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CAN CANTERBURY repeat its clean sweep of the Dairy Industry Awards come the national event in Wellington in May? That question was posed at last week’s Canterbury / North Otago regional final awards night in Ashburton, prompted by the region’s representatives having taken all three titles last year.
Taking the crusade to the capital for the region this year will be 50/50 sharemilkers Morgan and Hayley Easton, who won the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title, Farm Manager of the Year Richard Pearse, and Dairy Trainee of the Year Adam Caldwell.
Judges said the sharemilker/equity farmer contest was tight, and they were extremely impressed with the calibre of entrants and the businesses they run.
Morgan (30) and Hayley (27) have for five years developed the 365ha property of David and Clare Easton on the south side of the Waitaki river, increasing cow numbers from 450 to 1350.
It’s the first time they’ve entered the awards and they won $18,600 in prizes. “We wanted to have most of the development done before we entered and have the farm both running and looking the way we wanted,” they said.
Morgan is Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Lincoln University, and Master of Science in Agricultural Economics, obtained on a Fulbright Scholarship at Purdue University, USA. Hayley is Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Management, Leeds University, and was an assistant accountant until the couple’s first child was born last year. “We feel the knowledge gained from our education has helped us achieve our farming goals.”
They aim to own a farm within five years and they’ve expanded their AI programme to increase young stock and improve herd breeding worth with that in mind. They’re also planning to take on a second sharemilking position.
SEFOTY runners-up were 50% sharemilkers Andrew and Hayley Slater from Dorie; lower order sharemilkers Nigel and Gina Gardner, Culverden, were third.
FMOTY winner Pearse contract milks 955 cows for Graham and Jane Thomas at Ashburton. He is committed to two more seasons with the Thomass and then plans, with partner Susan Geddes, to go sharemilking or into an equity partnership. To progress they believe a good image “is crucial to our success”. “We highly value our reputation in the dairy industry.”
Likewise Pearse values the input of staff, farm owners and rural professionals. “We aim to ensure – through good communication – that people feel appreciated and involved in the running of the farm and the business side of it.”
With a focus on producing their own on-farm dairy feed requirements, it would be safe to say that the Fleming family are no strangers to a fertiliser spreader on their North Canterbury farm, near Culverden.
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