| 45 nzdairy New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards » Milkoad Ltd The family were early adopters of OAD milking, a decision that significantly improved lifestyle balance while also enhancing cow health. Celebrating five generations on Fern Flats Anna Boswell South Taranaki’s Milkoad Ltd has been recognised for more than a century and a half of continuous family farming, receiving a rare sesquicentennial honour through the NZ Century Farm Awards. Current owner and fifth generation dairy farmer, Conna Bourke-Smith, says the recognition – a surprise for her parents Robert and Verna Bourke – is a tribute to the care and hard work her parents, and their ancestors, have bestowed on the property. The farm’s story began in 1873, when Patrick Alexander Bourke purchased 604 acres (244 hectares) of railway reserve land on what is now bordering Kaharoa Rd and Putahi Rd. Having mined gold at Gabriel’s Gully in Otago, he arrived at the land auction an unassuming figure. When doubts were raised about his ability to pay, Patrick silenced the room by producing a bag of pure gold from his swag - earned through long days on the goldfields. He named the property Fern Flats, reflecting the dense fern and native bush that once dominated the landscape. Early development relied on hard physical labour, with ferns burned off in autumn and grass seed sown into the ash. Over time, Fern Flats was shaped into a productive dairy unit and passed down through the Bourke family line. Today, operating as Milkoad Ltd, the property comprises 181 acres (73 hectares). Although the original holding was split into several properties, Robert and Verna were able to buy back one section. Milkoad Ltd peaks at around 160 milking cows, with 180 calving, and has been once-a-day milking for 21 seasons. The family were early adopters of OAD milking, a decision that significantly improved lifestyle balance while also enhancing cow health and wellbeing. The herd consists of highly productive Jersey cows, well suited to the farm’s low-input system. Environmental care is a cornerstone of the operation. Approximately 18 hectares have been planted in trees under the Emissions Trading Scheme, alongside extensive wetland, riparian and shelter planting. These initiatives have reduced the farm’s environmental footprint and encouraged native birdlife to flourish. From the 2023/24 season onward, Conna completed the transition to a fully organic Jersey herd, building on several years of organic management. Conna says several people had asked them if they had a NZ Century Farm Award, so she enquired into the process of applying for one. Her sister, Vickilee, has a passion for genealogy and was responsible for collating all the information needed for the award, such as a written history of the farm, photographs and supporting documents. “It has been so cool to recognise our family history on the farm,” Conna says. At the heart of the NZ Century Farm Awards, now in its 20th year, is the recognition of pioneering families who transformed untamed land into the agricultural backbone of modern New Zealand. The programme captures and preserves rural histories that might otherwise be lost, with farm narratives, photographs and documents archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library for future generations. With Milkoad Ltd qualifying for a 150-year award, the honour reflects generations of sacrifice, commitment and pride in Fern Flats since 1873. + Increase Soil Moisture Retention + Increase in Bacteria & Fungi Levels + Humates High in Carbon + Increase Pasture Growth Improves Soil Health Southern Humates TRACTOR PARTS DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR HIGH QUALITY NEW AND USED PARTS FOR MOST TRACTOR MAKES & MODELS Delivered to your farm within 2-3 days NEW TRACTOR PARTS www.agspares.co.nz • 09 437 9036 REFURBISHED TRACTORS Case, JD, NH and more TRACTOR DISMANTLING All The Common Brands
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