J Horsford, 29, also works on his father Russell Horsford's 100ha farm with 277 cows near Kawakawa. He has studied feeding and pastures with Ag ITO. J wants to continue milking and working on a beef farm he leases to build up assets and eventually buy a dairy farm. His off-farm interests are guns, motorbikes, rugby, family and church.
Rangi Rix, 21, started training with his father Gary Rix on 156ha and 260 cows on Batley Rd, near Maungaturoto, last year. Rangi aims to develop and work his way up to herd management. Off-farm, he is interested in hunting and fishing.
Mike Jensen, 30, has been working in dairying for more than three years, joining M&M Dairies' 189ha farm with 520 cows on State Highway 10 near Kerikeri last year. Mike has Primary ITO qualifications for Feeding and Pastures Level 3 and Milk Quality Stage 2 and will study for more. He plans to move up to management next year and develop equity/assets for himself, his partner and their young family.
Michael Jones, 20, has been a trainee on the 590ha Douglas family farm with 950 cows near Titoki for more than two years. He has Primary ITO level 3 qualifications for breeding, mating and calving and has also studied dairy animal health and milk quality with Ag ITO. He aims to become a dairy farm manager, then sharemilk, with the goal of getting his own farm.
Kim Simpson, 24, is 2IC on a 90ha dairy unit with 160 cows at her parents, Colin and Ros Simpson's, farm at Maromaku. Kim, who has Primary ITO level 4 dairy qualifications, this year reared 22 Jersey heifers to start her herd and has 30 black and white faces to cover the rearing costs. She will keep working toward herd and farm ownership while seeking a lower-order sharemilking job with partner Dion Ashby.
Lindsey Keogh, 22, started assisting on Craig and Karen Pullar's 230ha Matakohe farm with 520 cows last year. She and partner Stephen Ryan want to climb the dairy industry ladder, hope to be sharemilking within the next five years and want to eventually own a farm.
Lui Peti, 26, has worked in dairy farming for more than three years, the past two as herd manager for Greig and Paula Powell on their 283ha farm with 660 cows on Otaikarangi Rd near Whangarei. Lui has Primary ITO Dairy Management level 4 and intends to involve himself in more training, with the hope of moving up to farm management next season and building his assets, with the aim of farm ownership.
Kyle Hobson, 21, began working as a trainee on Heather and Barry Bowers' 400ha farm with 746 cows at Ruawai last year. He has a five-year plan which includes gaining Ag Ito level 4 qualifications to open up his dairying options. Kyle's off-farm interests include hunting and DIY projects.
Codi O'Neill, 23, also became a farm assistant on Heather and Barry Bowers' 400ha farm with 746 cows at Ruawai last year. Hehas level 2 general skills training and plans to sign up for every course Ag ITO offers in his bid to become a sharemilker. Codi's off-farm interests are sports.
Elliott Nelson, 28, has been a trainee for more than two years on Brad Roberts' 315ha farm with 900 cows on Riponui Rd north of Whangarei. He has Primary ITO level 3 dairy qualifications and is looking to move up to management and work toward lower-order sharemilking or an equity partnership with the goal of farm ownership.
Kelsey Jacobson, 21, has been a trainee for going on two years with Andrew Booth on his 200ha farm with 440 cows at Titoki. She has completed a Primary ITO level 3 modern apprenticeship and is undergoing dairy level 4. She has also been through Farmsafe tractor, quad and chainsaw safety courses. Kelsey plans to be the herd manager on the farm next season. Her off-farm interests include surf lifesaving.
FARM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Bruce Jones is manager for Lance Oliver on John Bayly's 195ha farm at Okaihau where there is one fulltime and one part-time staff member employed and the 480 cows are expected to produce 180,000kgMS this season.
Durin Blakeborough is employed by Kevin Campbell as manager on John Matijevich's 75ha farm at Waiharara, which has one part-time staff employee and 177 cows expected to produce 70,000kgMS this season.
Joe Foster manages Okaihau Pastoral Ltd's 367ha farm and 200ha runoff at Okaihau where there are seven fulltime and one part-time staff. The 1190 cows they milk are expected to produce 500,000kgMS this season.
Karla Frost manages the 84ha Northland Agricultural Research Farm on State Highway 12 north of Dargaville where the 250 cows are expected to produce 90,000kgMS this season. The farm employs one fulltime and one part-time staff member.
Oliver Castell manages Kerry and Megan Chestnut's 74ha farm with a 55ha runoff at Kokopu where 214 cows are expected to produce 86,000kgMS this season.
Loretta Smyth manages the 160ha Northland College farm at Kaikohe where 275 cows are expected to produce 99,500kgMS this season.
Philip and Pia Rockell are contract milkers getting $1.50 per kg/MS on a 220ha Hokonui Farms Ltd dairy unit in Baldrock Rd, Kaiwaka, where the 473 cows are expected to produce 170,000kgMS this season. The farm has one fulltime and one part-time staff member.
Jesse Bagley is a contract milker getting 1.37 per kg/MS on Neville Porteous and Ken Hames' 220ha farm with a 101ha runoff at Kaiwaka. The farm employs four fulltime staff and its 535 cows are expected to produce 175,000kgMS.
Shane Cooper manages a 373ha Landcorp farm at Kaitaia where 1029 cows are expected to produce 362,468kgMS this season. The farm employs four people fulltime and one part-time.
Luke Boylan manages a 97ha River Lea Agri dairy unit at Purua where 250 cows are expected to produce 85,000kgMS. The farm employs one fulltime staff member.
SHAREMILKER/EQUITY FARMER OF THE YEAR
Brad and Lesley Roberts are 25 per cent sharemilkers for Brad's father Lloyd Roberts on 318ha milking 900 cows in Riponui Rd north of Whangarei. The farm, which employs four fulltime staff and one part-time, is expected to produce 400,000kgMS this season.
Logan and Kim Gubb are 50-50 sharemilkers on 160ha with 400 cows near Kaikohe owned by Larry Chappell and Julie McDonald. The farm employs one fulltime staff member, is expected to produce 165,000kgMS this season.
Grant and Danielle Petterd are 30 per cent sharemilkers with 7.9 per cent farm equity on 186ha with a 70ha runoff at Kerikeri owned by North Star Dairies Ltd. The 476 cows in the herd are expected to produce 185,000kgMS this season.
Dan Noakes and Jodi Antunovich are 50-50 sharemilkers with 600 cows on 220ha and a 62ha runoff at Titoki owned by his parents, Peter and Cath Noakes. The farm is expected to produce 240,000kgMS this season.
Dan and Liz van der Kaap are 26 per cent sharemilkers on Graham Cotton's 205ha farm with a 30ha runoff in Mangapai Caves Rd south of Whangarei. The farm, which has 510 cows, two fulltime and one part-time staff, is expected to produce 184,000kgMS this season.
Craig and Karen Pullar are 50-50 sharemilkers on Grant Luscombe's's 230ha farm with 510 cows at Matakohe. They employ one fulltime and one part-time staff member and expect the farm to produce 160,000kgMS this season.
Colin and Isabella Beazley are 50-50 sharemilkers on Neil Jones's 127ha farm near Wellsford. Their 210 cows are expected to produce 85,000kgMS.
Todd and Natasha Imeson are 50-50 sharemilkers on 145ha in Whananaki North Rd north of Hikurangi owned by Bruce and Ngaire Cutforth. There are two fulltime staff employed on the farm, where 444 cows are expected to produce 180,000kgMS this season.
