Bigger workshop for AgFirst Waikato

AgFirst Engineering Waikato team (from left) Fraser MacDonald (engineering/manufacture), Shaun Gibson (operations/project manager), Trent Flay (workshop/installation manager) and Davieth Verheij (director/engineering consultant) at their new Bond Road workshop and office.

AgFirst Engineering is an agricultural engineering company that specialises in rural water supply and dairy effluent systems, founded almost four years ago by Te Awamutu man Davieth Verheij.

Since then the company has experienced expediential growth which has lead to the shift from Bruce Berquist Drive to their new larger 600m2 engineering workshop and office on Bond Road.

AgFirst Engineering is part of the AgFirst NZ group which has been in business for 21 years with branches nationwide.

"The dairy industry has changed significantly over the past 10 - 15 years" says Mr Verheij.

The change in the dairy markets needs has brought great challenges of which Mr Verheij and the AgFirst team have welcomed.

"We are problem solvers and solution providers. Innovation is the heart of our business and we are extremely passionate and excited to be leading the way in to the future," he says.

The AgFirst team is experienced and have witnessed first hand the inefficiencies and inaccuracies that have historically plagued the agricultural water and effluent industry.

In recent years these inefficiencies and their effects on our farming businesses sustainability has become very clear.

"We always start with why, we don't do anything without fully understanding the reason why the need is for the solution" says Mr Verheij.

This sort of thinking breeds innovation and is getting the results New Zealand farmers need to be competitive in today's environment.

So what exactly is it the AgFirst Engineering do from the Bond road workshop?

Mr Verheij and his team are recognised nationally as the leaders in dairy effluent system design, supply and build.

This entails reviewing existing systems, effluent storage design, solids separation and green water recycling, pond agitation solutions through to land application pumping, electrical control, pipelines, irrigation equipment and monitoring, failsafe and effluent proof of placement systems.

"We are one of the only companies in New Zealand that can design and build complete dairy effluent treatment solutions from where the effluent leaves the dairy to where it hits the pasture" says Mr Verheij.

"Often we only do pieces of the puzzle to suit the farmers needs however, it is absolutely essential to us that there is a complete system design that has the end mind before we start".

AgFirst Engineering are also renowned for their experience, expertise and innovation in the water reticulation space.

"Once again it is so important to have the end in mind. We look at the big picture of what needs to be achieved but most importantly why" says Mr Verheij.

When it comes to water AgFirst can complete the full system design and build from water source (bore, spring, dam, stream, river etc), water treatment (filtration) right through to the trough ball cock, dairy shed supply, mineral dosing and water measurement, verification and data capture.

"The correct design capacity plus water and energy efficiency are completely essential.

Gravity is used as much as possible, adequate storage is key, pump operating hours are minimised and where possible night power use is maximised" says Mr Verheij.

"We recently saved a rural water scheme $12,000 per year in power consumption alone through good system design utilising water measurement, hi tech (but simple) storage level sensing/telemetry and adequate storage capacity".

If you want to step up to the next level when it comes to sustainable nutrient and water use on your dairy farm you best get in touch with the guys at AgFirst Engineering in Te Awamutu!