Otago Daily Times: 28 April 2021

Finding a better balance on farm

Dairy farmers Kiri and Rhys Roberts are on a journey to farm smarter and improve work/life balance.

It’s a constant journey and one they are keen to embrace as instigators of change.

Their farm management practice, with the full support of staff, sought ways to improve life on farm, not only for staff but for stock, as well as the environment.

“It’s about finding a better balance around what we are doing,” Rhys said.

The couple, who have two young children, farm at Align Clareview, at Westerfield, 25km out from Ashburton.

Kiri is farm manager and, in a way, Rhys her right-hand man; he is also Align Farms Group chief executive officer.

The Align Farms Group, founded by directors John Buchanan and Rob Cameron, is made up of seven farms in Mid Canterbury, covering 1786 hectares and milking 4500 cows.

Kiri (30) has been manager at Clareview since it was bought in 2013.