Thursday, 05 August 2021 07:55

Farming with a difference and loving it!

Written by  Staff Reporters
Bruce and Susan Turpie, Canterbury. Bruce and Susan Turpie, Canterbury.

Canterbury farmers Bruce and Susan Turpie love doing things differently on their 500ha farm.

They year-round milk 1,550 cows, mostly Holstein Friesian with a few Montbelliardes, and their nine-year-old dairy business, Kolmar Dairies Ltd supplies Synlait.

At the recent Synlait Dairy Honours Awards they picked up the 'Doing Milk Differently Award', which recognises farmers who demonstrate "Kiwi ingenuity" for solving a problem and pursuing a new opportunity.

The judges noted the Turpies' successful and innovative approach to farming.

Over the last six years, Bruce and his team moved towards calving four times a year to milk year-round. They have an intensive operation with two separate herds split between barn and paddock and rotated each 12-hour period. This system allows them to maximise feed and effectively get cows off paddock in winter, resulting in high production and strong pasture health and resilience.

Additionally, with a herd of over 1,550 cows, Bruce and his team have achieved zero bobby calves, an incredible achievement, according to the judges.

This has involved the use of Wagyu beef genetics and set semen selection, meaning non-replacement calvexs are able to be raised and sold into the beef industry.

Another notable aspect of this operation is the high staff numbers. Bruce has 15 team members and high staff retention. The judges noted that this can be attributed to an inclusive, positive culture.

"Aspects such as staff housing in Methven ensure employees are a part of the community, and cross-training opportunities mean staff are further developed in skills beyond their core roles.

"Kolmar Dairies Ltd is truly the epitome of what it means to Do Milk Differently."

Bruce Turpie told Dairy News that they were "pretty chuffed" with the award.

"It's good to get recognition for the work we're doing. We do things differently. We have a big amount of winter milk. We don't always take the easy path but we do things the way we want to do them and it works for us," he says.

Like most dairy farmers, the Turpies face challenges and like most farmers, labour shortages top of the list.

With the borders closed, Bruce says they just can't attract new juniors.

"We have enough senior staff but it's harder to get juniors.

"In the past we'd get them from overseas and then they'd progress up from there, but we just can't get the juniors here in New Zealand."

When it comes to staff management, Bruce believes farmers just have to be proactive.

"And we try really hard to make sure staff are happy and want to stay with us."

Sustainability is also a priority for the Turpies.

They have a Herd Home and 50% of the herd utilise it all year round.

"It reduces our nitrate issues and means we can control it as much as possible," says Bruce.

The farm is part of Synlait's 'Lead with Pride' initiative and meets some pretty stringent sustainability measures as a baseline.

Just A Blip

Synlait is going through a challenging period but the Turpies have full confidence in the company.

Bruce Turpie says they are very happy supplying milk to the listed milk processor.

"They've been through some tough times recently but you can't blame them for that," he says. "They had a big expansion with liquid milk and Pokeno and maybe went a bit big, a bit quick but we're all guilty of that as business owners sometimes.

"And then Covid happened and there was a bit of pressure on a2, but they'll come out the other side and we see it as just a one-year blip. They'll be leaner and stronger for it."

More like this

Deal to bring cost relief for farmers

Listed milk processor Synlait is partnering with rural retailer Farmlands to deliver exclusive discounts to farmer suppliers, who have been battling high farm input costs for the past two years.

Synlait's woes mounting

Synlait Milk's financial woes are mounting with farmer suppliers expressing concern about the state of the Canterbury milk processor.

Share tumble

OPINION: If you are an investor in listed Canterbury milk processor, Synlait then you may have a reason to be worried.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter