With it only seeming like a few weeks ago that I opened my suitcase and began to unpack, my time in Canterbury has come to end, with the last four months having passed at an alarming rate. The experience I’ve had farming in New Zealand has been one I’ll never forget – with the people I’ve met and things I’ve learned undoubtedly going to stand to me in good stead into the future.

The last week on Fairfax Bridge Farm seems to have gone in the blink of an eye. With all calves being weaned, 130 of the 175 were being transported to the farm of the contract rearer. The second milk recording of the season was carried out, tails clipped and the herd BCS done again. A rather routine week, with cows holding reasonably well at 1.95kg/MS/day as weather conditions remained more settled.

An eye opener

Farming out here has been a huge eye opener – keeping systems simple, getting the most out of grazed grass, working with great people and having long-term goals are some of the key messages I’ll happily take home with me, along with many more.

The scale of farming in Canterbury is incredible – with flat, free-draining, fertile soils allowing for large dairy operations to successfully thrive in this ideal topography.

It’s not all about how big you can go, young man, but how small can you stay

Irrigation is a standard on the majority of Canterbury farms, which allows consistent growth throughout the dry summers and output to be maintained. The scale on farms out here allows for very practical learning experiences due to the sheer numbers of cows to work with over calving and breeding, which I was here for.

Farming at scale

Farming at scale certainly allows many options for the owner in terms of the lifestyle they live, how hands on they need to be on the farm day to day, and the option of creating growth opportunities for people within their business.

The strength of the NZ banking sector, availability of land and a lack of capital gains tax has allowed many Canterbury farmers to achieve this scale in a relatively short period of time.

I was always waiting for the “right time” to travel

With that said, there is certainly a lot of risk involved, with farms typically carrying a lot of debt. Although the scale has been hugely impressive, I cannot but help remember advice that a wise neighbour often quotes to me: “It’s not all about how big you can go young man, but how small can you stay”.

Taking a risk

Having always wanted to travel and see the world, and especially dairying out in New Zealand, I was always waiting for the “right time”. Again and again, I found excuses to put this off, until I had almost conceded that maybe I was too much of a home bird.

Thankfully I saw sense, and with a lot of gentle encouragement I ended up in Christchurch airport and haven’t looked back since. Travelling is something I’d highly encourage every young, aspiring farmer in any sector to undertake.

There’s a lot to be learned from the various production systems worldwide and if nothing else, you’ll appreciate what resources we have at home even more when you return. With organisations like Macra an Feirme providing many travel opportunities through exchange programmes and scholarships to a variety of agricultural regions, the opportunities really are out there for anyone to broaden their horizons.

You can read all of Tobin’s articles here.