16 | nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Luke Ackerman Farming passion rewarded by judges Randall Johnston Manawatu-based dairy herd manager Luke Ackerman was successful in his very first time entering the Dairy Manager of the Year category 2024. He loves dairy farming with a passion and is supported in his endeavours by wife Sarah and children Eleanor, 3, and Lincoln, 8 months. Luke was a mechanic for 15 years, they had discussed that their plan was always for Luke to start farming once Sarah fell pregnant as they wanted a rural upbringing for their children when the time came. While Luke was still ‘spinning spanners’ his wife Sarah was contract milking and Luke would help when needed. “That’s when my passion for milking the cows came to light as I could see the bigger picture – it was more then just putting a set of cups on” Sarah then was working between two farms and with a big workload was stretched thin. “Sarah then asked (my current boss) James Stewart if I could come and do milkings for her occasionally if she couldn’t make it and he said ‘sure’ and that was the start of it really.” “We were both working on different farms in the weekend, we spent less time together but I gained more experience and we knew we were working towards our goal of farming together for our future family,” Luke explains. “When the manager’s job finally became available I had already proved to James I was a suitable candidate and that’s when he offered me the job and I made the switch full-time to dairy farming, which was perfect timing as Sarah was due with Eleanor in march. “James is great; he’s one of the best bosses I’ve ever had. I grew up on a farm and really wanted that experience for my kids too and to be able to spend more time with them than I would have, if I had stayed working as a mechanic.” Farming on 180ha effective, and looking after 383 head, Luke has managed to tighten up and Luke and Sarah Ackerman milking on Christmas Day with Luke’s dad Russell. improve on virtually all aspects of the operation since coming on board as herd manager about three years ago. “Normally we are at 400 cows. We have two farms that work together and their empty rate was quite low (20-odd%) compared to mine (which was eight%).” The herd is 80 per cent Friesian and 20 per cent cross bred. Luke thought he might have done fairly well in the preliminary judging round at the start of February, but wasn’t entirely sure, until he found out he had actually won Dairy Manger of the Year for Manawatu during the awards evening in Palmerston North. “I was blown away really. Just to get that recognition and encouragement that I’m on the right track has been amazing.” The judges said Luke showed great skill in establishing standard operating procedures which enables the farm to operate at a very high and consistent level and showed a good understanding of breeding and rearing. Pasture health is a big focus for Luke too and the judges liked that very much, as well as the awareness he shows regarding the environmental impact of on-farm decision making. Luke has gained his New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture-Dairy Farming Level 4 (Primary ITO) and enjoyed putting some of the theory he has learned into practice on farm. His skills as a mechanic still come in handy and the word might have gotten around just a little too much. “I’m happy to help when something breaks down or if someone is a bit stuck, it’s quite good in that it keeps my mechanical skills up to date as well.” In terms of milk production and quality, he strives to keep SCC under 150,000. In his local community he splits firewood for older neighbors and family and assists with mechanical repairs. Luke and his wife do a Christmas bale display at the end of their tanker track every year. “The joy it brings people puts a smile on our face, getting notes from tanker drivers and comments from the community makes us so happy to bring a little bit of happiness to their day we feel it boosts the community morale and if we don’t have the display up by the 1st week of December we’re getting phone calls asking how far away it is obviously weather depending and when we can get out baleage cut but we always make sure we have one”. He manages his pasture using the CDax tow behind and Aimer farming pasture apps. This involves weekly farm walks; recording data that is then used to make more informed pasture management decisions. In regard to Animal health, all lameness is identified and treated within 48 hours. He currently manages one part timer, one relief milker and calf rearer. He works with a 54 bale GEA rotary cowshed, which has been on farm since 2015 – in an in-shed feeding system. This season the team is targeting 185,000 kilograms of milk solids, which will be an improvement on the 180,000 achieved last season and they are already up about 7 percent up on this time last season. “My plan for the near future is to get into 50-50 sharemilking alongside my wife, continue to provide a stable environment for our kids also giving them an enjoyable rural upbringing and to work towards our goal of farm ownership.” “I am proud I am doing my part for sustainable farming for future generations and will continue to do this with our own farming business.” 06 329 1885 | dispatch@flipptransport.co.nz
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