Smarter farming together for better performance

A strategic partner and Ravensdown customer for more than a decade, Dairy Holdings utilises the full suite of Ravensdown’s offerings to support consistent improvements in on-farm performance.

Hannah Sims, right, Ravensdown, with Dairy Holdings contract milker Stephen Hyde.

Colin Glass, Dairy Holdings CEO, says a key to farming smarter is having an absolute view of all production inputs.

“Over the past five years alone, we have taken 6600 soil samples across Dairy Holding farms to be tested and analysed by Ravensdown.

“It has allowed us to get really precise with our fertiliser application from a placement, quantity and timing perspective. 

“Because of this we’ve been able to nearly halve the amount of nitrogen we use per hectare, with a reduction of 46 per cent over the past 10 years.”

At the same time as reducing inputs, Dairy Holdings has experienced significant gains in productivity across their wider farming business.

“Over the past decade we’ve boosted pasture growth from investment in irrigation, re-grassing and soil fertility to significantly increase milk production while also reducing purchased feed by more than 83 per cent,” says Glass.

Ravensdown’s head of sales, Gary Bowick, says as well as taking expert advice from agri managers, soil scientists and environmental managers into consideration, Dairy Holdings also makes the best use of innovation and technology that Ravensdown has to offer.

“Each of the Dairy Holding farms uses HawkEye to plan, track and monitor their nutrient usage.

“Our enduring relationship with Dairy Holdings is testament to the value of taking a partnership approach. 

“Working collaboratively with customers means we can actively pursue the goal of reducing the overall fertiliser footprint while also driving increases in productivity for New Zealand farmers and growers.”

Glass says ensuring the long-term sustainable future of a farming operation requires a dedicated focus on the inputs of today.

“Working with Ravensdown and making the most of all the know-how, science, data and technology available makes a tangible difference to farm performance.”

With the right people, processes and pasture, over 10 years Dairy Holdings, NZ’s largest dairy farmer, has:

• Reduced purchased feed: from 300 kg dry matter per cow to less than 50 kg. 

• Increased total milk solid production: from 14.0 million kg milk solids to 17.2 million kg milk solids.

• Improved fertiliser efficiency: total fertiliser use has decreased 46 per cent to 164 kg nitrogen per ha.  

• Enhanced per hectare output: Milk solid production in Canterbury/Waitaki has increased from 1100 kg milk solids per ha to 1300 kg milk solids per ha from 100 per cent pasture.