Fast forward 25 years and he says a career in the dairy industry was one of the best things he could have done.
Mr Duckmanton, of DMT Dairies Ltd, is a 50:50 sharemilker of 1900 cows over two farms in Mid Canterbury.
He shared his farming journey and approach to achieving productivity gains through different technologies and data at a People Expo, organised by DairyNZ and Dairy Women’s Network, in Oamaru this week.
Milking his first cow in October 1999, he was the only dairy farmer in either his close or extended family.
He came through the traditional industry career pathway.
He was now going through the process of potential farm ownership in the next 12 months.
Mr Duckmanton said he was driven by loyalty — he was only with his third employer — determination and a competitive nature, and opportunities.
He loved the dairy industry as things could be measured, benchmarked and improvements made.
He had been fortunate to have a couple of good step-ups throughout his career and he liked to repay that favour now.
With no family farm, he started with zero dollars in the bank and was now building up to land ownership.
“It’s a tough path and different to what it used to be years ago but it’s still achievable,” he said.
Technology had made life easier to be able to achieve some of those things.
The key reasons for embracing technology in his business included streamlining operations and improving options and outcomes with people, animals and profitability.
Various apps did not cost a lot of money but really helped with that streamlining.
WhatsApp was used for general staff chat, as well as health and safety, a fuel log book and calving.
Collars were used on cows on the farm and while that was a reasonable investment, it provided the ability to have multiple farms and consistent information coming from those properties.
“Technology brings good and bad things to your business and life,” he said.
It had to be a positive change for staff as well, he added.
The key benefit in DMT Dairies had been the ability to expand the business as he could not be in two places at once.
Efficiency increased profitability.
sally.rae@odt.co.nz
