Saturday, 19 March 2016 11:55

Time on farm gives new perspective

Written by 
Josh Verhoek (pictured) is now back on the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science Extension Team. Josh Verhoek (pictured) is now back on the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science Extension Team.

Fresh from two years out in the paddock as a dairy farm manager, Josh Verhoek is now back on the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science Extension Team.

Based in Fielding, he has taken on the role as Ballance's science extension officer for the Lower North Island, putting to use his experience and on-farm insights to help local farmers get the most out of their farm nutrients.

"Working as a dairy manager was a hugely challenging and eye-opening experience," says Verhoek. "It was mentally and physically exhausting work, with a vast scope of things one has to understand.

"It really puts the demands of farming into reality."

Now back on the technical side, Verhoek enjoys working with a range of farmers to maximise the value of the products they use while also introducing the latest developments from Ballance.

His key roles within the science extension team are to lead farm systems knowledge and develop Ballance's involvement with the sheep and beef farming sector.

"My time as a farm manager has definitely helped me when advising farmers as they know I've 'been in the gumboots', having lived and breathed what they do, and that's invaluable perspective you can't buy.

"We want to give farmers every advantage we can, advising them in ways to increase production through more efficient resource management."

In experiencing first-hand the many time-consuming demands that farmers face, Verhoek notes how important it is that they have confidence in an adviser who knows what they deal with and what's important for them.

"For most farmers working on the land means balancing production and economic priorities with regulatory requirements and a desire to protect the environment," he says.

"There is sometimes a misconception outside of the agricultural community that farmers aren't always environmentally conscious and for the vast majority of farmers that's not true."

A graduate of Lincoln University's Agricultural Science and Massey's Nutrient Management programmes, Verhoek recognises the challenges farmers face in balancing livelihood with looking after the environment.

"They live and work on the land. Many want to leave their farms to their children, so why would they want to ruin the very thing they rely on most?

"In this role I can help farmers find ways to improve both productivity and sustainability, and that's something I'm really passionate about."

More like this

Editorial: Co-op power!

OPINION: Think co-operatives and some of our biggest agribusiness companies – Fonterra, Zespri, Alliance Group, Silver Fern Farms, Farmlands, LIC, Ballance, Ravensdown and Tatua – come to mind.

Wickham named Ballance CEO

Former Fonterra executive Kelvin Wickham takes over as Ballance Agri-Nutrients chief executive in September.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

AGTEK and ARGO part ways

After 12 years of representing the Landini and McCormick brands in New Zealand, Bay of Plenty-based AGTEK and the brands’…

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter