August 4, 2026 • 8 mins
Robin Greer is based near Mataura and talks of a big change on his dairy farm after twenty years.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome back to the muster. Robin Grid joins us. Next
he does it in a real estatement. These days we're
focused on as dairy farming operation based not for adam Antella.
There on the back road through to wind them. Robin,
good afternoon, how have you been?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, very good? Thanks Andy. Yeah, the winter has been
reasonably kind to us, hasn't been too bad, so now
we're all pretty positive starting to getting the carvin.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Firstly, how's the carving going? When's your official start date?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I think it was about two days ago it was
the official start, and obviously it's early days, but it's
taking over good so far. Unfortunately, the first week of
mating was that storm, so you know, there was other
priorities in mating that week, and so our first week
wasn't that flesh. But next week we'll start rolling in
(01:00):
good and proper.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So the girls managed to keep their legs crossed yesterday
during that little bit of skiffy weather.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I always get a few extras on them sort of days.
But okay, while it was cold, there was no wind,
so yeah, it wasn't too bad. The animals didn't mind
yesterday too much.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So you're going into spring with decent feed covers or
understandably a bit wet at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, Like, we're pretty happy with our feed covers about
where we would want to be, probably ending up carving
a few more cows and what we're planning so I
want to feed is probably just going to work out
all right, But we're pretty happy with the way things
are starting and the covers.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
We've got pretty meticulous planning.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
When it comes down to winter feedings that you're ending
out about right, that happy, that heat happy equilibrium as such.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yeah, I guess I always like to think we've got
a little bit extra at the end, but this year
they won't be. But yeah, so we went wanted a
few more cows, which is taking care of that little
bit extra we would normally have up our sleeve. But
ye know, we're happy. It covers a good and supplement
(02:11):
there that that should we need it. So we're looking
forward to a positive season and the returns are all
looking good. Sell so, oh, I think it's a great
positive start to the new season.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
The GDT aer point one percent rise, so it's remains
pretty much the same but at the same time, great
times to be in the dairy trade.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh. It is quite a deary end. Meat Like, it's
all looking good here. Southend's on a great place at
the moment, isn't it when you look at the returns. Yeah,
so I would think we're looking for a very good
season for dairy and meat. I think it's very positive.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
There seems to be a lot of envy up country
or the way that Southland's forging a hit at the moment,
not just in the rural sector but with all the
development and data centers and all these buzzwords. Whether you
love them or hate them, the fact is there are
workers in Southland and they're busy.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, Like it's really interesting, Like we spend a bit
of time away in the winter further north and yeah,
people talking about Southland. It certainly people are realizing that
there is a lot of positive going on down here.
So that's great for the province. It's you know, yeah,
one way or another, whether it's agriculture or whatever else
is going on, there's a lot of good positive stuff
(03:30):
going on.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Just give people a bit of an understanding about your
farm there and how many cows you got on there, Robin,
So we're.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
About one hundred and eighty effective Hecta is carving about
four ninety five the season. So this is our last
season as an organic farm. We're changing back to conventional
next season the end of our contract with Open Country. Yeah,
pretty much most the grass based system. A little bit
(04:02):
of grain just goes in just to help on the
shoulders a bit, just when there's a bit of a deficit,
but really a grass based system and totally self contained.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
As far as organic farming, how have you found it.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Oh, we've been organic farmers for twenty odd years now
and it's been very good to us. Say, I'm well,
we're not anti organic, it's just we've done twenty years
and our son's now sort of taking over running the
farm and he's probably not quite that way inclined. He
(04:37):
wants to really push things along. Yeah, and yeah there
is some restrictions that go with organic, but he probably
it's not interested in. So, yeah, we've got a ten
year contract with both the Country and it finished at
the end of the season and so we'll be just
going back conventional.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
It's a bit of an adjustment on the farm as
well as you go from one to the other. As
a few people try and back to trend and go organic,
I suppose.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, Hey, there's definitely a market there for organic product,
that's for sure. And you know, I've got nothing against organic.
That's you know that we're not changing because we're anti it.
It's just probably conventional. Just fits our way with our
fun taking this farm on going forward.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Really, So what's on the agenda for to day?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Then Robin just pretty much get the calving, go and
check the calves later on the afternoon.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
But during the day, what's to go?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So today, I'll make sure we've got a few hippers
that missed the DNA testing, so getting a few DNA samples,
get them away. Yeah, I'll get the stock on. I
sort of look after the support block, so just check
all the stock on there and make sure they're all okay. Yeah,
(05:52):
I don't overdo it too much, no doubt there will
be something that will need doing somewhere that Fillip will
give me a bove for sort of out do for him.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The old man will still have his uses, don't worry
about that.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Oh yeah, and hey, I enjoy it. You know, we
can get out there and do a bit of maintenance
and that sort of thing. Like at this time of
the year. Philip and his star, concentrate on looking after
the animals and I and sort of look after a
bit of maintenance and that sort of thing. Just take
that pressure off them.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
How have you found technology on the farm, Robin? Have
you embraced it?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, so we've got hold of which is really great.
I'm really impressed with that. I think, you know, because
we're rolling the steep farm. It works extremely well for us.
Very pleased with it. And where we've just changed the
milking shead solar system so we've got solar panels and
batteries and all on our milking shed. I guess we've
(06:50):
always sort of looked at technology and where it can
help us and use it where we think there's benefits
for us.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, in interesting like going the solar side of things.
You looking you think there'll be quite a bit of
savings going that way.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, Like, well we believe that like the seals pitch
ones that have pay for a thousand and six years,
I believe seven years with my numbers, it will pay
for itself. So there's not many investments to do that.
And plus the fact you know we've got supply if
the power runs out. We've always had a generator, but yeah,
heavy our own power supplies. Should we have another event
(07:26):
like last spring, and.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
That's the thing I suppose, just to wrap up, everybody's
got a plan B after last October.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Yeah. Yeah, we've always had a generator. We had had
a generator for thirty id years, so we've always seen
that as an essentral part of our milking milking plant.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Good on your Robin.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Let you carry on with your work this afternoon. Always
appreciate your time for getting for a good catch up.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Hey, thanks very much, Andy, and all the best everybody
for the spring.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Robin Greer up next from you, marian Z Nathan Nelson
Welcome back to the muster. Robin Grid joins us. Next
he does it in a real estatement. These days we're
focused on as dairy farming operation based not for adam Antella.
There on the back road through to wind them. Robin,
good afternoon, how have you been?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, very good? Thanks Andy. Yeah, the winter has been
reasonably kind to us, hasn't been too bad, so now
we're all pretty positive starting to getting the carvin.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Firstly, how's the carving going? When's your official start date?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I think it was about two days ago it was
the official start, and obviously it's early days, but it's
taking over good so far. Unfortunately, the first week of
mating was that storm, so you know, there was other
priorities in mating that week, and so our first week
wasn't that flesh. But next week we'll start rolling in
(01:00):
good and proper.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So the girls managed to keep their legs crossed yesterday
during that little bit of skiffy weather.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I always get a few extras on them sort of days.
But okay, while it was cold, there was no wind,
so yeah, it wasn't too bad. The animals didn't mind
yesterday too much.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So you're going into spring with decent feed covers or
understandably a bit wet at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, Like, we're pretty happy with our feed covers about
where we would want to be, probably ending up carving
a few more cows and what we're planning so I
want to feed is probably just going to work out
all right, But we're pretty happy with the way things
are starting and the covers.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
We've got pretty meticulous planning.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
When it comes down to winter feedings that you're ending
out about right, that happy, that heat happy equilibrium as such.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yeah, I guess I always like to think we've got
a little bit extra at the end, but this year
they won't be. But yeah, so we went wanted a
few more cows, which is taking care of that little
bit extra we would normally have up our sleeve. But
ye know, we're happy. It covers a good and supplement
(02:11):
there that that should we need it. So we're looking
forward to a positive season and the returns are all
looking good. Sell so, oh, I think it's a great
positive start to the new season.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
The GDT aer point one percent rise, so it's remains
pretty much the same but at the same time, great
times to be in the dairy trade.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh. It is quite a deary end. Meat Like, it's
all looking good here. Southend's on a great place at
the moment, isn't it when you look at the returns. Yeah,
so I would think we're looking for a very good
season for dairy and meat. I think it's very positive.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
There seems to be a lot of envy up country
or the way that Southland's forging a hit at the moment,
not just in the rural sector but with all the
development and data centers and all these buzzwords. Whether you
love them or hate them, the fact is there are
workers in Southland and they're busy.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, Like it's really interesting, Like we spend a bit
of time away in the winter further north and yeah,
people talking about Southland. It certainly people are realizing that
there is a lot of positive going on down here.
So that's great for the province. It's you know, yeah,
one way or another, whether it's agriculture or whatever else
is going on, there's a lot of good positive stuff
(03:30):
going on.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Just give people a bit of an understanding about your
farm there and how many cows you got on there, Robin,
So we're.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
About one hundred and eighty effective Hecta is carving about
four ninety five the season. So this is our last
season as an organic farm. We're changing back to conventional
next season the end of our contract with Open Country. Yeah,
pretty much most the grass based system. A little bit
(04:02):
of grain just goes in just to help on the
shoulders a bit, just when there's a bit of a deficit,
but really a grass based system and totally self contained.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
As far as organic farming, how have you found it.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Oh, we've been organic farmers for twenty odd years now
and it's been very good to us. Say, I'm well,
we're not anti organic, it's just we've done twenty years
and our son's now sort of taking over running the
farm and he's probably not quite that way inclined. He
(04:37):
wants to really push things along. Yeah, and yeah there
is some restrictions that go with organic, but he probably
it's not interested in. So, yeah, we've got a ten
year contract with both the Country and it finished at
the end of the season and so we'll be just
going back conventional.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
It's a bit of an adjustment on the farm as
well as you go from one to the other. As
a few people try and back to trend and go organic,
I suppose.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, Hey, there's definitely a market there for organic product,
that's for sure. And you know, I've got nothing against organic.
That's you know that we're not changing because we're anti it.
It's just probably conventional. Just fits our way with our
fun taking this farm on going forward.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Really, So what's on the agenda for to day?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Then Robin just pretty much get the calving, go and
check the calves later on the afternoon.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
But during the day, what's to go?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So today, I'll make sure we've got a few hippers
that missed the DNA testing, so getting a few DNA samples,
get them away. Yeah, I'll get the stock on. I
sort of look after the support block, so just check
all the stock on there and make sure they're all okay. Yeah,
(05:52):
I don't overdo it too much, no doubt there will
be something that will need doing somewhere that Fillip will
give me a bove for sort of out do for him.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The old man will still have his uses, don't worry
about that.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Oh yeah, and hey, I enjoy it. You know, we
can get out there and do a bit of maintenance
and that sort of thing. Like at this time of
the year. Philip and his star, concentrate on looking after
the animals and I and sort of look after a
bit of maintenance and that sort of thing. Just take
that pressure off them.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
How have you found technology on the farm, Robin? Have
you embraced it?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah, so we've got hold of which is really great.
I'm really impressed with that. I think, you know, because
we're rolling the steep farm. It works extremely well for us.
Very pleased with it. And where we've just changed the
milking shead solar system so we've got solar panels and
batteries and all on our milking shed. I guess we've
(06:50):
always sort of looked at technology and where it can
help us and use it where we think there's benefits
for us.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, in interesting like going the solar side of things.
You looking you think there'll be quite a bit of
savings going that way.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, Like, well we believe that like the seals pitch
ones that have pay for a thousand and six years,
I believe seven years with my numbers, it will pay
for itself. So there's not many investments to do that.
And plus the fact you know we've got supply if
the power runs out. We've always had a generator, but yeah,
heavy our own power supplies. Should we have another event
(07:26):
like last spring, and.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
That's the thing I suppose, just to wrap up, everybody's
got a plan B after last October.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Yeah. Yeah, we've always had a generator. We had had
a generator for thirty id years, so we've always seen
that as an essentral part of our milking milking plant.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Good on your Robin.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Let you carry on with your work this afternoon. Always
appreciate your time for getting for a good catch up.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Hey, thanks very much, Andy, and all the best everybody
for the spring.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Robin Greer up next from you, marian Z Nathan Nelson
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