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Field Day Programme Wednesday 3rd of April 2019 10:30am Welcome, Introductions and Health & Safety

Phillip van Heuven & Erin Brown, NZDIA Regional Managers Waikato Region

Lead facilitator of today’s field day is Kirsty Dickins, South Waikato Consulting Officer

10.35am Dairy Trainee of the Year – Matt Dawson Lizzy Moore, Hamilton North Consulting Office 10.45am Dairy Manager of the Year – Joe Kehely Angela Clarke, Waikato Trainee Consulting Officer 11.30am Share Farmers of the Year – Marc and Nia Jones Kirsty Dickins, South Waikato Consulting Officer 12:55pm Past Winner’s Reflection – Rosalie Piggott 1.05pm Lunch kindly sponsored by Carrfields Livestock and Farm Source

Health and Safety notices:

• All children must be supervised by an adult at all times • Visitors must remain with the group and follow signs and directions • The farm has a non-smoking policy • This is an agricultural workplace, please take care • Please see one of the DairyNZ team is you require any assistance

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2019 Results

Share Farmer of the Year Marc and Nia Jones (Tokoroa)

Runner Up Sarah and Aidan Stevenson (Waitoa)

Third Monique and John Dickson (Tirau)

Dairy Manager of the Year Joe Kehely (Putaruru)

Runner Up Daisy Higgs (Morrinsville)

Third Gursimran Singh Jhalli (Te Awamutu)

Dairy Trainee of the Year Matt Dawson (Hamilton)

Runner Up Crystal Scown (Otorohanga)

Third Jonathan McBride (Hamilton)

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Merit Awards Dairy Trainee of the Year

I.S Dam Lining Ltd Most Promising Entrant Award Kevin Arenhold

FarmRight Farming Knowledge Award Matt Dawson

Blue Grass Contracting Communication & Engagement Award Arsh Bhardwaj

Waikato Farmers Trust Community & Industry Involvement Award Georga Sanders

DairyNZ Practical Skills Awards Crystal Scown

Dairy Manager of the Year

Pioneer Most Promising Entrant Award Jen Hodgson

Blackman Spargo Rural Law Ltd Leadership Award Joe Kehely

Staples Rodway Employee Engagement Award Kendall Belton

Fonterra Dairy Management Award Joe Kehely

DeLaval Livestock Management Award Joe Kehely

Primary ITO Power Play Award Daisy Higgs

ADM Feed Management Award Joe Kehely

Westpac Financial Management & Planning Award Joe Kehely

Share Farmer of the Year

DairyNZ Human Resources Award Marc and Nia Jones

Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award Sarah and Aidan Stevenson

Federated Farmers Leadership Award Marc and Nia Jones

Honda Farm Safety and Health Award Marc and Nia Jones

LIC Recording and Productivity Award Sarah and Aidan Stevenson

Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award Monique and John Dickson

Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award Monique and John Dickson

Westpac Business Performance Award Sarah and Aidan Stevenson

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DAIRY TRAINEE OF THE YEAR Matt Dawson (Hamilton)

Judges citations for Matt Dawson’s Merit Awards Farming Knowledge Award Matt should be commended on his industry training which has contributed to his well-rounded, particularly in the areas of animal health, feeding, calving and mating management.

Background

• Grew up on Family Farm at Horsham Downs • 4 brothers and 2 stepbrothers • Left Hamilton Boys High School at the end of year 11 with NCEA Level 2 • 4 years as farm assistant • First season assistant manager with current employer Henri Pennings 620 cows • Married to Tayla • 1st child due in June

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Farm Overview • Employed as assistant manager • Employed by Henri Pennings • 230ha milking platform milking 620 Friesian bred cows (Stocking rate 2.6 cows per ha) • Target production of 300 000 kgms (483 kgms per cow) • Spring calving system 3. Imported supplements include

o Maize o PKE/DDG/Kibbled Maize/Soya bean mix o Molasses o Straw o Left over goat feed

• Cropping 30ha maize grown on farm • PSC 25th June • Herd BW 82/46 PW 123/67 • Focus on growing and utilising as much grass as possible. Using supplements to fully feed cows to

maximise production.

Goals

• 2019/2020 season start lower order sharemilking job 340 cows • 2021 start purchasing young stock to build up to 20% of animals in the herd • Within 5 years larger scale contract milking/lower order position • 8-10 years 50/50 or equity partnership • 10 years 800 cow farm in equity partnership

Motivators

• Enjoy what you do all the money in the world doesn’t matter if you hate your job • Strive to be the best farmer in NZ • Improve standards sustainability/staff/environment • Passionate about fully feeding cows all year round to maximise production, growing and utilising

grass pasture first, maximising profit

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Training

• Level 3 Feeding and Pastures • Level 3 Animal Health • Level 3 Breeding • Milk Quality One and Two • Level 4 Dairy and NZ Apprenticeship • Production Management Level 5 • Currently taking a break but will continue with the NZ Diploma in Agribusiness Management

Off Farm Interests

• Camping • Fishing • Indoor Netball • Tough Mudder (with his brothers) • Snow Boarding • Church youth group

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DAIRY MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Joe Kehely (Putaruru)

Judges citations for Joe Kehely’s Merit Awards Blackman Spargo Rural Law Ltd Leadership Award Joe showed leadership in the implementation of the farming system, and the mentoring of junior staff on farm. He is actively involved in industry organisations including farm discussion groups and young farmers club. Joe has the potential to be a role model for industry participants in the future. ADM Feed Management Award Joe demonstrated a very good understanding of the mechanics of pasture management within an intensive feeding system. The pasture at the time of visiting the property was well managed and clear strategies were in place to achieve an extended milking lactation. There was cohesive reporting and planning in place between all stakeholders. Fonterra Farm Source Dairy Management Award Joe demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of milk quality and the aspects of his operation that impacts it on a daily basis. He identified and sought solutions to ensure that the highest quality milk was presented. DeLaval Livestock Management Award The judges felt Joe recognised livestock performance as a cornerstone of the owner’s business. Joe was implementing industry best practice with a view to improving the KPI’s in this area.

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Westpac Personal Planning & Financial Management Award Joe and his partner Danielle have a detailed and attainable plan for career growth. Equity growth is a strong focus with considerable momentum already achieved. They show excellent skills in budgeting and goal setting. The judges are impressed with their progress so far and agree that farm ownership is an attainable goal for them as a couple.

Background

• Joes family have a 1000 ha 1200 cow dairy farm outside of Tauranga • He was always heavily involved in the farm growing up and relief milked often • Joe left school at 16 and moved to Te Awamutu for one season where he was a farm assistant/2IC,

milking 400 cows in a split calving system • He then moved to Tirau (current farm) for one season, working for Chris and Linda Tomlain where he

managed 140 cows • After his season in Tirau he moved back to Tauranga. There Joe and Danielle managed 420 cows for

Joes brother who was managing two 50:50 sharemilking jobs • They moved back to their current farm in January that season running 240 cows as a couple and

overseeing the whole 600 cow operation with Chris Tomlain • Joe and Danielle married in February 2014 • They are now going contract milking on a 700 cow farm in Kaitaia

Farm Overview

• Joe and Danielle are employed as managers • Farm is owned by Tomlain Farms and overseen by Chris & Lynda Tomlain (operational managers) • 106 effective ha • Stocking rate 2.4 cows/ha • Target production 120,000 kgMS total, 500kgMS/cow • System 4 farm • Supplements include

o 750 kg maize/cow o 750 kg in-shed/cow (PKE, DDG, brewers' grain, wheat, soy hull, minerals) o 150 kg hay and silage/cow

• 5ha of Chicory is planted on farm • The shed is a 24 aside herringbone with swing overs and in-shed feeding • 1600mm of annual rainfall

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Responsibilities

• Day to day operations of the 240 cow farm • MINDA records • Calving 600 cows (3 farms) • Overseeing the other two farms

Challenges of the farm

• Contour 80% rolling, 20% steep • High empty rate 18% • Distance - furthest walk 2.2km

Strategies to manage these challenges

• Contour and distance: o Pasture walks are important for Joe to see how much surplus/deficit is ahead and how many

paddocks to pull in or take out of the milking platforms round o From this they select paddocks at the back of the farm for spring silage to minimize walking o Far and steep paddocks are grazed by calves, and by beef animals in the summer

• High empty rate o Focused on targeting optimum BCS at calving by using selective dry off

o Sent all staff to a mating management workshop o Use training and regular tail painting to be proactive not reactive during mating. o Feed Megalac to help cycling

Strengths of the farm

• The farm has a high per cow production • Farm scale allowed him to progress into a managing role • Free draining soils • Good summer rainfall • Being able to manage as a couple

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Training and Development

• Joe has his Primary ITO milk quality Levels 1&2. Level 3 feeding and pastures, and Level 4 breeding. He is currently working on his Level 5 Agri-business. Danielle has a diploma in travel and tourism management and is working on her level 5 Agri-business also.

• They attend DairyNZ discussion groups and events/workshops • Joe is LIC AB trained • They are members of Young Farmers- Joe competed in FMG young farmer of the year • They attend dairy relevant MPI meetings • He was a speaker for the Ballance Development Team Panel in Rotorua

Goal setting

• In the short-term Joe and Danielle are moving to Kaitaia to contract milk a system 2, 700 cow farm for Far North Pastures Ltd for 2-3 seasons

• After that they have then lined up a system 3-4 sharemilking job at a neighbouring farm milking 1600 cows

• In the next 5 or so years they plan to start a family and have a good work life balance • By the age of 30 they hope to buy a farm (though equity forecaster predicts 27) and keep the

sharemilking job for income with staff on, to help pay their farm ownership debt • By the age of 40 they hope to be debt free, not have the sharemilking job or be milking on the

home farm and have a runoff where they raise young stock, beef and bees • When they have the position and time, they hope to give back to their community by starting a

school gateway program for teen agriculture and help give back to the industry by progressing young people like the people who have helped them

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Financial Goals

• Spend 2-3 years contract milking to generate $600,000 • Sell their 2 rental properties for a value of $700,000 and be debt free with the money going

towards buying cows • Buy a 35% deposit on 1300 cows valued at $1600 • Earn $500,000 a year by 30, and buy first farm (200ha)

What is the biggest challenge facing you now?

• Moving to a new area away from friends and family and starting over • Work life balance

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SHARE FARMER OF THE YEAR Marc and Nia Jones (Tokoroa)

Judges citations for Marc and Nia Jones’s Merit Awards DairyNZ Human Resources Award Marc and Nia exuded passion in their commitment to looking after their team and we were absolutely blown away with the way you articulated your visions and goals for both yourselves and the ones that you decided as a team. Federated Farmers Leadership Award As new arrivals to New Zealand, the Jones’ have thrown themselves into both their community and the dairy industry. How they manage to fit all their activities into their days was a mystery to us, but we were simply blown away with this aspect of their lives. From starting a local progression group, developing and utilising local community networks and having various groups on farm for demonstrations and activities their days were filled with many examples of great initiative and leadership. Well done! Honda Farm Safety, Health & Biosecurity Award After washing our boots many times, being continually reminded to put our seat belts on and observing all the many and varied systems on farm it is pretty obvious that the Jones and their team live and breathe health, safety and biosecurity. Embracing new technology, including making videos to showcase their standard operating procedure, there was little we could fault.

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Background • Both Marc and Nia were born and raised in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales • Marc left school at 16 to go onto Agricultural College for 2 years • Nia went to Cardiff University after school and studied Sports and physical education. Completing

it with a BSc Hons • In 2009 Marc travelled to NZ and worked on this exact farm for 2 years. This was where his passion

for dairy farming in NZ started • Nia travelled through NZ in 2011 and also loved the country • They married in 2014 on Nia's home farm • In 2014 they entered their first contract milking position, 400 cows in North Wales • In 2016 they decided to make the move to NZ where they started off in Southland. Marc as an

Operations Manager and Nia as a herd manager on a neighbouring farm • The following year they were offered an opportunity to return to the farm Marc originally worked

on for Sarah Elliot who is sharemilking for her parents Margaret and the late Ian Elliot. They managed for one year, stayed on, and are currently in their first year of Contract milking

Farm Owner/s: Margaret and the late Ian Elliot. Sharemilker Sarah Elliot. Area: 270 effective hectares, this includes 35ha of leased milking platform Soil: Makiekie Pumice and Otorohanga Allophanic Rainfall: 1550mm average Fertility: pH P K S 5.6 – 6.0 26 – 53 3 – 6 14 - 22 Pastures: Predominantly ryegrass and clover. 16ha of Maize is grown on farm

represents 6% of the milking platform. New grass paddocks (Base) has had plantain added to the mix for environmental purposes. 2ha of Swedes are planted on the platform to help transition dry cows before heading to the runoff for wintering.

Drainage: Relatively free draining soils Farm Dairy: 60 Bail Rotary with ACR’s and Protrack Special Features: Farm Hazard Map

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Vision and goals:

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Stock and Production

Farm KPI’s (targets)

2018/19 Target

(100% Spring)

2017/18

(winter milked)

2016/17

(Split Calving)

2015/16

(Split Calving)

Production (kg MS)

430,000 421,280 436,495 417,850

Cows Milked 970 970 1050 1050

Effective ha 270 270 270 270

Stocking Rate 3.6 cows/ha 3.6 cows/ha 3.9 cows/ha 3.9 cows/ha

kgMS/cow 443 434 416 398

kgMS/ha 1593 1566 1617 1548

Empty rate 12% 17%

Herd Details Breed of herd: FX Breed BW: 87/46 PW: 132/66 Calving Date: 15th July, heifers 10th July 6-week in-calf rate: 77% Mating length 12 weeks

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Mating Management: • TAD milking all year • The whole herd was metro checked, 10% of the herd were metro cured. Most of the cows metro

cured were the cows that had transitioning problems • Pre-mating management includes tail painting four weeks before Planned start of mating and

recording heats twice a week (compromise, as have 12 weeks of AB, and not doing an additional 4 weeks)

• Mating starts on the 8th of October with 12 weeks of AB. To manage fatigue, all staff are trained to pick cows on heat. An AB roster is run with Marc and Preet leading and Jas and Ravi training. Two heat detection aids are used at all times; tail paint, and Kmars

• A why wait programme and CIDRs used. 28% of cows are CIDR’ed. Cows are selected in windows based on BW, 35 plus days calved that have not cycled or after 5 weeks AB

• 90% Friesian A2 and 10% crossbred and the undesirables go to a short gestation Hereford • 100% LIC

Animal health: Key livestock focus areas this year have been Improving reproduction and reducing the number of cases of Mastitis.

• BCS at calving has been a key driver. ½ of the herd (Thinner and older cows) were wintered on farm to better manage the groups of animals. Protrack was used to make groups bases on BCS, calving date and SCC

• 2ha of Swedes were planted on the milking platform to enable cows to be transitioned well before leaving the platform. This set them up for wintering and returning at the optimum BCS

• Transition into calving – 8-10% down cows over peak calving. Tranisitoning high performing dairy cows has been a big learning curve. Next season look to tranisiton earlier, using Mg and Gypsium. Also bringing them onto the feedpad to reduce the chance of wastage and best utilisation of minerals

Mastitis

• Dry off management – selective DCT treatments • Staph – Managed by tracking historical data, noting any cows that have high or SCC that are

peaking. These cows are milked last and are culled heavily at the end of the season

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On Farm Management Health & Safety

• Marc and Nia run weekly team meetings where health and safety is a key agenda item. These include, hazards for the week, contractors, visitors, bike or machinery inspections etc

• WhatsApp is a key App that is used to keep the team informed and update, with all team members posting to the chat about new hazards

• Marc created SOP – Standard operating procedures, as a training process and something that staff can refer back to and have confidence that they are doing the right thing

• They have a Hazard Map with no go zones for health, safety and biosecurity • Training on competency for driving and operating machinery is important. Emergency practise drill

twice a year

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Farm System The farm fits into the System 5 definition with 2TDM/c, 30% of supplement imported for the 18/19 season. This season they grew 16ha of Maize on the platform compared to 10ha the previous season. Imported supported supplement includes;

• PKE • Inshed feeding mix – PKE, DDG, Tapioca – this mix is adjusted throughout the season • Grass silage is imported from the runoff • Hay is purchased in

Wintering

• 400 cows are wintered off on Swedes for an average of 80 days on the runoff • 27% of Replacements are reared with 20% of them coming into the herd as R2yrs. All calves are

gone by Christmas, leaving the platform when they reach 105kg. R2yrs return 15-20th June Pasture Management Marc and Nia’s 10 commandments of pasture are;

1. Thou shall increase pasture and crop eaten to drive profit 2. Thou shall graze to 1500kgDM/ha to maximise ME 3. Thou shall have a 3-leaf pre-graze 4. Thou shall maximise home grown feed 5. Thou shall do weekly pasture walks during lactation 6. Thou shall open the season at an average pasture cover of 2500kgDM/ha and close at

2100kgDM/ha 7. Thou shall on/off graze in poor conditions 8. Thou shall analyse and re-grass the worst performing paddocks 9. Thou shall have power on fences to maintain round length 10. Thou shall follow spring rotation planner and autumn budgets.

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Strategies for pasture management include;

• Visual assessments are completed weekly. Information is then used in AgriNet which is an Irish grass management software. Feed Budgets, Spring Rotation Planner (SRP), winter budgets, and annual tonnage are pulled out through this software

• The annual pasture tonnage is used for selecting paddocks to regrass and plant into maize and swedes

• Pasture and feed management includes; Starting with an autumn feed budget, which leads into a winter feed budget, then into a SRP and finally a summer wedge management. This process allows Marc to balance growth and demand throughout the season

• They start on a winter rotation of 130 days and using the SRP reduce this down to a 21-day round at balance date. The 21 day round includes Mazie and Swede area out of the rotation

• The Average Pasture Cover Targets include 2100kgDM/ha at the end of the season and 2500kgDM/ha at Planned Start of Calving

• The farm is only topped strategically to manage pasture quality • Three standoff pads are used over the winter/spring to reduce pasture damage when conditions

are wet • Supplements are used to fill the wedge between supply and demand. The In-shed feed – Holds

Minerals usually a flat rate throughout the season, and maize and PKE fluctuate with amount of pasture available

• Look at feeds to give the rest response at different times of year ie protein and starch • Preferential feeding with select groups through the autumn period for BCS

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Environmental

• All waterways are fenced • Surface water exits from the property are riparian planted • Out of the 270 effective hectares, 93% has effluent applied to and the remaining 7% has solids

applied by contractors • There are two clay lined ponds that have passed a drop test. Two travelling irrigators and a gun

are used • The Maize and Swedes blocks have the highest amount of leaching in the nutrient budget. They

are looking to slot drill Maize and direct drill Swedes to reduce the N loss to water

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• According to the 2017/18 nutrient budget above, the Nitrogen leaching risk (N to water) for the

whole farm was calculated at 38 kg/ha/yr for the pasture block • Soil test are completed annually. The results show a wide range across the milking platform. They

are using soil fertility results to increase home grown feed and minimise environmental risk. The sidling's have the largest potential

• Nitrogen is applied by contractors in blocks following the cows. The total amount of N applied for the season is 60kgN/ha

• Tracmap is used for placement of fertiliser • Water efficiency – storm water diversion. Going forward would like to look at the cost/benefit of

putting in a green wash system. Communication & Human Resources On this farm there are several levels of people to communicate with: Farm owners, sharemilkers, overseer, rural professionals, mentors as well as the team. Farm Owners and Sharemilkers

• Have a WhatsApp Kennedy Farm Leaders group to keep everyone updated • Regular emails are shared between parties • Compile quarterly farm reports to keep all parties in the loop • Have an annual strategic management meeting to reassess goals and where they are heading for

the next season

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Team

• The team consists of Marc, Preet, Jas and Ravi. Nia completes the admin, financials, runs team meetings, rears calves, and fills in as required

• The PaySauce App is used for timesheets as well as task allocation so they can annually monitor how much time is taken to do certain jobs and calculate and improve efficiencies

• Staff are on an 8:2, 8:3 roster, with one sleep in a week • Marc and Nia target a maximum 50/hr week- finished by 5pm. Family time and creating a good

work life balance is a high priority • They try to operate in as flat a structure as possible away from hierarchy by sharing responsibilities • Their calving roster is created with learning and variety in mind. New staff learn new skills and

progress using a buddy system. This ensures everyone can take on any job at any time of the year. This gives variety as well as reducing the risk of not having someone on farm without a certain skill or training

• At the start of the season they have team and individual meetings to set goals for both people and the farm. These meetings determine what they would like people to train and progress in, as well as setting farm targets and team values

• Initial goals are followed up with meetings throughout the year on seasonal and topical things using a plan, do, review, reveal process. E.g. re-assessing how calving went, what they would do differently as a team, what they enjoyed and didn’t, and how they can improve.

• Weekly meetings are held outlining upcoming tasks, rosters, and any health and safety updates • All farm policies and procedures are in a folder at the shed with a tag labelling system for

operating the shed • Whiteboards are at the shed that are used to visualise the discussed weekly pasture

management, and tasks lists • They believe culture setting is incredibly important and focus on core values, the people's

hierarchy of needs which includes good rosters. They like make an enjoyable work environment even having some fun and including partners and family in events

• Multiple team dinners and outings are held throughout the season for morale, fun and reward

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Business team • Accountant (Jasmine Van der Heyden, Graham Browne and CO) • Bank manager BNZ (Kerry Curtis) • Mentors (George Moss, Andrew Archer, and the late Ian Elliot) • Sales/product reps; (South Waikato Vets, Farm source Tokoroa, Pioneer, Ecolab, John Sevens

Limited Electricians, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, LIC, Neven Granich Contracting, Ron Rosso Bulk Spreading and Rural Contractors.)

Personal development • Attend discussion groups, progression groups, and other events that will help progress

themselves and their business • Are involved in piloting programmes such as Farm Gauge and Building Capability through

Learning Plans (BCLP) • They have used the Farm Gauge Tool to explore opportunities for improvement in much further

detail and have put process in place to improve these areas • They have utilised Dairy Connect to connect with farmers on a range of different topics • Entered Dairy Industry Awards • They assist the team with financial budgets, and act as mentors for past staff • Encourage and help with PITO development for staff • Were hosts for an episode of Farming in NZ – advocating NZ farming on a Welsh TV programme

Financial key performance indicators (KPIs)

Breakeven Milk Price Budget and Trending

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Marc and Nia complete an annual budget and cashflow at the beginning of the season using the DairyNZ templates. Budgets vs actuals are reviewed with BankLink and are reconciled monthly. Farm working expenses (as well as Mark) are monitored closely.

Equity Growth over 10 years, staying Contract milking vs Sharemilking at Year 4

Marc and Nia have also prepared budgets for collaboration as a way of progressing quicker.

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