SMASH has been set up to help dairy farmers, particularly those with smaller operations, to run successful businesses. We mainly achieve this by running events throughout New Zealand. These give farmers the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills which will stand them in good stead back on their own farms.
We also want to foster a supportive farming community – we are all in it together! SMASH is run by a group of New Zealand dairy farmers with a passion for the industry and for helping to build a strong and sustainable future for dairy farming. Read more
We're looking forward to hearing the yarns of Mark Warren, author of "Many a Muddy Morning" at our Waikato dinner. Hope to see you there! www.smallerherds.co.nz/smash-events/come-dine-with-us/
Here's a description of Mark from his publisher...
"Mark Warren is a larger-than-life character of rural New Zealand. He grew up with an obsession with Landrovers, council tip trucks, bulldozers, hill-country tractors, snow-plows - if it had four wheels, it warranted Mark's attention. Interwoven with his stories of working as a grease monkey, rallying in a purpose built Toyota landy, rescuing ski-bunnies off icy mountain roads, is his tale of being thrust into single-handedly managing a muddy Hawke's Bay farm in his twenties, just as Rogernomics was introduced and the removal of subsidies would change the face of farming forever."
Many a Muddy Morning - Mark Warren - eBook
harpercollins.co.nz
The off-roading, hill-seeking and muddy-morning adventures of New Zealand farming legend Mark Warren Mark Warren is a larger-than-life character of rural New...🙂
Who's your favourite pet?
ABC Rural
"She thinks I'm her calf!" says farmer Phillip Hughes of his jersey cow, Allo Vera, who runs the opposite way to the herd to greet and lick him every day. 🐮❤️👨🌾🚜
🎥 Rick Eaves.
Do you drive with the loader up or down?
FMG says down is best. Plus they have a number of other tips on-line to avoid damage and roll-overs.
FMG
We all know they're not toys, but unfortunately 1 in 10 tractor claims are for rollovers. Drive with the front end loader as low as possible to maintain your center of gravity. Lower FELs help tractors balance.
For more advice, download our free Tractor Guide and help avoid disruption to your farming and contracting business.
Graham Smith is coming to talk about his diversified smaller farm at our event in Awakeri next month. Here's an article talking about how he makes the most out of his block of land. If that sounds interesting to you come along to the event to hear more!
Agro-forestry convert turns ‘preacher’
ruralnewsgroup.co.nz
Milking 80 cows, taking timber orders online, collecting duck eggs and hosting tourists are all in a day’s work for Te Awamutu farmer Graham Smith. Th...
I feel in rather a buoyant mood today for several reasons including, but not limited to: autumn rain, maize, bacon, craft beer and boys…..Often we put ourselves under pressure by having a list of things we need to do, but can’t find time to do, or maybe don’t want to do; or things we want […]
February has brought plenty of heat to our operation, and any areas with a stone or sand base are now dead. Even my lucerne block is wilting and with growth rates at 4 kg/day silage has become the order of the day. With a 36 day round, I still have a little deferred grass, but […]
It’s been a long time between blogs and lots has been happening. The rain has been wonderful and is keeping the grass growing at exponential rates, which is a wonderful change for this time of the year. The end of 2018 was busy with normal farming life but also Mrs. Frostie took on a few […]
With the busyness and frenetic activity of the Christmas season upon us, it’s nice to take a bit of time out and tap a few thoughts on the keyboard. My last blog seems like just the other day, but I’ve just checked, and it was way back in September. So Christmas music on in background, […]
Mating this year has been a little better than in the past due to the great weather. Submission would be classed on the low side, at 85% after three weeks. I put nine cows on once a day and that certainly got them cycling. I have one cow not cycling now, so in all I […]
It’s high time I sat down and wrote a blog. Since the weather is not so good I thought it may be a good time to write and put off going outside. It feels like nothing much has happened since the last blog. It seems like I’m on the go all day and barely get […]
The sun is shining as I write this, and that certainly has made life easier. In spite of the mud calving has gone really well with one cow to go, and one milk fever. The girls are currently producing 2.27 kg per day, with grass a little short they are also getting 3 kg silage […]
With the mid-winter (or should I say mid-summer in European terms) holiday now a distant memory and the spring rush on farm now winding down, it’s time to reflect on the calving period and look forward in anticipation to the huge spring flush that is about to happen…. well the signs are certainly there, that’s […]
In my last blog I was busy writing about the winter dry period that was ahead of us. Time has rolled on now and Sam has been stuck in getting things sorted. Covers are ok, cow condition is good, it’s been a bit wet, some heifers have calved early and everything is set for calving […]
Thank you and your committee for your great work re SMASH events. We have gained several life changing ideas from these events.
At SMASH events we met like-minded people doing similar things.
It gave us confidence to know that there are people out there doing the same thing we are doing.
The positive vibe and the feeling of community amongst the farmers here was a highlight.
Can't sleep as am too excited after events!
This was a brilliant day. Refreshing, informative, varied and motivating.
“We have kind of gone off discussion groups because they tend to just look after our little district. Discussion groups are mainly people checking up on what the neighbours are doing whereas SMASH events are different, we get a lot more from them. I wholeheartedly loved it. It is good getting out of the area too.”
The strong working partnership of smaller herd farmers Matt and Sarah-Jane Yates has been a cornerstone to the success of their farming business. Matt started his career drystock farming on the family block, but its sale enabled him to buy his own property.
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