From contract milkers to equity partners,
Te Puke couple Kevin and Nicole Oppert are embracing every opportunity to strengthen their future in dairying, with a little help from technology, local partnerships, and the Dairy Women’s Network.
The Opperts, who won the Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year title in 2023, have been contract milking since 2017. This season marks another milestone, as they join Don and Andrea Hammond in an equity partnership on the 260 effective hectare Te Puke farm, a 20-year forestry conversion now hitting its stride.
“It’s been a big step for us,” Kevin says.
“We’d love to own cows one day, but when a chance like this comes along, you’ve got to grab it. Equity is what will push our career forward.”
The Opperts continue to contract milk the farm, peak milking 750 cows through a 60-bale rotary with in-shed feeding, CowManager® and
Protrack® drafting systems. Their 90-hectare support block rears all young stock, with Nicole taking charge of that block as well as calf rearing, while also balancing the demands of family life with two young children.
The couple are determined to run the farm efficiently and sustainably. Last season, in their very first year on the property, they set a new farm production record, harvesting 13.5 tonnes of dry matter per hectare. “The infrastructure is solid, and the farm is really starting to show its potential,” Kevin says.
“We are looking at TOP traits that suit our farming system and climate,” Kevin says. “With our furthest paddock two and a half kilometres away, we need strong, robust cows. We also want to be sustainable, so every breeding decision is considered. We’re putting Charolais over the bottom 30% of our herd so we’re not contributing to more bobby calves.”
Kevin says working with Jaapie Jordaan from JCL Contracting, a local contracting business providing experienced and dedicated operators who tackle a wide range of agricultural tasks, has been a valuable partnership.
“He’s a one-stop shop with great knowledge and advice, and it’s important for us to have those local relationships as we work to grow both our farm and our business.”
While confident in their farming skills, the Opperts know financial management is an area that can make or break their business. They’ve joined Dairy Women’s Network’s Milking It programme this season, which connects farming families with accountants, rural professionals, and financial tools to strengthen business confidence.
Nicole says the support couldn’t have come at a better time. “We’ve just stepped into an equity partnership, so it’s crucial we get everything right. DWN has helped us prepare for this step, and now they’re helping us make sure we’re managing it well. It’s about learning to work on our business as well as in it.”
Kevin and Nicole are always committed to constant improvement. They’ve entered and won dairy industry awards for the feedback, they’ve pushed themselves with new technology adoption, and they’ve now taken the leap into equity partnership.
“We like to push ourselves and get better all the time,” Nicole says.
“Small steps make big changes, and every day is another day closer to farm ownership.”
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