| 23 nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Hamish Morrison Surveyor pegs future on family farm Hamish Morrison checks the herd on the fourth-generation Rai Valley farm. Hamish Morrison returned to his generational roots with worldly wisdom and newfound passion for the fourth-generation Rai Valley farm. Leadership and good overall qualities earned him runner-up for 2023 West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Share Farmer of the Year. Initially his Land Surveying degree took him to Western Australia and Thailand. Then Hamish returned in 2016 with his now wife, Lee, to spend precious time with his terminal ill mum,and help his dad, Brent. “Mum and Dad always encouraged us to do something else, and if we came back to the farm we came back! Dad, mostly retired at 67, is keen to get off the farm more. He’s pretty chuffed he can walk away and be happy I’ll look after everything.” Hamish, 35, is now a dad himself to their twoyear-old, Jasper. After two years surveying in Nelson and doing farm office work one day a week, he took the plunge into full-time dairy farming. It’s been five seasons now, and the second contract milking. Next year is the 100-year anniversary of the 160ha dairy farm, where his brother Justin also helps with the beef operation. “We have some steep hills around the edge of the farm which my grandfather used to run deer and sheep. Dad didn’t want to continue with them, so he planted them in natives, pine,and other exotic species. He was an early adopter of riparian planting, now going a step further, and planting to create shade for the cows in the hot summer days. “It was a straight Jersey herd 20 years ago, but now its mainly cross breeds. We rear about 50% of our calves, which include replacement heifers, Jersey bulls, and Wagyu. Lee enjoys rearing the calves. It’s twice daily milking until New Year’s then 10 and 7 milking. Turnips, with it’s high-energy value, is our main summer crop. Many overseas farms have native Dung Beetles, which follow the cows around and bury their dung. He says with three deliveries from Dung Beetle Innovations so far, these imported insects have potential, once fully populated, to bury an entire paddock of dung underground in 24 hours. They also create holes for water, and aerating the soil. Tracey Edwardes Keen on numbers and mapping, Hamish utilises surveying crossover skills with pasture management, health and safety maps, and recording fertiliser spreading with Tracmap. “We have three staff, higher than usual for 400 cows. Our five days on, two days off roaster helps our work culture and morale. One of our guys has been with us 10 years straight. “I’ve just finished studying the Diploma in Agribusiness Management and building on my leadership skills. I’m also involved with Federated Farmers, and the exemplar Catchment group Te Hoiere project, funded by central government.” In the next two years Hamish has the goal of 50/50 share milking and upgrading the inefficient old shed, or replacing it. Surveying is something Hamish can always fall back on,but the family farm is where he sees his future. “It’s given me a chance to run my own business, build up equity, and learn lots of skills – which gives me more motivation to get up in the morning.” For all your Transport and Logistics requirements www.sollys.co.nz 03 525 9843 Freight | Storage | Bulk Cartage Livestock | Stock Feed | Feriliser Proud to support Hamish Morrison
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=