| 95 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Lachlan Jenkins and Jamie Sugden / Matthew Bell Raising calves with care Kelly Deeks At Pakaraka just outside Whanganui, Jamie Sugden and Lachie Jenkins are keeping two legacies alive - dairy farming and the proud tradition of Clydesdale breeding - as together they run Camden Clydesdales on the fourth-generation family farm. The story begins with Lachie’s great-great-uncle, Newt, who received the original block in a post-war land ballot. He lived there his entire life with his sister Olga, never marrying, never having children. A kind man, Newt never spoke of the war, but his legacy lives on through the land he loved. Over time, what began as a single block grew to three titles. Eventually Donald, Lachie’s grandfather and a taxi driver in Patea, bought the farm from Newt and Olga. Lachie has been part of the farm since he was in nappies, and when Donald passed away from leukemia, Lachie and Jamie took over the operation, buying the herd and entering a 50/50 sharemilking agreement. From milking 180 cows, they’ve expanded the herd to about 200, refining their fencing and pasture management to boost efficiency. 10 years ago they bought the farm outright. What sets their operation apart is a decision that was made early on and has remained firm ever since: they don’t send bobby calves to slaughter. Instead, every calf is reared with care. They lease additional land from Lachie’s grandmother for a runoff block, ensuring enough space to raise their animals ethically. Calves that fall sick are nursed through the night by Jamie. Jamie, a trained radiographer, helps balance the physical demands of the farm, especially as Lachie battles chronic sinusitis and ongoing health issues. “He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever known,” Jamie says. “When he’s up and going, everything runs smoothly. But when he’s down, everything slows down.” Their oldest children, Angus and Oliver, have stepped up in recent years. Oliver works at a contracting company in Hawera, while Angus is working toward his restricted license with plans to follow suit. The brothers help out on farm when they’re needed, alongside Lachie and Jamie’s youngest son Harvey. But it’s not just cows that fill the paddocks. Camden Clydesdales is home to about 20 horses, including two stallions and a number of broodmares. Jamie’s love for horses started young, and was reignited when she was gifted a Clydesdale years ago. “You can’t have just one,” she laughs. “They’re like Pringles.” Today, Jamie is secretary of the Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand and a passionate advocate for preserving the breed. “Since the introduction of tractors and cars, then the introduction of the drum horse, Clydesdale numbers have dropped considerably. Over recent years the Clydesdale Society has been working hard to promote the breed, showing people how versatile Clydesdales actually are. Interest is picking up and numbers are rising again which is great to see.” Jamie and Lachie breed both dairy cows and horses with an eye for quality. Jamie handpicks the genetics for their dairy herd after being disappointed in commercial straw selections. “Our herd is 80 years old and we take pride in its soundness and quality.” The Jenkins-Sugden family farm 68ha of dairy land, grow 40–50ha of maize, and maintain a 100ha runoff. They also manage a 10-acre block inherited from Jamie’s father, a former policeman and pig farmer, now being renovated for rental. Their life is full, hard-working, and rooted in a rare mix of tradition, passion, and resilience. In June, Camden Clydesdales hosted the Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand’s national AGM. This event showcased not only the horses, but the heart and heritage of a farming family committed to doing things their own way. Profitability still an issue Russell Fredric Former Federated Farmers Waikato share milking section chairman and Mid-Canterbury dairy vice chairman Matt Bell believes the New Zealand dairy industry is in a very interesting space. Despite the positive dairy economy, costs have been a considerable challenge, Matt says. With the last season’s final payout tipped to remain be $10 a kilogram of milk solids and a break-even point of around $8.60, profitability is a big issue for dairy farmers, Matt says. “In terms of contract milkers and sharemilkers actually being profitable, it’s a real challenge.” There are two other issues that he finds concerning are the ability of young people to enter the industry or buy a farm, and the proliferation of farm conversion into forestry. Regarding the former, he believes his view is controversial, but says older or well established dairy farmers buying additional farms inflates the price of land and makes it difficult for younger ones to have enough equity. “The older generation of farmers, good on them they took a risk, they made all this money, they bought these farms, but they buy the smaller farms the young ones want to buy and complain about the fact that there’s no young people wanting to come through the industry. Go figure. “I’ve put offers in to buy a farm and then the neighbour whose already got more than one farm comes in and overpays. I think farms succession is a real problem.” He sees full farm conversion into forestry as being extremely short-sighted. “You can’t blame the people selling those farms Despite the positive dairy economy, costs have been a considerable challenge. Silage • Under Sowing • Hay • Cultivation 0223004975 Mow 'N' GrowContracting LTD Servicing Te Akau, Raglan, Te Uku& surrounding areas 24 hour service PUMPING SPECIALISTS • House & Garden / Farm & Lifestyle / Industrial • Filtration Design & Installation - Farm & Lifestyle • Water Filter & UV Systems • Deepwell Lifting / 4WD Vehicles • Water bores/ Submersible pumps • FREE Domestic Loan Water Pump Available • Water Pump Sales / Service & Installation • Water Reticulation Design & Installation • P.E.S. Trenching Services - Pipeline & Cable • Pool Pumps & Filters / Bioguard Pool Care PUMP & ELECTRICAL SERVICES sales@pesltd.co.nz www.pumpandelectrical.co.nz 25 Lincoln St, Hamilton Ph 07 846 0678 Hamilton Ph 07 828 7552 Huntly 12 Main Street, Huntly Moore Markhams Whanganui is part of a global network of offices, providing accounting and advisory services, advising local, national and international clients in the public and private sectors. (0)6 349 0888 wg@markhams.co.nz markhams.co.nz Whanganui Accountants and Advisors LACHLAN JENKINS AND JAMIE SUGDEN WHANGANUI IS PROUD TO SUPPORT FARM SOURCE WAVERLEY PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS. nzfarmsource.co.nz because sheep and beef farmers haven’t made money for years and years. They might be able to sell their big farm and buy a nice farm and do it debt free and then they’ll be away.” “But ultimately it will be a disaster. I’ve got friend who are down carbon farm roads; they said they’re just overrun with pigs and deer and long grass.” It is Matt and his wife Samantha’s third season 50/50 sharemilking 430 cow farm at Raglan, having previously been contract milkers for 1800 cows in Mid Canterbury. They have three children and for them, the move was about reprioritising, family and lifestyle and they are loving their new life and the warmer climate, but there have still been challenges. “The chicory was a bit of a disaster last year. We got hit with cut worm and because it was so dry it never really took off. I wish I had done turnips, but lessons have been learnt, I’ll do turnips this year. “That really affected yields and then we rolled into a very long dry period.” The past season started with a tough, “cold and slow” spring. Calving starts each season on July 1. Matt is focused on running an old-school low input system 1 operation on the farm’s 161 hectare effective platform, supported by a 35 hectare run-off across the road, with a 40 a-side herringbone shed with automatic cup removers. “This farm trumps every other farm we looked at for infrastructure, the lanes and tracks are awesome, the fencing, the cowshed is perfect in the middle, great housing, great location and an amazing farm owner and we are 15 minutes to put the boat in the water.”
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