1Northland | South Auckland
Vaughan and Amanda Going, Northland, 2009/2010 season
Maize helps develop Maori Trust land
Moving from the professional international rugby scene to developing land and growing maize in Northland has provided a new set of challenges for maize grain grower Vaughan Going.
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Pouto Topu A Trust, Northland, 2008/2009 season
Maize increases income for Maori Trust farm
Pioneer® brand maize for grain and silage provides an additional income stream for the Pouto Topu A Trust Farm, situated at Pouto on the North Kaipara Penninsula, 60 km south of Dargaville.
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Grant and Pauline Taylor, Northland, 2007/08 season
Maize for grain delivers lifestyle benefit
Maize growing has brought major lifestyle benefits for Northland farmers Grant and Pauline Taylor. The Taylors along with children Suzannah (18), Theo (17), Aidan (15) and Claudia (10) farm at Mititai just south of Dargaville.
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Neville Seward, North Auckland, 2006/07 season
Maize answers call of the deep blue
Blue water ocean sailing is a long way from the land based business of growing maize, but because of the flexibility maize offers, South Head grower Neville Seward can follow another of his passions. Offshore yacht racing sees Neville tacking out across the South Pacific on his 60 foot racer "Light Speed" in a number of different events every year.
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Colin MacKinnon, Bay of Plenty and South Auckland, 2005/06 season
Grain growing driven by vision and scale
Large scale maize grower Colin MacKinnon has spread his cropping risk between two provinces, and in doing so has become one of New Zealand’s largest grain growers.
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Don and Shane Morrow, South Auckland, 2005/06 season
Growing maize for grain spreads risk between regions and crops
In the risky world of market gardening Pukekawa onion growers Don and Shane Morrow have found maize grain is a crop that plays a stable and valuable economic role in crop rotation.
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Nigel and Shirley Wood, Northland, 2005/06 season
Returns and flexibility fit on South Head
A quiet cropping revolution is taking place on the thin finger of South Kaipara Head, and farmers Nigel and Shirley Wood are glad to be part of it.
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David and Adrienne Wordsworth, Te Kopuru, 2004/05 season
Grain plant purchase built on faith
The satisfaction David Wordsworth gets from growing maize is heightened now he owns the next step in the processing chain.
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Ashley Thomas, South Auckland, 2003/04 season
Maize for grain operation yields profit with lower risk
A steady return with relatively low capital input makes maize grain growing integral to Ashley Thomas's land redevelopment programme. Maize grain has not only helped develop the land near Mercer, it provides a return that is steadier and less capital intensive than what his market gardening peers
contend with up the road at Bombay.
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2North & Central Waikato
Kirk Simpson and Mary-Anne Murphy, Waikato, 2009/2010 season
Maize is a great way to diversify
Maize has enabled Waikato grain growers Kirk Simpson and Mary-Anne Murphy to decrease workload and increase their farm’s financial performance.
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Lloyd Farms and Waikiki Farms, Waikato, 2008/2009 season
Maize provides diversification options
Maize provides Te Kauwhata-based Lloyd and Waikiki Farms the opportunity to diversify their income without adding additional workload during busy times. It has also played an important development role allowing the conversion of land from willows and stumps into productive pasture.
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Gavin Grain, Waikato, 2007/08 season
34 years of continual improvement
A passion for cropping led Waikato maize grower Ian Gavin to plant his first maize crop on the family farm at Te Uku (near Raglan) in 1974. Ian and his wife Helen moved to their current property "Clandon" at Gordonton in 1975 where they raised their five children. They planted maize for grain in their first year at Clandon and have planted maize every year since.
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David Jefferis, North Waikato, 2006/07 season
Growing maize improves drystock farming returns
In 2001 Waerenga farmer David Jefferis returned to his family's fourth generation property in the Northern Waikato.
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Julia and Mark Fausett, Morrinsville, 2004/05 season
Maize offers a better life off the land
A life beyond the milking shed is something dreamt about by many sharemilkers, but as land costs climb and cow prices remain flat the prospect of being free of the cow shed remains elusive for many.
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Terry and Chris O'Brien, Morrinsville, 2003/04 season
First year grain growers change lifestyle and scoop awards
For Morrinsville farmers Terry and Chris O'Brien the first year growing maize for grain has proved to be a golden one. After growing maize for silage for the last 18 years, Terry and Chris decided to grow 40 hectares of maize for grain on their 70 hectare property and scooped all the prizes at this year's Pioneer®
Maize for Grain Yield Competition. Terry and Chris O'Brien were awarded the Waikato and National Yield Cups at one of Pioneer's mid-winter Industry Get-Togethers held at the Waikato Stadium.
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3Coastal BOP | Gisborne | Northern Hawke's Bay
Powdrell Services Ltd, 2009/2010 season
Improved genetics and better weed control key to increasing
maize grain yields
Improved maize genetics and better weed control have allowed long-term Northern Hawke’s Bay maize growers Ewan Powdrell, his father Rowley and local farmer Michael Thomas to keep increasing their maize grain yields.
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Rob and Brigitta Simpson, 2009/2010 season
Growing maize provides a relaxed lifestyle
Bay of Plenty grower Rob Simpson planted his first maize crop 24 years ago after his interest was sparked by his
father’s involvement with a company that was marketing maize grain at the time.
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Brian Amor, Gisborne, 2008/2009 season
Poverty Bay grain crop yields over 20 tonnes dry per hectare
An outstanding Pioneer® brand 34B97 strip trial yield of 20.01 t/ha saw Poverty Bay maize grower Brian Amor win the 2008 Pioneer Maize for Grain Yield Competition.
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Neil Rogers, East Coast and Bay of Plenty, 2008/2009 season
Isolated maize cropping provides income – and a challenge
Cropping some of the most isolated maize-growing land in the country provides an income as well as a challenge for Poverty Bay-based Neil Rogers. Neil grows maize on 500 ha of lease land in 15-20 blocks located from Te Kaha through to Tolaga Bay, a distance of more than 200 km.
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Frank and David Briant, Poverty Bay, 2006/07 season
Growers' skills deliver quality seed maize
Mutual respect and strong friendships underpin many of the relationships between Pioneer® brand seeds and the Company's maize growers. This is particularly so with the Company's seed growers, a select group of Gisborne farmers upon whom much of the New Zealand maize industry relies.
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Doherty Family, Bay of Plenty, 2006/07 season
Technology and genetics drive crop performance
A combination of passion, technology and technique has kept Mick Doherty growing maize for over 40 years, and that passion for the crop now continues with the involvement of his son Andrew.
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Brownrigg Agriculture, Hawke's Bay, 2005/06 season
Brownrigg Agriculture - three time champion!
Getting the basics right has been the simple but effective secret behind Brownrigg Agriculture’s success as Hawke’s Bay’s largest maize grower. The Company grows up to 800 hectares of maize on land it owns and leases around the Bay, and which has been built up by the hard work of two brothers, Jonathan and David Brownrigg.
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Colin MacKinnon, Bay of Plenty and South Auckland, 2005/06 season
Grain growing driven by vision and scale
Large scale maize grower Colin MacKinnon has spread his cropping risk between two provinces, and in doing so has become one of New Zealand’s largest grain growers.
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Neil Rogers, East Coast, 2005/06 season
Maize meets challenges of East Coast
Despite maize being a low risk crop offering healthy returns, the East Coast provides its share of challenges to the crop and growers. The 2005-06 season was no exception.
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Power Grain, Eastern Bay of Plenty, 2005/06 season
Talents combine to boost family business
The appeal of combining personal skills and growing the family business was the catalyst for Cameron Power and his brother-in-law Evan Murphy to return to their family maize growing enterprise Power Grain based in Whakatane.
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Guy and Isobel Nicol, Opotiki, 2004/05 season
Maize growing and history go hand in hand
With a quarter of a century of maize grain growing behind them, Guy and Isobel Nicol have a history all of their own in the industry.
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4South Waikato | Coastal Taranaki | Manawatu
Rangitikei | Southern Wairarapa | Central Hawke's Bay
Stewart and Christine Glasgow, 2009/2010 season
On-farm strip trials provide insight into hybrid performance
A Pioneer® brand 37Y12 strip trial yield of 17.92 t/ha made maize grower Stewart Glasgow the Lower North
Island winner of the 2009 Pioneer® brand seeds Maize for Grain Yield Competition.
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Stephen Voss, Manawatu, 2008/2009 season
Maize delivers good income with reduced workload
Maize is an integral part of the farming operation for Manawatu-based Mirawai Farms. This 170 ha mixed enterprise located at Kopane in the Manawatu is a family farm co-owned by brothers Stephen and Roger Voss, their wives Betty and Linda and parents Basil and Fay. Stephen and Roger have been on the farm all their lives and, while land has been added over the years, the original block was purchased by their grandfather in 1913.
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Campbell Family, Manawatu, 2007/08 season
Maize for grain - the easy care crop
Simon and Cherie Campbell, twins William and Sophia (14 months) and baby Millie (7 weeks) are in partnership with Simon’s parents Duncan and Mary Campbell in a mixed cropping and livestock operation at Opiki near Palmerston North.
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David Dempsey, Manawatu, 2007/08 season
Specific hybrids for specific growing environments
Maize for grain is the first choice crop for Manawatu farmer David Dempsey because it generates an income without needing hands on day-to-day involvement.
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Maewa Station, Rangitikei, 2006/07 season
Maize eclipses traditional crops with boosted returns and yield
Diminishing returns from growing small cereal crops in the Rangitikei had Patrick O'Neill seeking an alternative and more lucrative crop to grow four seasons ago.
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Murray and Marg Hart, South Waikato, 2006/07 season
History and trust underpin maize success
Morrinsville couple Marg and Murray Hart have a history as maize growers that would be among the longest and most loyal for growers of any crop in the country.
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Brian and Geoff Hill, Manawatu, 2006/07 season
Diversified Manawatu farming enterprise ranks maize highly
Brian and Geoff Hill have the bases covered with their farming business involving both cropping and livestock operations. The Hills began farming at Rongotea 30 years ago and over time have expanded the farm there to 160 ha. Fifteen years ago the decision was made to expand the cropping side of the business by purchasing an 80 ha cropping farm at Kopane, some 10 km west of Palmerston North.
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Fleming Brothers Agricultural Contracts, Manawatu, 2005/06 season
Technology and scale deliver success
Once a sideline crop to keep equipment operating over quieter months, maize is now the major source of income for Manawatu contractors, Fleming Brothers Agricultural Contracts. The business now incorporates land ownership, planting and growing contracts, grain drying and marketing to end users.
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Dean and Jill McManaway, Rangitikei, 2004/05 season
Maize offers easy crop solution on distant block
Turning to maize growing has provided a perfect fit for Dean McManaway and his contracting business in Hunterville. He purchased a block of land three years ago at Okirae on the Whangaehu River. With 30 minutes travelling time from home at Hunterville it meant Dean needed a crop that did not need to be checked constantly for pests and problems.
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Andy and Beth Watson, Rangitikei, 2003/04 season
Maize offers dual income opportunity for growers
Tourism and maize are unlikely partners in a business venture reaping rewards for Marton farmers Andy and Beth Watson. With over a quarter of their 400 hectare property in maize the Watson's have had 10 seasons growing Pioneer hybrids and meeting the quality standards of Tegel and Turks Poultry.
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