8 | nzdairy Major focus on learning is key Sue Russell DAIRY PEOPLE » Chris Poole Chris is looking to increase the volume of crops; more maize, along with turnips, chicory and Lucerne. Chris completed a three year Bachelor of Ag Science at Massey University when he was sure farming was his future. Proudly supporting Chris & Emma Poole Congratulations to Chris and Emma Poole, on receiving the 2022 FMG Young Farmer of the Year, Waikato Bay of Plenty award. To get your rural business one step ahead, call your local ASB Rural team on 0800 787 252. Proudly backing the next generation of farmers. ASB Bank Limited 56160 24722B 0422 56160 24722B 0422 Rural Backing Next Gen Ad 126.5x100.indd 1 29/04/22 2:20 PM Pirongia dairy farmer, Chris Poole, remembers always being a keen farming kid, growing up on his parents farm. His parents moved from farming in Taranaki up to the Waikato 17 years ago and it comes as no surprise to Chris that he’s found himself working on the family farm. “Mum and Dad had a farm near Te Awamutu for six years before they moved up to the Waikato so they were familiar with the region. When they sold the Taranaki farm, Waikato was their destination.” Chris completed a three year Bachelor of Ag Science at Massey University when he was sure farming was his future. He says he found the courses really relevant with a lot of science informing his learning, so when he stepped on to the family farm to take over, he was in a good position to understand soil quality and impact, along with farming systems. “Learning about nitrogen, leaching and nutrient limits has been very useful. I came out of Massey and on to the farm feeling really con dent.” On a day to day basis Chris is responsible for the operation of a beautiful 210ha farm, opposite the golf course on the outskirts of Pirongia, a small historic settlement 10km west of Te Awamutu. Cloverlea Farms is the business that owns the farm and the business which is owned in partnership with Chris’s parents John and Anne. “It’s not a really large farm for the number of cows so to get the best possible production we operate to a System 5, with high inputs. We didn’t want a really big cow and I’m pleased with their performance.” Ensuring the farm operates as ef ciently as possible, attention needs to be given to cost-savings on supplementary feed and to this end the farm grows as much additional feed as possible. “The nutrients that are purchased through the farm gate as feed, become nutrients that end up being spread back over the farm (as ef uent) which reduces the synthetic fertilisers that we have to buy. The herd is split calved and in recent years the Autumn calving herd has increased in number to be the same as the spring calving mob. Milking every single day of the year requires a good team around you and Chris says his three full time workers are very good and extremely reliable. “One of my staff, who originates from the Philippines has been with me now 10 years and I have two young guys who have recently started. They’re both keen to progress in this industry. The work-horse of milk production is a 44-aside herringbone with Waikato plant, automatic cup removers and auto teat sprayers. The shed is capable of putting through 400 cows in an hour. With the rise in supplementary costs Chris says he’s taking a long look at the current farm system, with a view to increasing the volume of crops; more maize, along with turnips and chicory and Lucerne. An important part of the farm’s operation is the 120ha run-off, run by John, up the slopes of Mt Pirongia close by. Beef calves, reared in the dairy system, as well as dairy replacements are taken to the run-off after weaning. “This leaves more pasture for the herd while also keeping the control of how the young stock and grown and managed in our hands,” Chris explains. One of the key reasons Chris says he’s progressed well in the sector is that he puts a lot of store on talking to people to gain insight into their thinking on farming systems and tweaks that can be made to bene t the farm’s production. The area is mainly dairying though increasingly horticulture blocks are part of the mix. Chris belongs to the Te Kawa West Young Farmers’ Club and enjoys catching up in discussion groups. “I think its really important to embrace new learning and ideas about farming that are evolving all the time. The more information you have the more informed your decisions are when it comes to your own farm.” “One of my staff, who originates from the Philippines has been with me now 10 years and I have two young guys who have recently started”.
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