John van der Goes

Together, with my wife Cathy, we farm a 57 ha milking platform (plus 30 ha runoff) milking 165 cows this coming season.

I call myself a life style farmer as I believe that farmers have got too carried away chasing production and forgetting about the basics of farming. We are dropping our stocking rate each year to find the correct level that looks after both the cows and our bank balance. I also believe that we should enjoy our life and not let the farm rule it. I find it hard to implement this but I am trying.

I have joined the SMASH committee recently and I’m enjoying the challenges and meeting people involved in smaller herds. I don’t think that you need to be big to be successful.