It's a long way from Durban, South Africa, and a career in IT to dairy farming in Rerewhakaaitu. A little serendipity brought about the dramatic change in life direction for the Dairy Industry Awards' Central Plateau Farm Manager of the Year Robert Hartley.

Dairy Industry Awards' Central Plateau Farm Manager of the Year Robert Hartley.

Currently managing an 865-cow farm for Rerewhakaaitu Farms Ltd, one of eight farms owned by TH Enterprises, Robert is thrilled to win the title.

'This experience has refreshed me and opened my eyes to the skill involved. This competition has allowed me to not only put some value on my own ability and see what I've achieved, but also given me the drive to see what more I can do.”

While Robert admits to having a few doubts during the years regarding his career-change, he now feels confident with both his choice and his ability.

Hard work
'On my first day dairy farming I slept in and missed the start of milking, and then couldn't work out reverse on the quad bike,” says Robert, who laughs about the incident.

But hard work and some excellent mentors and opportunities along the way have cemented his dairying career. 'Today, I feel really passionate about this industry.”

Leaving South Africa with visas for New Zealand, Canada and the UK, Robert arrived in Rotorua in 2001.

Robert, who was enjoying Rotorua, had never utilised his other visas, and was working in an IT shop when he met a local farmer. The pair struck up a friendship and exchanged knowledge, with Robert teaching him about computing and gaining some valuable experience relief milking for him.

'One day I just thought ‘I'm going to give dairying a go',” says Robert, who had no prior experience.

Growing up in Durban, Robert spent weekends at his grandparent's and uncle's farms out of town. Between them he'd enjoyed some exposure to cattle, cropping and sugar cane farming, but cows were a 'complete unknown”.

In 2004 Robert took on his first role, as a herd manager on a 450-cow winter milking farm for Andrew and Lois Emslie in Takapau, Hawke's Bay.

'I didn't really have a clue what I'd gotten myself into,” says Robert, who still cringes at the thought of his first day.

'I was absolutely green, going from knowing pretty much nothing.” Having never even come across an ATV in South Africa, Robert admits the learning curve was steep, but he's grateful for the encouragement and support he received in the role.

'In my view that job gave me lots of experience and exposure – Andrew was really driven, and I think a lot of the drive I have today has come from him.”

In 2006 Robert returned to the Rotorua district, contract milking 300 cows in Reporoa for the late Dave Johnston and his wife Ann. 'Dave was a really calm, collected person and really supportive too, he influenced me a lot,” says Robert.

After a year back in South Africa in 2007, Robert returned to a prearranged contract milking role in Rerewhakaaitu, about 30 minutes south of Rotorua. Robert spent two years on a 500-cow farm for Trevor and Harriet Hamilton, before changing farms in 2010 to manage the Hamilton's 865-cow property.

Family
His prior experience set him up well for challenges of this new farm.

'It was great to have the opportunity to test my skills with a larger herd,” says Robert, who set himself the objectives of improving overall farm performance, employing a great team of quality staff, and continuing to meet environmental compliance.

This also had to work alongside his vision of raising healthy, happy children with his partner Ilse Pretorius. Between them they have four: Michael, 10, Alex, eight, Jayden, six, and Niysa, five. With Ilse working as the farm's relief milker, the couple also employ an au pair, Nicole Wieczorek, from Germany.

Robert's skill in balancing family life and managing staff – he has a team of four – is reflected in him scooping the Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award. He's also thrilled to see his 2IC Sam Travis secure the runner-up position in the Farm Trainee category.

Robert also enjoys a great relationship with the farm owners, with Trevor encouraging him to enter the awards and providing support every step of the way.

Further merit awards gained included the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Leadership Award, The Vet Club Best Livestock Award and the RD1 Farm Management Award. Although Robert says what he does is 'just industry standard”, the judges were impressed.

With 80ha of the property classified as steep contour, the farm is managed somewhat differently to a conventional dairy block.

'Trevor and Harriet have wider company policies pertinent to things such as supplementary feed and residuals, but this farm, with the hill aspect; we've had to change our strategy a bit with regard to things such as feeding out, calving and pasture control,” says Robert.

'The contour has led to us developing pretty comprehensive health and safety plans too.'We've also spent a great deal of time changing fencing structures, to give us more control.”

Irrigator
An additional project included extending the effluent irrigator. 'Being so close to the lake, we've put a lot of focus on getting our effluent system right – this season we've extended our spreader an additional 20ha to irrigate further away,” say Trevor.

'We're trying to have some foresight into managing the effluent system effectively and responsibly.”

After last season's drought, Robert is thrilled to be enjoying a great season.

'We've had an exceptional season in terms of grass growth and are on target to produce in excess of 340,000 kg/ms.

Robert and Ilse are looking forward to new ones next season, with the family set to move to a new 1000-cow farm situated between Greytown and Martinborough in the Wairarapa, where they'll be contract milking. 'We're really looking forward to it,” says Robert.

'The farm has a lot of potential and I am keen to really apply myself and reap the benefits.”

Central Plateau Farm Manager of the Year Robert Hartley with partner Ilse Pretorius.