Case studies

Andrew and Vicky Booth sharemilk 390-400 cows on their 220-hectare family farm in Titoki, 30km west of Whangārei on the banks of the Mangakahia River. This is their 14th season on the farm, (5th all autumn calving).

Don and Kirsten Watson are in their 7th season of farm ownership on this farm on the southern peninsula of the Kaipara harbour, about one hour North West of Auckland.

Justin and Melissa Slattery have been on their 100 ha farm at Elstow, between Tahuna and Paeroa for 6 years.  Their approach to farming is to be good stewards of the environment through having simple systems that are resource efficient.

The philosophy of this Tatua supply farm business has been to grow wealth through being profitable and sustainable.

This small, north east facing, system 3 farm, near Arapuni, is typical for the area with a rolling contour.

This high input, highly stocked farm, depends on effective feed monitoring, efficient effluent management and improving herd fertility for success.

Corrie and Donna Smit own this low input farm business near Edgecumbe, milking on two similar-sized platforms with a support block providing the majority of winter and young stock grazing.

Rachel and Kenneth Shorts' self-contained, very low input, organic, coastal Taranaki farm is embracing regenerative pasture management practices. 

These herd owning sharemilkers in the lower north island are about to start their 10th year in this role. The farm owners live off farm and have their own farm which they run.

Dan and Kate King run a small family farming operation near Reefton in the Buller district, with a focus on high production per cow from low costs of production. They enjoy trying new ideas and their biggest challenge is managing the wet periods.