Tour 8: Two Farms in one Day Tour (Waikato, North Island)

Farm Visit 1

Production and profitability are at the forefront of this consistently high-performing operation. As a higher input farm situated on flat terrain, the primary strategy is to maximise yield and optimise the utilisation of home-grown feed. Pasture and cropping systems demonstrate yields significantly above the regional average.

Succession planning is also a fundamental aspect, with the family’s son entering his second season as contract milker and actively working toward equity development within the business. 

Farm Visit 2

This farm prioritises profitability alongside environmental stewardship. With over 30 years' experience managing this property, this farming family have overseen its transformation from beef to dairy farming and facilitated the expansion of their entire operation.

As the enterprise has grown, so too has their commitment to biodiversity and ecosystem health. Water quality remains a key priority and is central to their on-farm decision-making processes. 

Their efforts have been recognised with several honours: 

• 2010 Ballance Farm Environment Awards “Supreme Award” for the Waikato region
• 2018 “Responsible Dairying Award” in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards