Waikato winners look for opportunities

 The McPhersons won $19,700 in cash and prizes at the region's Dairy Industry Awards dinner at Bledisloe Hall, Mystery Creek, near Hamilton on Saturday.

It was the first time the Te Awamutu farmers had entered the awards. "We entered to gain a better understanding of our business and of what we both contribute, as well as to sharpen our game and position ourselves for future opportunities," they said.

The other big winners at the 2013 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards were Gary McFarlane, winner of the Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, and Thomas Herbert, the 2013 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Andrew and Michelle McPherson are 50% sharemilking 500 cows for brothers Michael and Donald Macky and are in their ninth season 50% sharemilking, having progressively grown their business every three years.

"It's a great dairying location and we've got fabulous farm owners."

The couple are both aged 40 and have a goal to own a 360-400 cow dairy farm within 10 years. "In the meantime we'd like to stay 50% sharemilking and buy a 200 cow farm where we can put a manager on and provide a stepping stone for our staff."

Second place in the Waikato sharemilker/equity farmer contest went to Taupiri 50% sharemilker Aaron Price, aged 27, who won $13,400 in cash and prizes, and third went to Otorohanga 50% sharemilkers Dan and Michelle Brice, who won $4100.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

The 2013 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, Gary McFarlane, is keen to help new and young people progress in the dairy industry. Aged just 25 years himself, McFarlane won $13,400 in cash and prizes at the awards dinner.

It was the third time the Cambridge farm manager had entered the awards, doing so to further his skills, knowledge and involvement in the dairy industry. He is currently managing a 900 cow farm for Kevin and Gillian Monk.

He says the farm's strength is its use of technology. "I have some of the highest quality technology offered to me to make this farm run efficiently, like pasture monitoring programmes, protack, in-shed cow identification, weight identification on silage wagon and so on which all work together on a daily basis to achieve farm goals."

He says the farm also provides opportunities to learn and grow within the business. "Every opportunity has been offered to me and the other two staff to attend courses and further our knowledge in the dairy industry. It has made me realise that a key target of mine is to help young and new people in the industry to achieve their goals."
McFarlane's own goals are to achieve herd ownership within three years and to operate any business he runs or owns at the highest profit margin.

Second place in the 2013 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year went to Tokoroa contract milker James Heke, who won $5600 in prizes, and third went to Morrinsville contract milker Clem Schollum, who won $4000 in prizes.

After gaining confidence and pride from previously entering the awards, the 2013 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Thomas Herbert, says a short term goal is to increase his farming knowledge and to network with others in the industry.

Herbert, aged 23, is a farm assistant for Mike and Sue Visser on a 1000 cow Te Awamutu farm owned by a Maori syndicate, the Haurepo Trust. He won $6500 in cash and prizes.

He starts a 50% 230 cow sharemilking position next season, so says he will be focusing on reducing debt and meeting production targets through planning, budgeting and using available tools and resources. His goal is to expand to a 450 cow position in three years and ultimately achieve farm ownership.

"I am extremely motivated and passionate about the dairy industry and am very thankful to get into the final and have the opportunity to be recognised in the industry for further opportunities."

Second place in the dairy trainee contest went to Matamata assistant Daniel Duncan, who won $2600 in prizes. Matamata trainee Stephanie Broomfield placed third, winning $1300 in prizes.

Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Andrew and Michelle McPherson, will host a field day on April 4, while Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, Gary McFarlane, will host a field day on the Cambridge farm he manages on March 21. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
• Effluent and Irrigation Design First Time Entrant Award – Andrew & Michelle McPherson
• Blackman Spargo Legal Audit Award – Aaron Price
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Andrew & Michelle McPherson
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Mark & Cathy Nicholas
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Mark & Cathy Nicholas
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Aaron Price
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Aaron Price
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Aaron Price
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Aaron Price
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Andrew & Michelle McPherson

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• NRM Most Promising Farm Manager Award – Nic Coppard
• Anexa Animal Health Livestock Management Award – James Heke
• AgITO Human Resource Management Award – Clem Schollum
• Fonterra Best Practice Award – Gary McFarlane
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Gary McFarlane
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Kaylea Pamment

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Tara Miller
• The Dairy Exporter Farming Knowledge Award – Daniel Duncan