Valuable farming experience

A month living and working with Sri Lankan dairy farmers has given Tim Phillips a greater appreciation for New Zealand’s dairy industry.

The Waikato dairy farmer was one of four New Zealand farmers who spent time in the South Asian country as part of a new farmer volunteer scheme to work with Sri Lankan dairy farmers.

He was assisting Fonterra’s Sri Lankan team to assist and educate the local dairy industry in areas such as animal nutrition, prevention and treatment of mastitis and how to run a farm as a business.

Fonterra had recently finished completion of a demonstration farm in Sri Lanka which milks 25 cows in a European-style barn system.

The new farm and scheme are part of the Cooperative’s Dairy Development programme. It supports dairy industries in key markets where Fonterra operates by sharing its expertise and working together with local farmers.

Other New Zealand farmers on the trip were Troy Doherty from Bay of Plenty, Murray Douglas from Northland, and Marloes Levelink from West Otago.

Phillips said the experience of being in a different culture and environment and trying to think about farming was a challenge.