Belinda Price manages a total of almost 1000 dairy cows across two herds.
Belinda Price manages a total of almost 1000 dairy cows across two herds.
If wealth could be measured by the ownership of cattle, 2021 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Belinda Price is a wealthy woman.
She was awarded that title in Taupo last month and it comes with a $20,000 scholarship.
But Price's financial worth has come mainly through dairy cows.
Betweentwo farms she and husband Ben own almost 1000, and selling most of them this month will provide yet another boost towards their goal - to own a dairy farm.
Ben and Belinda Price have managed Adrienne and David Hopkins' 235ha dairy farm at Nukumaru for seven years, as 50-50 sharemilkers.
They own its 630 to 680 cows and some of the machinery, the Hopkins own the land and they each get half the milk cheque.
Three years ago the Prices began paying for their first dairy farm, at Oeo between Manaia and Opunake. It's 80ha, with another 14ha leased and a herd of 280.
They have staff there and commute the 70 minutes back and forth.
Belinda has the "helicopter view" and makes the decisions. She manages four staff and two herds across both operations. When she and Ben move to Oeo this month she will continue to manage two operations - their own Oeo farm and another two minutes away.
It has a herd of 350 and they will lease both the land and the cows and continue paying off the debt on their own farm.
Belinda was brought up on Northland farms and became a travel consultant. Dairy came into her life with husband Ben, a Taranaki farmer.
"He wanted to buy a dairy farm. That's been our driving force for about 15 years."
The two started as sharemilkers 12 years ago. Their first farm had a herd of 150, their second 250.
At Harkaway their management won the supreme Ballance Farm Environment Award in 2016. They also won two Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards, two weeks apart.
Dairy has given Belinda Price a lot.
"It has pushed my boundaries, built my confidence. It's basically changed my life."
I have been able to grow my people and grow my business and achieve our goals."
From mid-July to mid-September she is full time raising calves. She does all the administration too. It takes at least three hours a day, and occupies most of her evenings.
"I don't watch much TV."
Ben, meanwhile, handles the practical side.
"He leaves the planning to me. We discuss it, obviously, but I make it happen."
The herd at the Harkaway farm in Nukumaru numbers about 630. Photo / Bevan Conley
When the pair move to Oeo this month Belinda will sell all the 2-to-8-year-old cows she has raised, and keep the older ones for their own farm. They are already doing a lot of planting there, along roadsides and to provide shelter.
"My husband and I are very big about presentation," she said.
Belinda has been shoulder-tapped for all sorts of things by the dairy industry - especially for coaching and mentoring. She invited primary school children to Harkaway to find out how milk is produced, and to help plant a wetland.
"I want people to know the right information about dairy farming."
Her aim has been to get all aspects of farming right - the people, the animals and the environment.
She's not sure how to use her scholarship.
"My brain is a bit on fire with it."
Her favourite thing to do is build connections. She will probably use the scholarship to help other people achieve their goals - whatever those are.
"My brain doesn't turn off. I have lots of ideas. I just love to be inspired," she said.
