32 | nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Poplar Partnership Finalists rich in praise of national winners Russell Fredric Although they did not take away the top trophy, the McErlean family are delighted to be a finalist in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award. John and Karen McErlean, who are directors in Poplar Partnership with John’s brother Peter, attended the NZDIA national event held in Queenstown on May 11. The Manawatu family are pleased for the winners, James and Debbie Stewart, also from Manawatu who were highly deserving of winning the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award, Karen says. “James and Debbie are amazing, it’s a good result. They are probably the epitome of what the competition was looking for.” The McErlean’s were among more than twenty nominees for the award across all regions this year. The award was created to recognise and celebrate dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who are passionate about the four pillars of responsible dairying: people and community, finance, environment and animal welfare. The awards selection panel noted that all of the national nominee farms were uniquely different and were achieving great things in their own ways. “It was truly inspirational for us as the national selection panel to see the amazing things that they’ve all been doing in their businesses,” the panel said. Karen says their work on the family farm was forty years of “doing what we do and trying to do the best job that we can”, with John especially passionate about developing and planting wetlands. Despite their praise for the winners, the McErlean’s have much to be proud of themselves, John, Karen and Peter McErlean. Poplar Partnership is a large scale dairy and beef business covering 1719 hectares near Foxton. having accumulated an impressive string of other awards. Last year they were the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust Horizons Regional Supreme winners. The individual awards that contributed to this comprised the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award, Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award, DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award, Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award, Norwood Farming Efficiency Award, Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award. Poplar Partnership, a large and complex dairy and beef business covering 1719 hectares near Foxton. The partnership includes two self-contained dairy units, owned by John and Karen and Peter, peak milking 2750 cows, with other family members providing labour and various expertise. The two dairy platforms comprise 693ha effective on Poplar Road east of Foxton, overseen by Peter,and 237ha on Lake Road run by contract milker Yhan Franks. The business runs split calving and these platforms are supported by blocks totalling 789 hectares for growing young stock and supplementary feed which John has responsibility for. SHANNON BULK HAULAGE • QUARRY ROCK • FERTILISER SPREADING & CARTAGE • GENERAL CARTAGE • EXCAVATION 0800 SHN BULK www.shannonbulk.co.nz Proudly supporting Poplar Partnership Levin & Horowhenua Vets is proud to support John, Karen and Peter McErlean of Poplar Partnership by providing them with all aspects of animal health care. Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award at the 2024 NZ Dairy Industry Awards levin.contact@tvg.co.nz www.levinhorowhenuavets.nz 518 Queen Street East Levin 5510 06 368 2891 Phone: 06 363 5135 Main Road South, Foxton Email: office@tenua.co.nz www.tenua.co.nz WORKMANSHIP THE BEST NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL www.facebook.com/TenuaEngineers - Call Kim on 027 229 1211 Structural Buildings | Farm Buildings | Agricultural Products | General Engineering Proud to Support Poplar Partnership Total annual production from its two dairy units is typically just on 1.2 million kg/MS which partly includes A2 milk, plus 100,000kgMS from 164 Partnership, from a split calving system, owned in conjunction with staff members. It was a mixed season, Peter says. “It’s been good for us on the dairy farm but not for the [feed] supplement side. We have a lot of sand country which hasn’t produced well this year, and for winter feed. There’s not a lot of winter feed out there, it’s been dry for too long.”
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