34 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Merivale Farms Stock on swede. New grass after development (inset). Rosa Watson Over five decades, the Ardern family have transformed “third grade” areas of their property on the western slopes of Mt Taranaki to highly productive and effective land. Neville and Bev Ardern own Merivale Farms at Te Kiri in partnership with their two sons and their wives, Thomas and Monique and Noel and Jo. The company is made up of three entities – Merivale Partnership, Ardern Family Farms Ltd and Tom Hargreaves Farms Ltd. All are 200 hectares effectively and adjoin each other. There is also 58 hectares at Riverlea for growing Maize and winter grazing crops, which goes back to the dairy platforms. Overall, there are 1700-odd cows across the properties. Neville says development continues to be a big focus for the farming operation. “We’ve continued to try and improve the land through drainage and contouring,” Neville says. “That has been our point of difference here, and we’ve managed to develop a lot of land and basically double its production.” It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of money, he says. Of the 700 hectares across the property, around 500 hectares has been developed. “There’s still probably 100 hectares to go.” Each development helps fund the next one, Neville says. “As you spend that money then you get extra money and that helps you fund the next one.” Creating a more sustainable operation has also been a high priority, such as introducing solid separation for effluent on all three farms. “It helps us get organic matter and so we don’t have to buy so much fertiliser,” Neville says. It also reduces nitrogen inputs, increasing the amount of soil testing being carried out. “So, we’re only putting on nutrients that’s required.” While more land has been developed, the operation has maintained a steady growth and high production in its herd. All three farms are doing an excess 500 kilogrammes of milk solids per cow. “We only slowly increase (herd size) as better land comes on, and the production is steadily increasing.” Minerals are fed to cattle in the cow shed through a machine called a mineraliser that feeds molasses and trace elements like zinc. “We no longer have to go out and dust the paddocks, because we give it to them all at the cow shed. “Which is good for labour saving, machinery saving and also health and safety when it comes to rough land, because you’re not expecting someone to try and tow a spreader around on a motorbike.” He says they achieve a “respectable” empty rate of around seven to eight per cent. “We used to be better, but as you get higher in production, that’s one of the downsides. It’s tough Ardern family transform ‘third grade’ areas for the cow to produce all that and then she’s got to get in calf as well. “That’s something that we work very hard on, trying to minimise empty cows.” He says the development improves health and safety for staff, animal health and the environment. “I believe we improve it for the human, and I believe we improve it for the environment, and we also improve it for the cow.” This year, Thomas and Monique moved to the Tom Hargreaves property that they have a 50 per cent share in, with a goal to taking it over. They sold their dairy herd to the Arden farm, that is run by Dion Beer, who has been working for the family for nine years and is 25 per cent share milking. On the Merivale property, Dion’s younger brother, Aiden, who has worked for the family since leaving school 13 years ago, is contract milking, looking to go 25 per cent share milking next year. “My aim is to look after them, and we’ll try and get them to help them progress and get asset,” CONTACT US FOR ALL YOUR TRACTOR & MACHINERY NEEDS TARANAKI LIMITED 101 Broadway, Stratford 4332 | 06 765 8643 admin@ eldtorque.co.nz | www. eldtorque.co.nz Taranaki’s only authorised dealer for Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Valtra & Iseki Phone: (03) 341 8490 Email: admin@aakland.co.nz Website: www.aakland-chemicals.co.nz 88 Treffers Road, PO Box 323, Sockburn Free On-Farm Delivery Free On-Farm Service S A G Contracting Earthworks, Drainage and Metal Supplies. Proud to support Merivale Farms Phone Steve Gibson 027 475 2006 Neville says. Meanwhile, Noel runs the machinery side of the operation, leading the development work, coordinating crops, fertiliser, sileage. “I help with most of the digger work, and help Noel. I go wherever I’m needed. If something’s broken down, it’s generally me, they call,” Neville says. He says the operation is balancing improving its environment with increasing production. “We are trying to be environmentally sensible and get as much production as we can out of the cows, and do it as economically and environmentally sustainable as we can.”
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