We make it count by sticking to a plan and trusting our team

Sarah & Dylan Williamson
Dairy farmers

After finding their way back to farming, Dylan and Sarah Williamson have embraced the challenge and variety that comes with dairy farming. Milking 300 cows on a 244-hectare property in Tauhei, Morrinsville, they believe success comes from surrounding yourself with good people, building trusted relationships and working together as a team. 

What does a good day on the farm look like?

A good day starts with things running smoothly. Healthy cows, green pasture and a team that enjoys coming to work all play a part.

They believe animal wellbeing starts with people wellbeing. Cows are highly aware of their environment, so creating a positive atmosphere for both staff and animals is a priority.

'We 100% rely on our team and we put a lot of effort into looking after them.'

Building trusted relationships

When Dylan and Sarah moved north, they had farming experience but were still learning the specifics of managing nutrients in a new region. Their relationship with Ballance Nutrient Specialist Katie quickly became an important part of their farming team.

Rather than simply recommending products, Katie helped them understand the benefit of each recommendation.

'When we came up here, Katie was all over it and had all the knowledge and had all the expertise, but also didn’t just be like, ‘Hey, you need this, you need that. This will go here, this will go there.' She’ll actually explain it to you and want you to be as knowledgeable as her.'

It's a relationship built on trust, accessibility and practical support. Whether it's an annual planning discussion or a panicked phone call when something hasn't gone quite to plan, they know help is only a call away.

‘Most times it's panic. And she's like, 'Sweet, we've got this.'

Setting farm goals

Continuous improvement is a key motivator for Dylan and Sarah.

Each year they set production goals and work closely with their wider farming team, including Katie, to put plans in place that help achieve them.

While they have continued breaking farm production records, Dylan is always focused on the next benchmark.

'We did farm record again, so we just keep setting a higher goal.'

Dylan and Sarah switched to SustaiN to help support pasture growth later in the season. This extended their milk curve by four weeks, and they were able to achieve their production targets and improve farm profitability.

Each season brings new opportunities to improve performance, refine management decisions and make every hectare count.

Making confident decisions

Having a clear plan gives Dylan and Sarah confidence throughout the season.

Working alongside Katie, they use a 12-month nutrient plan that provides certainty around nutrient requirements, timing and budgeting. Having that visibility helps them make informed decisions and stay on track throughout the year.

'Sticking to a budget has never been easier. We have the annual catch up, and then I fall back on her email and her plan.'

For them, making informed decisions and sticking to a long-term approach was more important than reacting to short-term uncertainty.

'Farming will always have its challenges, but having people around you that you trust- whether that's your partner, your team, your community or your advisors- makes all the difference. You don't have to have all the answers yourself.' - Dylan Williamson