Friday, 21 March 2014 15:26

First cows milked at Northland Maori dairy farm

Written by 

DAIRY COWS will be led into Northland's Rangihamama milking sheds for the first time officially this weekend.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been working with the Omapere Rangihamama Trust (ORT) to accelerate the trust's transformation of 278ha of Maori-owned land, from grazing to high-productivity dairy farming since 2012.

"Omapere Rangihamama Trust is a model for growing rural development by pulling together a vast number of stakeholders into a larger and more commercially effective operation," says MPI's deputy director-general Ben Dalton.

"It's hoped this model will act as an exemplar for increased productivity on surrounding land blocks. An increasing number of Maori landowners are striving to achieve economic and sustainable farming operations like this, as kaitiaki of their land.

"MPI is dedicated to partnering with Māori landowners across the country to grow and protect their primary sector assets and Rangihamama is a shining example of pulling this," says Dalton.

The dairy conversion has the potential to see new economic benefits, provide employment opportunities and increase on-farm technical capabilities.

The trust envisions the investment in new infrastructure and the growth of the dairy herd will see production of milk solids grow from a budgeted 180,000 kgMS in year one to a total of around 230,000 kgMS from year three of the development.

"The dairy conversion would not be possible without the leadership of ORT, who have worked for years with its more than 3000 shareholders to ensure the benefits of this land are realised.
Rangihamama is a significant contribution towards New Zealand's primary sector and economy," says Dalton.

The Rangihamama Dairy Conversion will be opened at an official ceremony by Omapere Taraire E & Rangihamama X3A Ahu Whenua Trust on Saturday, March 22, 2014.

More like this

Featured

$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement

A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.

Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house

The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.

National

Machinery & Products

Fliegl offers effluent solutions

Founded in Germany as recently as 1977, today, the Fliegl Group employs more than 1100 workers, offering an expansive range…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter