New Zealand
I'm Kevin Davidson, and my journey into the world of agriculture began differently. At the age of 15 in 1974, I initially pursued a career as an electrician. Over four years, I honed my skills, completing my apprenticeship. For an additional three years, I mastered electrical work through self-employment. In 1981, after marrying Linda, I transitioned to dairy farming, starting with a year of hands-on experience on wages. The subsequent 12 years involved a successful 50/50 sharemilking partnership, a stepping stone toward our dream of owning a dairy farm. The dream became a reality in 1994 when we purchased our dairy farm in the Waikato region, marking the beginning of our commitment to excellence in the industry. In 2000, we sold our Waikato farm and ventured to the Hawke's Bay, initiating a transformative dairy conversion project with the Shepherd Family, encompassing 340 hectares and 1400 cows. Plantation Road Dairies evolved, expanding to a 460-hectare milking platform with 1850 cows and 550 hectares of support land. It became synonymous with innovation, enhancing animal welfare, production efficiency, profitability, and environmental sustainability. I became the largest single supplier of milk to Fonterra, whilst nurturing the success of Origin Earth, a small local processor, producing over 1 million Milk Solids. In 2022, I sold Plantation Road Dairies to Apatu Farms, retaining support land ownership to explore new avenues of impact and growth. Today, I focus on environmental sustainability, fostering farmer-to-farmer business practices, and re-investing in the Centre for Dairy Intelligence Limited (CDI). CDI, a New Zealand IP Development Company, hosts a groundbreaking program aimed at maximum sustainability, animal health, welfare, milk quality, profitability, and reducing methane/greenhouse gas emissions from cows. I'm committed to reimagining the dairy industry for the next generation, where innovation, sustainability, and shared success define our path forward.
I am the co-founder and am actively involved with the Centre for Dairy Intelligence Limited (CDI), a cutting-edge New Zealand IP Development Company. At CDI, I play a pivotal role in guiding its mission and initiatives. We're dedicated to advancing the dairy industry by pioneering innovative solutions focused on sustainability, animal welfare, milk quality, profitability, and reducing methane/greenhouse gas emissions from cows. CDI is at the forefront of shaping the future of dairy farming, and I am committed to driving these transformative initiatives to benefit farmers and the environment alike.
For over four decades, I dedicated my career to the dynamic world of dairy farming. Starting in 1981, after my marriage to Linda, I embarked on this rewarding journey with a year of hands-on experience as a farm worker. This initial phase led to 12 years of 50/50 sharemilking, where I, alongside Linda, honed our skills and laid the groundwork for future endeavors. In 1994, we realized our dream by purchasing our own dairy farm in the Waikato region. Over the years, this farm grew to become a testament to our commitment to excellence in dairy farming. In 2000, we took on an ambitious project in the Hawke's Bay, partnering with the Shepherd Family to establish a dairy conversion encompassing 340 hectares and 1400 cows. This endeavor marked a pivotal moment in my career. Plantation Road Dairies, under my guidance, flourished and evolved, encompassing 460 hectares of milking platform, 1850 cows, and 550 hectares of support land. At the core of our operations was a relentless pursuit of innovation, with a focus on improving animal welfare, production efficiency, profitability, and environmental sustainability. My commitment to the industry extended to becoming the largest single supplier of milk to Fonterra and fostering the success of Origin Earth, a local processing company in Hawke's Bay. In 2022, I transitioned to a new phase by selling Plantation Road Dairies to Apatu Farms while retaining ownership of support land. My 42 years as a dairy farmer have been marked by a steadfast commitment to excellence, sustainability, and a drive to redefine the industry for future generations.
My professional journey commenced as an electrician at the age of 15 in 1974. Over the course of four years, I honed my skills and successfully completed my apprenticeship. With a strong foundation in electrical work, I embarked on a three-year stint as a self-employed electrician, gaining valuable experience and expertise in the field. These early years equipped me with problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic that I later applied to my successful dairy farming career.