40 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Dodunski and Fleming Kim Bowden This year Jonty Fleming placed third in the Dairy Trainee of the Year category for Canterbury/North Otago at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards. Day to day, he manages Beaumaris Dairies, a 180 effective-hectare farm near Lake Ellesmere. The award follows a quick progression from university student and parttime farmhand to managing the property. As part of the awards process, Jonty joined other trainees for a practical skills day and judging. “It was really hands-on, getting out there and testing your skills, seeing what’s going well and what isn’t,” he says. “As a manager I’ve done quite a lot of it, so nothing was really new, but it was good to get that reassurance that I was on the right track and doing the right thing.” Jonty’s dairy career started with a summer job at Canterbury Grasslands in 2019, working under Simon Le Heron. He had been aiming for high country sheep and beef work, but says that experience, and a blunt assessment that “there’s no money in that, you need to go dairy farming”, shifted his focus. While studying at Lincoln University he worked parttime for employer Tony Dodunski, relief milking and helping manage lease blocks over summers. After graduating, he joined Beaumaris Dairies as second-in-charge, held that role for 18 months, and has been managing the farm for the past couple of seasons. He is quick to attribute a chunk of his progress to business mentors, including Tony, coach Kate Winter and Beaumaris Dairies board chair Geoff Lill. Stock work, problem solving and people management A major focus for Jonty this winter is a new solar installation to run the milking platform and the dairy shed’s main power needs. Jonty says he enjoys the combination of stock work, problem solving and people management that comes with his role. Having the scope from Tony to make on-farm decisions within agreed boundaries helps, as does the daily rhythm of a dairy farm. “Seeing the cows, seeing the sunrise...I just love being out here, really, getting stuck in,” he says. The farm runs 620 peak cows, producing approximately 450 kilograms of milk solids per cow each season. A major focus for Jonty this winter is a new solar installation to run the milking platform and the dairy shed’s main power needs, from refrigeration and hot water to the cows’ collars. He has been working through budgets, preparing the pad and liaising with the solar company. Battery storage is planned so the farm can keep operating when there are power cuts – not infrequent, Jonty says, with the farm “right at the end of the line”. The farm sits close to Lake Ellesmere and falls within an Environment Canterbury red zone. It means tighter scrutiny of its environmental performance. Since day one, planting natives - carex and flax, in particular - to fill gaps and line drains and driveways has been a part of Jonty’s job. He describes the stewardship role as an extra responsibility rather than a burden. “I know it’s part of the Dodunski philosophy, to look after the land and to look after people,” he says. “It’s a real key focus for this farm, and it’s something that I take pride in as well.” • Molasses Systems • Meal Systems • Bale Feeders • Cowshed Construction • General Engineering & More! ENGINEERING AGRICULTURAL LTD David James 51 Osterholts Rd, Ladbrooks, ChCh Ph: 027 220 2275 Pvt: 03 325 2762 e: djengineering@xtra.co.nz FERTILISER SPREADING | FARM MAPPING GPS TRACKING | VARIABLE RATE SPREADING LIVESTOCK CARTAGE | DAILY FREIGHT CONCRETE SUPPLIES | GRAIN CARTAGE SHINGLE SUPPLIES | FERTILISER SUPPLIES Leeston: 03 3248 070 | Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=