Whakatane farmer NZ’s top dairy manager

When Thomas Chatfield made a dramatic career change four years ago, he took a drop in income, farmed through one of the worst droughts in decades and put years of university study on the back-burner – but never seriously doubted he’d made the right choice.

The judges in the prestigious New Zealand Dairy Industry awards also endorse his decision, naming Thomas the 2016 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year.

When Thomas Chatfield won the 2013 Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year title in his first season, the region had experienced one of the worst droughts in decades.

The 30-year-old former physiotherapist is managing a 500-cow Whakatane farm owned by Bruce and Judy Woods and won $27,000 in prizes. In 2013 he won the Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year title in his first season in the dairy industry.

Judges are confident Thomas will go a long way in the industry. “He enjoys what he is doing and has the attitude and personality that will take him where he wants to go,” says dairy manager head judge and Westpac Agribusiness Manager Hamish Taylor.

“Thomas showed and expressed opinions about the farming system he manages and is passionate about what he is doing. He is making a tangible difference to the business he is involved with and was engaged with the owner.

He has a capable team working with him and was working with the team on a succession plan, should he move on. He can see massive opportunities in the dairy industry.”

Thomas’s win was announced in front of 530 people at Wellington’s TSB Bank Arena where Mark and Jaime Arnold of Dannevirke were named the 2016 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year, and Nicholas Bailey of Greytown was announced the 2016 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year. They shared prizes worth nearly $170,000.

After studying in Dunedin and Wellington, and working as a physio at Tauranga Hospital, Thomas travelled overseas. But on his return he became fascinated with farming and took a job as farm assistant for Rhys Watkins, milking 510 cows.

“I love the lifestyle and working with the animals.” Four years on that hasn’t changed. Thomas now, working for Bruce and Judy Woods on Dreamfields farm, took on bigger responsibilities first as second in charge and for the last two years as manager.

Dreamfields Ltd’s farm is 142 hectares effective with eight hectares of run-off. Seventy acres is irrigated and the System 3 property milks 500 Jersey cows. Calving is in spring and all cows are wintered on-farm. Imported feed of 700kgDM per cow is brought in and fed out in the 450-cow barn, which is used to prevent feed waste and protect stock from the elements. As well as Thomas, the farm has two other full-time employees.

Challenge the boss

Thomas impressed the judges with his level of understanding of pasture and farm management and his willingness to challenge his boss on how to reduce costs.

In fact, judges were so impressed, they awarded him the Westpac Financial Management and Planning Award; saying: “Thomas not only had a clear understanding of the farm’s working costs, he had also completed cost benefit scenarios to challenge his employer on how to reduce farm working expenses”.

Thomas says he enjoys robust and open discussions with Bruce, who he says is progressive, open to new ideas and willing to provide opportunities for him to progress in the industry.

Among the biggest challenges the farm faces is only half of it is irrigated. “If there is dry weather this creates a feed deficit. The challenge is to get the balance right between pasture management, feeding crops and imported supplements.”

Feed plan

This is achieved through weekly pasture measuring to help create a feed plan for cows and managing cow intake by what they leave behind in the paddock and the barn. Pasture quality has been maintained this year due to good summer growth and a low stocking rate.

It was Thomas’ feed management and ability to match pasture growth with demand that also impressed the judges. Their citation for the Fonterra Farm Source Feed Management award says: “He understood the nutritional values and use of different types of feed, and explained the three leaf principle well in relation to feeding. Thomas understood the use of both nitrogen and maintenance fertiliser well on his farm”.

Thomas also won the Primary ITO Power Play Award, choosing financial management as his topic. “He has a clear understanding of this subject and presented with clarity and passion. Thomas has gone above and beyond what would be expected of a farm manager in this area, and he demonstrated to the judges how this area of the business would help with his future career development.”

Farm ownership

He may have left university but Thomas hadn’t given up formal study, completing farming courses and training on a regular basis.

His medium term goal is to be sharemilking, contract milking or in an equity partnership within the next two years. And his long-term goal – with a 20 year framework is – to “own a farm of a size that allows lifestyle choices – whether it be hands on every day or have more time to pursue other interests”.

Thomas says the biggest problem he faces now is progression and finding “the right job in the right location”.

“I love this area and would not want to move away to increase my chances of success but if the right job came up, I could take it up for consideration.”


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