92 | nzdairy NZ CENTURY FARM & STATION AWARDS » Bruce and Mary Thomas A real milestone for Bruce and Mary Thomas Bruce Thomas, Matt Thomas, Ashley Smith (back) Margaret Thomas, Anna Smith and Max Smith (front). Morrinsville-based dairy farmer Bruce Thomas says it was a proud moment for the family when they were presented with Century Farm Award in Lawrence, Otago in May. He along with his wife Mary and cousin James and Jane Thomas travelled south from the Waikato for the occasion. “It’s a great thing to be recognised for and to remember and reflect on all the hard work that was put in before us and without the technology that we are lucky to have these days.” Milking 210 Kiwi –Cross cows on 63ha effective, the team did just short of 86,000 kilograms of milk solids this year, producing about 400kgMS/ cow. Genetics-wise; they are pretty consistent with using Bull of the day but have experimented more recently with sexed semen as well as using Charolais Semen. Lack of rainfall in the hotter months can be severe, but the team has largely found ways to overcome that. “We can get hammered in summer time, it can get very dry here but we have found that crops and bailage work well for us” Bruce explains. “We currently use chicory and usually direct drill about 6ha, which works well for us. The key really is to have fully fed cows and we can’t do that with grass alone, that helps a lot on the animal health side too and we are very much into taking preventative measures in that regard.” Bruce’s contract milker is Craig Waterson, who has worked there for over a decade now and ‘does a fantastic job and fortunately is also a very good stockman’. Bruce has recently upgraded his races, via contactor Paul Steiner, complete with some drainage upgrades. History The original Kereone (Maungatapu) block was purchased on the 14th April 1921 by James Buchanan Thomas from Herbert Smith. It was originally 467 acres with a further 146 acres purchased by James Buchanan Thomas at a later date. The farm was taken over in 1937 by sons Fred and Stan Thomas. The land was largely Manuka, Fern and Tutu. Land was gradually broken in from bush by 6 horse teams. This work was largely carried out by 2 sons, namely, Frederick William Kenneth Thomas and James Stanley Thomas. To help get some cash flow cows were milked to help pay for breaking in the land. The farm was inundated with rabbits from when the farm was getting broken in and it could still be argued that they still need to be kept in check today. From 1927 milking cows were gradually replaced by Sheep and Beef Cattle. Fred and Stan’s sheep and beef featured successfully locally and overseas. They also sold lambs that appeared on the hooks at Smithfield, England. 200 acres was purchased off the Hotene’s in 1929. By 1936 the farm had grown in size to 820 acres. At this time the 2 brothers dissolved their partnership. Frederick Thomas ended up with 435 acres and Stanley Thomas ended up with 385 acres. Although the farms were separated the brothers still worked in together, Stan was Director of AFFCO from 1943 and then Chairman of AFFCO from 1962 to 1974. Frederick and Emily Thomas had 3 children, Kenneth James, Clifford Graeme and Margaret Joyce. Experts in law relating to: • Farming • Business • Property • Wills • Companies • Estates & Trusts • Relationship Property • Succession Planning - DRAIN CLEANING - EFFLUENT POND CONSTRUCTION - V DRAINS - - UNDERPASS & BRIDGE INSTALLATION - TRACTOR & SCOOP - - SITE WORK & DEMOLITION - HEDGES & STUMPS REMOVED - - BULLDOZER & SCOOP HIRE - SAND & METAL CARTAGE - GRADER & ROLLER HIRE - - TRUCK / TRAILER HIRE - RACE CONSTRUCTION / MAINTENANCE - - 4, 13 & 22 TONNE MACHINES - 15 METRE LONG REACH - Ph 07 889 3143 or A/hrs 027 497 6386 FOR ALL EXCAVATION & CARTAGE L I M I T E D CONTRACTING In 1951 Ken, Cliff and Margaret became owners of the Kereone farm which was called Maungatapu Downs. This sale came about due to the untimely death of Fred in 1942 and Emily in 1950. At its peak the farm ran about 2500 Romney ewes and 220 Black Poll Cattle. A new 3 stand woolshed was built in 1960/61. Like J B Thomas they were innovative in being one of the first in the area to spread fertiliser by plane as well as using alkathene instead of galvanised pipe. They recognised the benefit of using electric fences to keep stock contained. Margaret was bought out in 1955. This led to the forming of a partnership between Ken and Cliff which continued until 1966. The farm was divided at this stage between the brothers. Ken ended up with 106 hectares and Cliff with 69 hectares from the original block as well as a 40 hectare dairy farm on Settlement Road. By this time the sheep and beef were being phased out and being replaced with dairy cows. The cowshed on Ken and Joan’s farm was built in 1960. Another cowshed on Cliff and Noreen’s farm was built in 1966. Cliff became a Real Estate Agent in Morrinsville for a number or years. He was also involved in running a Standard Bred Horse Stud on the home farm. Bruce Graeme and Catherine Mary Thomas became 50/50 sharemilkers on the home farm in June 1982. Bruce and Mary purchased 59ha in 1990 and the remaining 8ha in 2006. Bruce and Mary have employed contract milkers since 1996. Bruce and Mary are still involved in making decisions on farm in consultation with the Contract Milker. Bruce also assists the Contract Milker when required.
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