Farm manager Kate Reed, who was in her first season there, was following in the footsteps of Karla Frost, who won the Northland Dairy Farm Manager of the Year title this year, and placed third in the national competition.
Two other NARF managers had won the same award in recent years.
"It's really important to have someone managing the farm that understands the research objectives," Mr Bradbury said.
"We are really pleased with how Kate is doing in the role. Managing three farms and ensuring collection of the data we need takes good organisational skills."
The current research was comparing the three farm systems with differing levels of inputs.
Science manager Chris Boom said Northland was very lucky to have such a facility, along with such an "awesome" group of committee members.
"There is no other facility like this in the country with the ability to run three farms alongside each other, in a winter wet, summer dry environment and a kikuyu/ryegrass-based pasture," he said.
"So often we have to rely on research from Waikato or Canterbury, which don't have the same challenges as we do."
The trial, in its first season last year, compared grass-only, cropping and PKE farming, results showing that cropping gave the highest production but the lowest profit. Grass only had the lowest production but the highest profit.
"This was in a low pay-out and wet summer environment," Mr Boom said.
"Let's see what happens in a season with a more challenging climate. That is why we run these studies for a number of years."
The farm committee meets fortnightly to discuss results and determine what the management for each of the farms.
"They don't all make every meeting, as they have their own lives and businesses, but we greatly appreciate it when they can make it," Mr Boom said.
"We have great discussion about what the rotation length should be, what supplements to put in, crop management and so on. This is where they put in their expertise, and we all do a bit of learning together".
The results of the current trial will be presented at the December 1 field day.
Fortnightly farm committee meetings are currently held on Thursdays, 10.30am to 12.30pm, the next on Thursday this week. Meetings are open to the public, and include a farm walk.
Any dairy farmer who is interested in joining the committee is welcome to contact Mr Bradbury on (021) 132-3525 or Mr Boom on (027) 488-4463.
For current and past updates go to www.nddt.nz, and for more information, or to subscribe to fortnightly email updates, email Mr Boom at chris.boom@agfirst.co.nz
The Northland Dairy Development Trust provides governance for the research project, funded by DairyNZ, the Ministry of Primary Industries, the Hine Rangi Trust and a range of industry sponsors.