June 5, 2025 • 7 mins
The 2022 Young Farmer of the Year talks about his move to go dairy farming closer to the South Pole.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We've got another Danngon filling in. For instance, Second Dangin
to the batter's box today, Tim Dangin twenty twenty two
Young Farmer of the Year and Tim, you're not going
to field days because you're moving or have moved down
to Southland.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good afternoon, Hey, good afternoon, Jamie. I have mate. We're
a week on the ground down here and the weather's
been pretty good, but today it's cold in about three degrees.
I'm slowly adjusting, but it's great to be down here.
The farms looking spectacular. Simon Janinea have looked after me
for this past week here and yeah, it's going to
(00:34):
be down you mate.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yeah, Simon and Jeanine Hopcroft and Simon was what was
it two thousand and four or two thousand and four,
I think Young Farmer of the Year. So you're keeping
it in the family now. Their home farm is not
a mile away from Riverton, which isn't a mile away
from in the Cargo, which isn't a mile away from Antarctica.
So from the warmth of west Auckland, Tim Danngin, you
(00:58):
are well going to You're going to have to climatize
to farming in Southland. Again.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yea, so well, Jamie, but it happens pretty quickly. I'm
already sort of finding myself sweating in the leggings. So
it's good to be here. And you know, although the
weather is not perfect, we know that winter is a
sort of knuckle down time and the farm you know,
shuts down here at home on the milking platform as
the cows will go after a wintering block. So we
dried off yesterday which keeps off a good season for
(01:25):
the hot cross and looking forward to our coming season,
we will be taking the full rains and giving it
a real crack. I'm excited, Jamie.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Well as a sheer milker, are you like fifty to fifty?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I know we're lower order lower, Yeah, yep we are.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
But if you get a ten dollars payout, you're still
going to be rolling in it, Tim.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know about rolling. I know we've
got some pretty big ambitions about what we want to
put our money towards, Jamie, so we'll be squirreling it away, mate.
But yeah, it is looking very optimistic for the season
coming absolutely, and it's interesting to see that wide range
that Fonterra has come out with for the twenty five
to twenty six season, and although the starting points are
(02:04):
ten dollars, it's yeah sort of. It indicates to me
that the cultron about the next six months, but the
six months after that there is obviously a fit bit
of uncertainty. So ye will be cautious and we won't
be spending it till it's all in the bank account
next year.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Well that's what I'm hearing from various industry sources. There's
more downside risk than upside risk, and it was a
brave move by Fonterra to to open it teen. Are
you using any hedging policies? Are you going to fix
any milk price?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yes, we have fixed in some so there's some pretty
attractive advanced options there for us. And so just because
it's how our first season coming down, we sat down
with sign engineer and obviously they have to be on
board with fixing in as well. So we have fixed
in a portion which just gives us a little bit
upside against risk, I suppose, because your first season coming
(02:53):
into it and then obviously those headwinds, it's good to
lock in. We fixed it about nine dollars sixty for
a portion of our supply so yeah, it absolutely sort
of allows you to sleep at night a little bit better.
And if you fix and interest rates and some feed
supply contracts along with that, Jamie, it's yeah, it still
looks really positive and quite lucrative.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So you're knocking on an open door for me. I
think it's just smart risk mitigation. They're well done on
that one. So part of the reason you've gone down
Sheer Milking and Southland is no doubt to build up
a capital fund I assume to buy your own farm
or buy the family farm out Tim, Is that the
master plan?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, that's part of the master plan, Jamie suddenly, Yeah,
we've already brought him to the home farm out of Middeway.
But yeah, long term, we want to be able to
make sure that we can commensate mum and dad as
fairly as possible basically for the hard graft and the
equity that they've created which has given all of us
kids lots of options. So it's yeah, we're trying to
(03:52):
trying to come down here to put a few pennies
away it to one day be able to hopefully, yeah,
fairly compensate them back at home. But there's also other
plans and the Pope works too, Jamie. I love dairy farmer,
I always have and if the farm in Auckland was
a dairy farmer, I would have stuck there. But this
is an exciting opportunity and a different adventure for us
to come down here. And yeah, I'm really looking forward
(04:13):
to getting in behind another big dairy farm and getting
my head back in that game to.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
That end you're sort of campaigning for, and this is
I think a Federated Farmer's calls as well. Isn't it
for young farmers being able to access their key We
say it just like you can for buying a house,
for buying your first farm.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah, it's interesting. I see that FEDS is coming
out with something this afternoon, so keep an eye on
your emails there if you're a Federated Farmer's member that
there's a petition starting to try and get the government
to allow young farmers to be able to put that
key we saver towards perhaps buying obviously your first farm
would be great, but even buying capital livestock on a
dairy farm or a sheep and beef farm, and from
(04:52):
a young person's receipt of it'd be great. To be
able to have access to that fund of money there
rather than having to go to the bank. And yeah,
I think it it opened lots of options and lots
of doors and it's sort of just another one of
those ones that was promise on the campaign trail. I
believe Tom McClay said it on the campaign trail, So
it just needs following up on because I think it
would open a lot of doors for young farmers and
(05:13):
particularly for rural folks Jamie, where you're often working in
businesses where there's a house supplied with along with your job,
and so there's no real incentive to go off and
put their key we saver towards the house in town, say,
because you've sort of got ambitions in the rural area.
So I think it's a good initiative and it's awesome
Sea Feds picking up on it and pushing it again,
(05:35):
and this coming week at Field Days, I'm sure it
might be a topic of discussion that they'll be reminded
about well.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Tim Dangel twenty twenty two Young Farmer of the Year
FMG Young Farmer of the are going to be nice
and handy for that Grand Final which is coming up
in the Cargo not a mile away from where you
are in early July. Emma, I don't know whether you
heard her talking. She was talking about it, mate, Hugh Jackson, Yes,
being perhaps a favorite. You got any if the tab
(06:03):
was running a book, who would you have your money on.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I think it's a competitive year, Jamie. I honestly couldn't
really pick anyone. You will certainly be right up there.
I'd like to think that there's a few of them
that I know are putting a lot of time and
effort into it, and Emma and I obviously know how
great a platform it is to be able to launch
and propel your career to the next step. So I
think all these young men that are that are there
in the Grand Final this year, we'll be giving it
a real good crack, and of course the local lad
(06:31):
Cameron will be really putting his fun forward as well,
So I'm looking forward to it. It'll be cold, but
it will be good, and then the Cargill always turns
out big numbers to support the contest's.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Great Absolutely, will you enjoy farming in Riverton? And if
he gets sick of the weather in Riverton very coastal,
of course, just head Inland in Southland to the riviera
of Southland and northern Southland a town called Riverstyle.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, I know Rivers well, Jamie. So I'll be popping
up there at some stage for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Good on you mate, Hey, thank you for your time
and thanks for falling in for Winston.
We've got another Danngon filling in. For instance, Second Dangin
to the batter's box today, Tim Dangin twenty twenty two
Young Farmer of the Year and Tim, you're not going
to field days because you're moving or have moved down
to Southland.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good afternoon, Hey, good afternoon, Jamie. I have mate. We're
a week on the ground down here and the weather's
been pretty good, but today it's cold in about three degrees.
I'm slowly adjusting, but it's great to be down here.
The farms looking spectacular. Simon Janinea have looked after me
for this past week here and yeah, it's going to
(00:34):
be down you mate.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yeah, Simon and Jeanine Hopcroft and Simon was what was
it two thousand and four or two thousand and four,
I think Young Farmer of the Year. So you're keeping
it in the family now. Their home farm is not
a mile away from Riverton, which isn't a mile away
from in the Cargo, which isn't a mile away from Antarctica.
So from the warmth of west Auckland, Tim Danngin, you
(00:58):
are well going to You're going to have to climatize
to farming in Southland. Again.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yea, so well, Jamie, but it happens pretty quickly. I'm
already sort of finding myself sweating in the leggings. So
it's good to be here. And you know, although the
weather is not perfect, we know that winter is a
sort of knuckle down time and the farm you know,
shuts down here at home on the milking platform as
the cows will go after a wintering block. So we
dried off yesterday which keeps off a good season for
(01:25):
the hot cross and looking forward to our coming season,
we will be taking the full rains and giving it
a real crack. I'm excited, Jamie.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Well as a sheer milker, are you like fifty to fifty?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I know we're lower order lower, Yeah, yep we are.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
But if you get a ten dollars payout, you're still
going to be rolling in it, Tim.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know about rolling. I know we've
got some pretty big ambitions about what we want to
put our money towards, Jamie, so we'll be squirreling it away, mate.
But yeah, it is looking very optimistic for the season
coming absolutely, and it's interesting to see that wide range
that Fonterra has come out with for the twenty five
to twenty six season, and although the starting points are
(02:04):
ten dollars, it's yeah sort of. It indicates to me
that the cultron about the next six months, but the
six months after that there is obviously a fit bit
of uncertainty. So ye will be cautious and we won't
be spending it till it's all in the bank account
next year.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Well that's what I'm hearing from various industry sources. There's
more downside risk than upside risk, and it was a
brave move by Fonterra to to open it teen. Are
you using any hedging policies? Are you going to fix
any milk price?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yes, we have fixed in some so there's some pretty
attractive advanced options there for us. And so just because
it's how our first season coming down, we sat down
with sign engineer and obviously they have to be on
board with fixing in as well. So we have fixed
in a portion which just gives us a little bit
upside against risk, I suppose, because your first season coming
(02:53):
into it and then obviously those headwinds, it's good to
lock in. We fixed it about nine dollars sixty for
a portion of our supply so yeah, it absolutely sort
of allows you to sleep at night a little bit better.
And if you fix and interest rates and some feed
supply contracts along with that, Jamie, it's yeah, it still
looks really positive and quite lucrative.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So you're knocking on an open door for me. I
think it's just smart risk mitigation. They're well done on
that one. So part of the reason you've gone down
Sheer Milking and Southland is no doubt to build up
a capital fund I assume to buy your own farm
or buy the family farm out Tim, Is that the
master plan?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, that's part of the master plan, Jamie suddenly, Yeah,
we've already brought him to the home farm out of Middeway.
But yeah, long term, we want to be able to
make sure that we can commensate mum and dad as
fairly as possible basically for the hard graft and the
equity that they've created which has given all of us
kids lots of options. So it's yeah, we're trying to
(03:52):
trying to come down here to put a few pennies
away it to one day be able to hopefully, yeah,
fairly compensate them back at home. But there's also other
plans and the Pope works too, Jamie. I love dairy farmer,
I always have and if the farm in Auckland was
a dairy farmer, I would have stuck there. But this
is an exciting opportunity and a different adventure for us
to come down here. And yeah, I'm really looking forward
(04:13):
to getting in behind another big dairy farm and getting
my head back in that game to.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
That end you're sort of campaigning for, and this is
I think a Federated Farmer's calls as well. Isn't it
for young farmers being able to access their key We
say it just like you can for buying a house,
for buying your first farm.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah, it's interesting. I see that FEDS is coming
out with something this afternoon, so keep an eye on
your emails there if you're a Federated Farmer's member that
there's a petition starting to try and get the government
to allow young farmers to be able to put that
key we saver towards perhaps buying obviously your first farm
would be great, but even buying capital livestock on a
dairy farm or a sheep and beef farm, and from
(04:52):
a young person's receipt of it'd be great. To be
able to have access to that fund of money there
rather than having to go to the bank. And yeah,
I think it it opened lots of options and lots
of doors and it's sort of just another one of
those ones that was promise on the campaign trail. I
believe Tom McClay said it on the campaign trail, So
it just needs following up on because I think it
would open a lot of doors for young farmers and
(05:13):
particularly for rural folks Jamie, where you're often working in
businesses where there's a house supplied with along with your job,
and so there's no real incentive to go off and
put their key we saver towards the house in town, say,
because you've sort of got ambitions in the rural area.
So I think it's a good initiative and it's awesome
Sea Feds picking up on it and pushing it again,
(05:35):
and this coming week at Field Days, I'm sure it
might be a topic of discussion that they'll be reminded
about well.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Tim Dangel twenty twenty two Young Farmer of the Year
FMG Young Farmer of the are going to be nice
and handy for that Grand Final which is coming up
in the Cargo not a mile away from where you
are in early July. Emma, I don't know whether you
heard her talking. She was talking about it, mate, Hugh Jackson, Yes,
being perhaps a favorite. You got any if the tab
(06:03):
was running a book, who would you have your money on.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I think it's a competitive year, Jamie. I honestly couldn't
really pick anyone. You will certainly be right up there.
I'd like to think that there's a few of them
that I know are putting a lot of time and
effort into it, and Emma and I obviously know how
great a platform it is to be able to launch
and propel your career to the next step. So I
think all these young men that are that are there
in the Grand Final this year, we'll be giving it
a real good crack, and of course the local lad
(06:31):
Cameron will be really putting his fun forward as well,
So I'm looking forward to it. It'll be cold, but
it will be good, and then the Cargill always turns
out big numbers to support the contest's.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Great Absolutely, will you enjoy farming in Riverton? And if
he gets sick of the weather in Riverton very coastal,
of course, just head Inland in Southland to the riviera
of Southland and northern Southland a town called Riverstyle.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, I know Rivers well, Jamie. So I'll be popping
up there at some stage for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Good on you mate, Hey, thank you for your time
and thanks for falling in for Winston.
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