both enjoyed and gained from. Tania had also entered the awards in 2017, coming runner-up at that event as well. Tania had previously entered the awards twice and in last year’s event came runner-up in the Share Farmer category. Along with both fulltime engagement on the farm, they employ a 2IC and a junior. Mike Batch- elor, the 2IC, is in his third season and doing well. “We are really lucky to have him in the team.” Another investment that is paying off is in the form of Allflex collars for the herd. These smart col- lars measure rumination and provides a real-time health report on each animal. “We know when they come into heat and combined with the automatic drafting system we have, when they are ready they are drafted off, without us needing to be involved, which is a great time-saver.” Milking is a twice a day operation, until the last six weeks before drying off. Drying off happens slowly with the last group dried off by the first week in June. It’s not all about the farm either, with two young boys, aged three and two, to keep them busy. They’re both really pleased with where they are at with their farming aspirations. “Dad’s advice was good advice. You have to make a decision to grow and that always involves financial cost and some risk, but we know we’re on the right path.” remind the country that primary industry was why New Zealand came through Covid economically so well. That was a good boost.” With two full years left to complete her Presi- dency, Jacqui is already looking forward to when she can spend more time on the farm. While she doesn’t consider herself to be a people person she values people who are good to each other and says the great thing about her term as President has been the other Federated Farmers representatives she has worked with. Amuri Transport (1989) Ltd Livestock • Bulk Grain • Shingle • Coal • Fertiliser • Daily Freight Service Livestock - stock@amuritransport.co.nz Fertiliser - fert@amuritransport.co.nz Freight - freight@amuritransport.co.nz 56 St Leonards Rd, Culverden Ph: 03 315 3033 – F: 03 315 8413 0800 888 055 Diprosemiller .co.nz As accountants, we understand the importance of compliance for our clients. But our genuine passion is fi nding innovative ways for them to do better business. So let’s talk. 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