29 July 1992 Paretai Dairy Farming Couple Runners-Up in Lincoln Farmer of the Decade Competition

Paretai dairy farming couple Peter and Sonia Glaister have taken the runners-up prize in the Lincoln University Foundation's Farmer of the Decade competition.

The South Otago pair, who farm on the Clutha River delta two kilometres from the coast, won a $4000 overseas travel award presented by the Rural Bank.

The competition was decided at Lincoln University this week when six finalists from 17 entrants came together to present illustrated talks on their farming operations. Prior to this each of the finalist's properties had been visited by judges and their performance details analysed.

The Foundation's "top farmer" competition, open to South Island entrants, is an annual one. As this is its 10th year the title "Farmer of the Decade" was conferred on the winner.

The first prize of an $8500 overseas travel award, sponsored by the Foundation, was won by Methven specialist seed producers Colin and Jocelyn Lill, and the third prize of $2500 went to Cheviot sheep and beef farmers Tim and Helen Ensor.

In addition to being runners-up, Peter and Sonia Glaister won a book award for the best presentation on the day.

The audience of over 200 at Lincoln University included past Dominion presidents of Federated Farmers Sir Peter Elworthy and Sir Allan Wright (who is the Chancellor of Lincoln University).

The Chairman of the Lincoln University Foundation, Wellington agricultural consultant John Nimmo, praised the very high standard of the finalists and said there were a number of themes common to their characters and careers.

They all possessed vision, set themselves high performance goals and targets, were very aware of the customer and market place, showed independence of thought, had the ability to identify opportunities and grasp them, gave attention to detail, carried out sound planning and financial management, and above all faced up to hard work.

Raised on his parents’ 29-hectare dairy farm at Paretai, Peter Glaister holds a Diploma in Agriculture and Farm Management from Lincoln and took over management of the property in 1978.

His parents and neighbour had been the highest dairy producers in the district, producing up to 300 kg/ha from their 60-70 cows, 20 years ago. For long-term viability Peter saw the need to build the farm to a 200-cow unit, and between 1975 and 1989 a further 85 hectares was purchased.

Today Peter and Sonia Glaister farm 300 cows on 114 hectares, assisted by a married couple, Graham and Sue Evans, and a single worker, Craig Hennessy. Peter's parents retired to Wanaka in early 1991.

Married five years ago to Sonia, who was born and bred in the Catlins on a sheep farm, the couple work to a "master plan". An early feature of the plan was to build a 24-bail internal rotary cow shed the way they wanted it and in an ideal position. This they did and today one man can milk 180 high producing cows an hour during the flush.

The master plan has seen consistent development of the property taking it to a current production of 210 kgs of milkfat per cow and 640 kg/ha. The couple have set as a goal 240 kg/cow and 800 kg/ha, which they believe is the optimum level of production for profitability and return on capital for their farm.

As an additional challenge Peter and Sonia have recently entered a 50/50 share milking contract with nearby Telford Rural Polytechnic. From this venture their goal is 100,000 kg of milkfat from 500 cows. They say that this target will be challenging and rewarding to all concerned.

Summarising their approach to farming, the couple say that setting goals and achieving them is the most important guiding principle.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand