Back in 1987, Rachel’s parents Barbara and Louis Kuriger won the Taranaki Sharemilker of the Year title. The Taranaki region was the first to hold a regional sharemilker competition and in 1990 the competition became nationwide. The Shorts and Kurigers are now farming in partnership, with the Shorts 20% equity partners and 25% variable order sharemilking 450 cows for Shortland Farm Ltd Partnership at Opunake.
They won $18,600 in prizes at the Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards in Hawera last weekt. The other major winners were Michael Kavanagh and Rowena Duncum, the region’s Farm Managers of the Year, and Daniel Regtien, the 2013 Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year.
Rachel Short began farming in 2004, with Kenneth Short joining her in 2007 while keeping on in building until 2010.
“One of our strengths is being able to control the cost of production, so we can achieve a system that is profitable and sustainable at all payouts,” she says. “We also have a strong focus on good pasture management. Being a grass-based system, use of pasture is a key to high profits.”
The couple hope to raise their equity stake to 100%, to maintain an environmentally sustainable farm and to get time off from the farm.
Second place in the Taranaki sharemilker/equity farmer contest went to Hawera 50% sharemilkers Bryce and Amanda Savage, who won $9000, and Meremere 50% sharemilkers Ben and Belinda Price were third, winning $4800 in prizes.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, Dairy-NZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1 and AgITO.
Opunake contract milkers Michael Kavanagh and Rowena Duncum won the 2013 Taranaki Farm Managers of the Year title and have set their sights on moving up the dairy farming ladder. They won $7400 in prizes.
“We can’t wait to get our own ‘piece of dirt’ but know it’ll be a hard slog and is a way off yet.”
It was the first time the couple, milking 360 cows for Craig and Lucy Bradley, had entered the awards. They have been farming five years, including a year in Wales. “It was an incredible experience and made us appreciate just how innovative New Zealand farming is!”
Second place in the Taranaki farm manager contest went to New Plymouth contract milkers Sergio Valverde-Nandin and Kaelee Alexander, who won $2400. Third was Midhirst manager Carey Duggan, winning $2100.
The 2013 Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year, Daniel Regtien, has a list of goals. Regtien, aged 25, won a DairyNZ undergraduate scholarship that helped him get his Bachelor of Agricultural Science.
He is currently senior farm assistant on the 350 cow Westpac Taranaki Agricultural Research Station at Hawera, owned by Fonterra. He won $4400 in prizes.
“I did not grow up on a farm, but I have developed a passion for the industry and that drives me to learn and develop new skills.” His goals include gaining more practical experience, going on an overseas experience, to become a dairy farm advisor or consulting officer and to buy a dairy farm.
Stratford farm assistant Peter Templeton, aged 21, placed second in the dairy trainee contest winning $500. Third went to Stratford trainee Jayden Harvey, aged 19, who won $1400.
Rachel and Kenneth Short, will host a field day on April 11, while Michael Kavanagh and Rowena Duncum, will host a field day on the Opunake farm they manage on April 4. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
