Like many farmers, Murray and Margaret Turley will be keeping an anxious eye on how the M.bovis outbreak plays out in the dairy industry even though the 2017/18 season has been a lucrative one for them.
As the owners of a 28% interest in Dairy Holdings, their share of the payout from the 17 million kilograms of milk solids produced by the conglomerate’s 49,000 cows is estimated to be $32 million – less costs.
Not that the Turleys are totally reliant on dairying. From their Temuka base Turley Farms cultivates 3200ha in the Canterbury region where it grows everything from hybrid carrot seeds to potatoes and peas. While Margaret heads the office administration, Murray leads the direction of the cropping operation where investment in new technology plays a key role.
With about 20 fulltime staff on the payroll, they also run a number of sheep and beef cattle. And when he’s not managing his own business, Murray can be found chairing the board at Farmers Mill where he is the majority shareholder with a 30% stake.
A manufacturer and marketer of high-quality flour and specialty grains, the Washdyke company supplies iconic brands such as Griffins Foods, Couplands Bakeries, French Bakery and Baker Boys.
A believer in co-operating rather than competing with other farmers, Turley says a lot of farmers get too independent but they have to trust one another. “What we have done shows the strength of farming families working together and what can be achieved.”
Photo: ODT