Proud ag advocate will be there!

He says one of the big things that came to light during the Covid crisis was the networking opportunities that are available to farmers. He says these are critical in the growth and development of the agriculture sector.

“The CD field days is a prime example of a networking opportunity. It’s not just about talking to farmers, but it’s about seeing some of the new products, research and technology that’s available,” he told Rural News.

He has been a regular at the CD Field Days and will be there in March on the lookout for new ideas, innovation and to meet people.

Holdaway is a true farming leader and is the fifth generation of his family to run the property. Since he took it over in 1979, he’s bought up other adjacent farms and expanded it from the original 80 hectare farm to the present 150 effective hectares, running 445 cows. He’s been heavily involved in environmental issues and in particular he’s been a strong supporter of the use of plantain as a tool to reduce N levels in pastures.

Holdaway’s been part of that small group of farmers in the Tararua District selected to participate in the plantain trial. His property has become one of the monitor farms were trials have been undertaken and some of the scientific data gathered. It is also where field days for farmers have been held to show the benefits of this forage. As a result of becoming involved in environmental issues, he says he has made many changes to his own farm.

“Since then, every decisions we have made on the farm has got an environmental component to it,” Holdaway explains.

“We have done all sorts of things such as establishing our eco irrigation system. We have closed down one creek crossing and bridged another and fenced all our waterways and with the new shed we reticulate some of the water. There are so many little things we do just on daily basis and it’s now part of our thinking.”

Holdaway says he’s a proud dairy farmer and has no hesitation when he goes into town to tell people what he does.

He says one of the things that really has lifted his spirits in the last eight months is that more of the population are beginning to understand the value of agriculture.

“That is something we have always had in the greater Manawatu but not necessarily around the rest of the country,” he adds.

“People are starting to recognise that upper Rangitikei and the Manawatu is the most intensive lamb finishing province in NZ and that’s huge. We have got an extremely diverse ag sector in the region and its economic value is huge.”