DairyNZ: Strong payouts offset high farm costs
The dairy sector is in a relatively stable position, with strong milk price payout forecasts continuing to offset ongoing high farm costs, according to DairyNZ.
The inspiration for a partnership came about during a conversation on the sidelines of a school rugby game. John Fegan, who was a Lincoln University alumnus and parent of St Peter's School students, and Andy West, former Lincoln University Vice Chancellor, could see how a collaboration could revitalise the farm, and benefit the school, the university, and the dairy industry.
Ballance, DairyNZ, Fonterra, LIC, PGG Wrightson Seeds, Opus, and Westpac came on board to support the initiative as industry partners. Four of these companies (DairyNZ, Fonterra, PGG Wrightson Seeds, and Westpac) have continued to back Owl Farm over the entire intervening period and have been recently joined by Ravensdown.
The initial goals were to renovate the operation, showcase good farm practices underpinned by science, strengthen ties between the school and farm, and encourage young people to join the industry.
The role of demonstration manager was created to lead the on-farm team, action the recommendations of the committees guiding the farm's direction and liaise with the industry and wider public. Doug Dibley was the first demonstration manager to take on the job.
"I was there right from the start - through the formation of the joint venture and bringing the various partners on board," says Doug.
"The farm was an average size and in average condition - exactly the sort of property you'd typically see in the industry. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate to local farmers how an average farm could be transformed. The farm always had a well-bred herd, but there were opportunities to optimise performance, especially through pasture and infrastructure improvement.
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"The Management Committee included two or three local farmers with strong ties to the school and excellent business skills, plus an operational representative from each of the seven partners. Each partner brought valuable expertise - for example, Ballance had nutrient specialists, and PGG Wrightson Seeds provided agronomists who could significantly improve our farm systems from a crop and pasture perspective.
"My first year was all about establishment - supporting the creation of those structures, transitioning the on-farm staff to the demonstration model, and adapting to what was essentially 'farming in a fishbowl'.
"Once we had the farm more firmly established, we began developing the long-term strategy for creating a financially viable, sustainable, profitable, and productive operation with strong health and safety systems.
"Those first couple of years were also about engaging with the public and the school. We hosted open days. We also worked closely with the school's agronomy students to give them practical, hands-on farm experience.
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Andrew West (Left) and John Fegan (Right). |
“One of our biggest early projects was building a constructed treatment wetland to help denitrify shallow groundwater before it reached the Waikato River.
“Partway through my time there, we brought on Tom Buckley as the farm manager. He stayed throughout Louise Cook’s time as demonstration manager and most of Jo Sheridan’s tenure as well. Tom was outstanding – open to feedback, adaptable, and unflappable.
He was in the role for two years, laying the groundwork for bigger strategic changes that came later under Cook and Sheridan.
“The highlights for me were the open days, engaging with local farmers, working closely with partners, and developing a strategic view of farming systems. I was still relatively young, and the role gave me the opportunity to grow, develop new skills, and contribute to a significant change in direction for the farm and the school.”
Louise Cook was employed as the school’s next demonstration manager in 2017 with the goal of building on the foundations Doug and the team had put in place, and taking the farm on the next stage of its journey.
Ability To Evolve
Jo Sheridan is the current demonstration manager and came on board in 2019. She oversees the current operation which comprises 142ha milking 360 cows in a DairyNZ System 2, aiming to produce 400-440 kgMS/cow annually.
“When I joined Owl Farm in 2019 it had great infrastructure, a great manager, and a clear strategic direction captured within the Wagon Wheel KPIs,” says Jo.
“From the start, one of the key areas I focused on was ensuring Owl Farm met community and industry expectations around what dairy farming in New Zealand should look like. Particularly our impact on water quality and nitrogen loss to the Waikato River. Another key focus was understanding the implications of climate change, how we adapt to that and our responsibilities around mitigating our greenhouse gas emissions.”
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Grant Edwards welcoming people at the 10th anniversary celebrations. |
Owl Farm aims to achieve a downward trend in its key environmental indices, in particular greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen loss.
“A big highlight for me during my time here has been our ability to evolve, adapting our nitrogen use so it is more efficient,” says Jo. “There are enough science, technology and mitigation strategies available for dairy farmers to ensure that our nitrogen’s cycling more efficiently within our system and we have minimal loss to our wider environment.”
Over the last ten years Owl Farm’s modelled nitrogen loss figures have shown a significant improvement, dropping from 40 kg/ha/yr in 2014/15 to 24 kg/ha/yr last season.
In the area of animal wellbeing, in 2018 Owl Farm made a significant shift, introducing their “purposeful lives for calves” policy.
Education Role
Unlike a typical dairy farm Owl Farm also has a significant commitment to nurturing positive connections with, and educational opportunities for, school and tertiary students, farmers, and the Waikato community at large.
“Another highlight for me is fostering Owl Farm’s relationship with St Peter’s School students and our community,” says Jo Sheridan.
“We’ve almost tripled the number of students who are studying in the food and fibre sector. It’s been a real pleasure to have the farm gates open to the wider public and knowing that we are farming in a way that brings pride and joy to those who are involved in the farm business and those who come and experience it.”
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Guests at the celebrations. |
Over 2000 people enter the farm gates every year, whether it is St Peter’s School students, farmers and rural professionals attending Focus Day events, or the public attending the annual Open Day. There are numerous other farm visitors – from primary school visits, through to industry organisations conducting research, international customers and cyclists looking across the boundary fence from the Te Awa Cycleway which borders the farm.
“Owl Farm is a special and unique resource for New Zealand and its dairy farmers”, says Jo.
