The Farmers Fast Five: where we ask a farmer five quick questions about farming, and what agriculture means to them.

Today we talk to Ashburton dairy farmer Jaspreet Singh Brar.

What did your journey into farming look like?

I born and raised in farming family in India. I used to help my family look after eight to ten cows, never thinking one day I would be responsible for a 1400-plus cow herd near Mid Canterbury’s Ashburton.

Coming from a farming family, the main income earner was cropping where we grew wheat and rice and milking the small herd was a self-contained business.

After finishing school at 19, I came to New Zealand in 2012 to study a business management course and worked at a liquor store and kiwi fruit farms in my spare time.

Then I started in dairy farming as a farm assistant, then worked through dairy farm assistant to contract milker. At the same time, I was studying Primary ITO courses.

Tell us a little bit about your farming operation?

The property Ashfield Downs, one of a number of properties FarmRight manage for New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

The fully irrigated milk platform is on 382 hectares with seven centre pivots and a fixed grid on corners.

At the peak of milking the 1415 cows go through an 80-bale rotary shed with in-shed feeding.

I have six full-time staff and 2 calf rear in springtime.

What challenges have you faced in your farming business, and how have you tackled those challenges?

Coming to New Zealand, communication was big challenge, but I worked hard on myself.

Doing study helped to improve my communication and in growing in farming.

What has been a major highlight for you in your farming journey?

At last year’s Dairy Industry Awards, I took out the Canterbury/North Otago prize for Dairy Farm Manager of the Year.

I enjoyed the challenge of chasing recognition and the networking the awards enable is invaluable.

What advice would you have for the next generation of farmers?

I reckon Kiwi dairy farming opens doors, particularly for new immigrants with big dreams.

People like me, who came to this country with no English, with no money can end up on their way to owning a multimillion-dollar business one day.

That is the great thing about farming.