Hinemoa Quality Producers Ltd

Frank and Wendy Portegys
‘Braemar Lands Ltd’
BALLANCE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AWARD
LIC DAIRY FARM AWARD
The judges described this family-owned business, situated on Scotsman Valley Road north of
Cambridge, as “a very well run low input dairy farm”.
At the helm of this 140ha (135ha
effective) farm is Frank Portegys.
“Frank is a very enthusiastic
individual who is always trying
to think outside the square to
have a competitive advantage
over other farmers while staying
sustainable,” wrote the judges in
their feedback report.
The award judges were impressed with the effectiveness of
this family partnership, noting that Frank and Wendy were the
recognised entrants to these awards despite the collective
ownership of Braemar Lands by the Portegys’, Ben and Justine
Cameron and Chresten and Rachel Davis. Wendy, Ben and
Rachel are siblings. The judges described the business structure
as “a great working relationship between shareholders” who also
choose to spend time and holiday together.
Time management is clearly a well-honed skill in the Portegys
household. In addition to helping Frank run the farm Wendy is
a PE teacher at Morrinsville College and the couple have four
children, this year attending four schools. Nicolaas (15), Keeley
(13), Jack (11) and Mandi (8) all help out on the farm.
Cows are milked all year round with approximately two-thirds
of the herd spring calving and one third autumn calving. Dry
cows are wintered off to avoid having to feed supplements over
winter to the milkers. From December milking is once a day. “This
farm is three kilometres to the back, so once a day saves the
cows a long walk in the heat of the afternoon,” explains Frank, “it
also reduces workload
over summer and has a
positive impact on cow
condition.” The 378 cows
(peak milked) produced,
for the 12 months to the
end of January, 137,000
kg MS.
When the Braemar
partnership began with
the purchase of the flat
to rolling (with some
steeper sidings) property
in 2008, Frank was a long
time between milkings. He’d last milked cows as a university
student and upon graduating had spent eight years as a fertiliser
representative and six years working for Dairy NZ.
He believes that while he took longer to complete practical
farm tasks in his first year, his broad experience gained in agribusiness
is an asset. “I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t,”
he says.
The judges commended the Portegys’ encouragement of staff
into industry training and interest in their well-being. Employee
Darren Smith won the ‘Dairy Trainee of the Year’ in the 2011
Dairy Excellence Awards and is moving on to a lower order
sharemilking position in June. Relief milker Mike Smith is happily
stepping into Darren’s job.
•
Excellent low input system with all costs continuously monitored to ensure farm is sustainable at all payouts.
•
Very good understanding of soil science, soil processes and nutrient cycling; modest stocking rate and use of nitrogen.
Great start to riparian planting; good medium term targets and future goals.
use and monitoring of water in dairy shed; very well organised throughout the farm, has finger on the pulse.
• Efficient
JUDGES’ COMMENTS