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Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Proud to buy half of farm ‘hitting its stride'
Nan de Haan and wife Marissa are going to be proud half-farm owners. PHOTOS: SHAWN MCAVINUE Southland sharemilker Nan de Haan is proud to own a dairy farm, which is "hitting its stride". Mr de Haan and his wife Marissa and sons Lewis, 4, and Colin, 2 months, are in their fifth season 50:50 sharemilking at Awarua Wetlands, about 20km east of Invercargill. When they started, the dairy farm had a major facelift including a new milking shed, fences, lanes, feed pad, effluent system, house and extensive regrassing. The grass was performing, the herd was fertile and milk production was humming, Mr de Haan said. This season, farm owners Greg and Sonya Herbert will sell them their half share of the property. "We are going to be proud half-farm owners," Mr de Haan said. Winy and Maarten van Rossum own the other half of the farm. Herd manager Rommel Dy has worked for the de Haans for the past eight seasons. The de Haans were contract milking when they began establishing their herd for an average price of $1400 each. "I got them from here, there and everywhere," Mr de Haan said. A major focus when selecting foundation heifers and cows was their production worth, an index estimating a cow's lifetime production ability. Breeds in his herd included Jersey, Holstein Friesian and Norwegian Red. The herd was analysed before mating to identify qualities cows needed and qualities bull semen could bring. "There are no bad cows and no bad bulls — there are only wrong combinations," he said. Bulls had been selected to produce heifer calves with traits better than their dam including stronger feet, more capacious rib cages and udders hanging higher from the ground. "This is how I hope to get this group of liquorice allsorts to be a more coherent herd," he said. Mating starts on November 1 and the herd begins calving in early August. Calves stay on until early December and then go to a grazier in Fortrose, on the western edge of the Catlins. The heifers stay in Fortrose for two winters, returning home mid-July to a bed of woodchips near the feed pad. All of the cows were wintered on farm. After the herd was dried off this season, about 225 cows would be wintered on grass and baleage. "It is a simple system — pretty much just feed them until they've finished it," he said. About another 75 cows, usually the early calvers, would be wintered on straw and silage in the old milking shed. "I sometimes put the late calvers in there before I dry them off to stretch my season out and then swap them with my earliest calvers." Baleage and silage was made on farm and bought in. His silage feeding plan was to "feed it until the cows are happy" rather than measuring it and feeding out a certain amount. Sheep and beef farmer Ray McCrostie (left) questions his neighbour, dairy farmer Nan de Haan at a DairyNZ field day this month. A new feed management practice was drilling about 150kg of oat seed in late July in paddocks to winter cows. If conditions were favourable, two cuts of oats were available by late November and then the paddock was ploughed and regrassed. This season, the herd began eating supplementary feed from a pad earlier this month. As autumn had been favourable, the cows would spend about half the amount of time on the pad as last autumn. A wet and cold spring last year meant the cows spent most of the season on the feed pad. Milk production was about 4% down on last season. The drop was due to a wet autumn last year, prompting an earlier dry off than usual. If autumn was favourable, some cows were milked for up to two weeks into winter. The herd was now being milked twice a day and the frequency would reduce to once a day at the end of this month, he said. Cows of 50:50 sharemilkers Nan and Marissa de Haan on Awarua Wetlands. Now cows were being given palm kernel and distiller's dried grains in the milking shed. Grain features in the mix earlier in the season. "Cows need energy to milk," he said. On average, 591kg of milksolids was produced per cow in the 2023-24 season. The herd had the potential to produce more than 600kg of milksolids "with similar profitability, if not sharper". "We have not peaked yet." More milk could be produced from more precise feed management, he said. The farm had forgiving sandy soil and a temperate, summer safe climate, which helped grow grass.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
‘Proud half-farm owners' look ahead
Photos: Shawn McAvinue Southland sharemilker Nan de Haan is proud to own a dairy farm, which is "hitting its stride". Mr de Haan and his wife Marissa and sons Lewis, 4, and Colin, 2 months, are in their fifth season 50:50 sharemilking at Awarua Wetlands, about 20km east of Invercargill. When they started, the dairy farm had a major facelift including a new milking shed, fences, lanes, feed pad, effluent system, house and extensive regrassing. The grass was performing, the herd was fertile and milk production was humming, Mr de Haan said. This season, farm owners Greg and Sonya Herbert would sell them their half share of the property. "We are going to be proud half-farm owners," Mr de Haan said. Herd manager Rommel Dy has worked for the de Haans for the past eight seasons. Winy and Maarten van Rossum own the other half of the farm. The de Haans were contract milking when they began establishing their herd for an average price of $1400 each. "I got them from here, there and everywhere," Mr de Haan said. A major focus when selecting foundation heifers and cows was their production worth, an index estimating a cow's lifetime production ability. Breeds in his herd included Jersey, Holstein Friesian and Norwegian Red. The herd was analysed before mating to identify qualities cows needed and qualities bull semen could bring. "There are no bad cows and no bad bulls — there are only wrong combinations," he said. Bulls had been selected to produce heifer calves with traits better than their dam including stronger feet, more capacious rib cages and udders hanging higher from the ground. "This is how I hope to get this group of liquorice allsorts to be a more coherent herd," he said. Mating starts on November 1 and the herd begins calving in early August. Calves stay on until early December and then go to a grazier in Fortrose, on the western edge of the Catlins. The heifers stay in Fortrose for two winters, returning home mid-July to a bed of woodchips near the feed pad. All of the cows were wintered on farm. After the herd was dried off this season, about 225 cows would be wintered on grass and baleage. "It is a simple system — pretty much just feed them until they've finished it," he said. Sheep and beef farmer Ray McCrostie (left) questions his neighbour, dairy farmer Nan de Haan at a DairyNZ field day this month. About another 75 cows, usually the early calvers, would be wintered on straw and silage in the old milking shed. "I sometimes put the late calvers in there before I dry them off to stretch my season out and then swap them with my earliest calvers." Baleage and silage was made on farm and bought in. His silage feeding plan was to "feed it until the cows are happy" rather than measuring it and feeding out a certain amount. A new feed management practice was drilling about 150kg of oat seed in late July in paddocks to winter cows. If conditions were favourable, two cuts of oats were available by late November and then the paddock was ploughed and regrassed. This season, the herd began eating supplementary feed from a pad earlier this month. People on a feed pad listen to Mr de Haan speak about his sharemilking business. As autumn had been favourable, the cows would spend about half the amount of time on the pad as last autumn. A wet and cold spring last year meant the cows spent most of the season on the feed pad. Milk production was about 4% down on last season. The drop was due to a wet autumn last year, prompting an earlier dry off than usual. If autumn was favourable, some cows were milked for up to two weeks into winter. The herd was now being milked twice a day and the frequency would reduce to once a day at the end of this month, he said. Now cows were being given palm kernel and distiller's dried grains in the milking shed. Cows of 50:50 sharemilkers Nan and Marissa de Haan on Awarua Wetlands. Grain features in the mix earlier in the season. "Cows need energy to milk," he said. On average, 591kg of milksolids was produced per cow in the 2023-24 season. The herd had the potential to produce more than 600kg of milksolids "with similar profitability, if not sharper". "We have not peaked yet." More milk could be produced from more precise feed management, he said. The farm had forgiving sandy soil and a temperate, summer safe climate, which helped grow grass.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rangers Player Issues Statement After Franchise Criticism Goes Viral
New York Rangers defenseman Calvin de Haan addressed his viral outburst on social media Sunday night, offering context and clarity on a comment that quickly made waves across the NHL. The veteran defenseman sparked attention earlier that day at an optional practice. While passing a group of reporters, de Haan was quoted as saying, "How about the way I've been treated here? It's (expletive),' referring to his treatment by the Rangers. Advertisement The initial remark was shared on X by New York Post reporter Mollie Walker. De Haan, 33, has been a healthy scratch in 18 consecutive games and has played only three times since being traded to New York from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1. De Haan addressed his early comments on X, writing that he had hoped to express his thoughts in a full media scrum instead of having his quote circulate instantly on the internet. "Going to get ahead of this now…," de Haan wrote. "I was hoping that I would have been able to express in a scrum setting versus a quote as I was going onto the ice and having it on the Internet 30 seconds later. Advertisement "I said what I said because I am frustrated, and any competitor who says that they would be happy in this position would be lying to you. After playing 3 games for the team and going 2-0-1 , I thought I maybe would have got an opportunity to jump into the lineup and help win some games. "Did I help win those games I played, maybe? Maybe not? But we still won and collected some crucial points to climb the standings. I understand the youth movement in the nhl, and I'm getting older in hockey years and I may not play every single night. I feel like I can still contribute and help teams win. I know I'm not going to play 20 minutes a night in the role I've been in the past few years , but again I feel like I can still keep up and help a team in certain facets of the game. "I'm not trying to be the villain or gain attention or throw shade on the organization , I would have preferred a scrum setting to chat about how my time with the rangers has gone. As a player you have to respect the lineup decisions whether you like them or not, it's just been frustrating not being able to compete and do what I love to do. I hope everyone understands." New York Rangers defenseman Calvin de Haan skates against the Nashville Penner-Imagn Images According to the New York Post, Rangers public relations staff spoke with de Haan following the incident, and both sides agreed that the defenseman would hold off on further comments until after the season. Advertisement De Haan has scored eight points (all of them assists) in 47 games this year. The Rangers went 2–0–1 in his three appearances with the team. The veteran defenseman admitted he hoped his early results would earn him more opportunities, which hasn't been the case. De Haan hasn't played since March 5, and the Rangers were eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Related: Bruins, Rangers, Wings & Blackhawks Hit Historic NHL Low Together Related: Rangers Head Coach Makes Ominous Admission on Job Future
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calvin de Haan opens up on Rangers experience, says team shouldn't ‘blow everything up'
Calvin de Haan got some things off his chest about the New York Rangers on Monday. But his break-up day session with reporters wasn't nearly as explosive as expected following his outburst last week in South Florida. Back on April 19, de Haan told reporters it's 'f____ed' how the Rangers treated him since he was acquired in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1. De Haan played three games and then was scratched the rest of the regular season (20 games), despite playing well and the Rangers posting a 2-0-1 mark in those games he played, including a pair of 4-0 shutout victories. Advertisement 'Not much to assess, you know, I only played three games,' de Haan said at breakup day. 'Obviously spoke my mind a week ago. A little frustrating, but it is what it is. Just moving on, going home to enjoy some time with friends and family, and enjoy the offseason. I'll be getting in the gym somewhat quick, trying to be in the best possible shape for training camp wherever that may be, and go from there.' It's a bit of a head scratcher why de Haan sat for 20 consecutive games when the Rangers needed a win every night in their push to try and make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After the Rangers acquired defenseman Carson Soucy from the Vancouver Canucks shortly after picking up de Haan, the veteran's playing time dried up. Soucy, Urho Vaakanainen and Zac Jones all played ahead of de Haan, even when K'Andre Miller missed time due to injury. After the trade, the notion was that de Haan would play, especially since it was Ryan Lindgren, a regular on the blue line, who was traded away. 'I was a part of a trade for a Ranger who was a good New York Ranger for a long time,' explained de Haan. 'I was told I was going to be a part of the team moving forward and get an opportunity.' Advertisement De Haan voiced his frustration to the media with about a week left in the regular season, which went viral online. He got ahead of things, releasing a statement saying that he would dive more into the topic on breakup day. Brad Penner-Imagn Images While he had a lot to say, and was noticeably aggravated about the subject, this excerpt sums it up best. 'Guys who have been in my position for that long just want to play,' de Haan said. 'If you're not upset, you probably shouldn't be in this line of work. If you're just content with sitting on the sideline, that's not a good thing in my opinion. I still have the fire. It is what it is, guys, it's all good. No hard feelings to anyone in the organization. At the time it was just frustrating.' Advertisement Related: Igor Shesterkin believes 'something broke this season' for Rangers, causing lack of confidence Calvin de Haan offers insight into Rangers: 'This team should be in the playoffs' Brad Penner-Imagn Images De Haan won't be back next season. He's an unrestricted free agent and will be looking for a new NHL home in 2025-26. The 33-year-old has played for five teams during the past four seasons. His assessment of the Rangers is a valued one, considering his experience. It's also a bit surprising. 'It's a good bunch of guys here,' de Haan said. 'Guys like each other off the ice. I don't think that's a pressing issue, to blow everything up. A lot of good guys here. I think the stars need to align at times, and you need a bounce here and there.' Advertisement But was it just poor puck luck that sabotaged the Rangers during this miserable season, especially during their failed playoff push? 'There were definitely times that I saw where it was just not cohesive maybe, on the ice,' continued de Haan. 'On the ice, for sure, it was frustrating to see some of the goals we were letting in. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, this is a group of five on the ice that were letting in goals, but then there were flashes of brilliance where you're like, this team should be in the playoffs, frankly.' It's still hard to fathom that the Rangers are not in the playoffs, not one of the eight best teams in the Eastern Conference. Just a year ago they were the Presidents' Trophy winners, the beasts of the East, the team to beat. Now they're the biggest disappointment of the 2024-25 season. So, what comes next for de Haan and the Rangers? 'There'll be some changes, obviously. Maybe I'll be around, maybe not, who knows,' he said. 'Going into next year, the bar will still be set high for this organization — and it should be. There's good players here.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calvin de Haan's cheeky take on brief, rocky Rangers tenure: ‘checks weren't bouncing at end of day'
By his own admission, Calvin de Haan is both outspoken and sarcastic to a degree. Both of those qualities were on display when the veteran defenseman discussed his brief and rocky tenure with the New York Rangers during his appearance on the Cam and Strick podcast. Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Ryan Lindgren trade March 1, de Haan played well in three straight games for the Rangers, who were 2-0-1 with him in the lineup while trying to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 34-year-old played his typical steady game, chipping in with an assist and posting a plus-4 rating as he averaged better than 15 minutes TOI. Advertisement The Rangers had an expected goals share of 60.17 percent with de Haan on the ice 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. So, in line with this trainwreck of a season for the Rangers, Peter Laviolette scratched de Haan in every game the rest of the season — 20 straight. Carson Soucy was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the trade deadline to eat into de Haan's opportunities, and everyone from Urho Vaakanainen to Zac Jones to rookie Matthew Robertson the last two games of the season played ahead of de Haan. 'Was it frustrating? Of course. But the checks weren't bouncing at the end of the day, so it could've been a lot worse. It didn't suck,' de Haan said on the podcast. Advertisement The veteran of 679 NHL games and another 38 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, did say, 'The Rangers were good to me, aside from not playing.' That 'not playing' part still sticks in de Haan's craw, as they say. He firmly believes that he could've helped the Rangers win more and find a way into the postseason. Instead, he sat, watched and stewed as the Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. 'There was a rotation at some point of some d-men coming in and out of the lineup and I was like 'F— yeah! Here we go! Here we go!' And my name never fell into it, and then I kind of knew my season was cooked at that point,' de Haan explained. 'It was frustrating because I know my analytics were good. Every team in the NHL uses Sportslogiq, and my Sportslogiq numbers in the things we struggled in, I could've helped. Especially on the defensive side of things, giving up chances, rebound chances, Grade A chances. A lot of my numbers were strong in those categories and I'm like 'F—, I could probably help the team.'' Advertisement Related: Peter Laviolette seeks NHL job, wants 'opportunity to show people last year wasn't on him' Calvin de Haan surprisingly says Rangers GM Chris Drury 'was good to me' despite frustrations Brad Penner-Imagn Images De Haan's frustrations did bubble over in what he believed to be an informal private back and forth with some reporters in South Florida after the Rangers were officially eliminated from playoff contention in mid-April. The reporters tweeted his off-the-cuff remarks and unwittingly de Haan was trending on social media. 'To be honest I was going on to the ice (for practice) and there was no scrum or microphone. I thought I was having a conversation like we are right now,' de Haan explained. 'I said a lot of it with a smile, too. If you guys get to know me down the line, you'll know I'm sarcastic and I wear my heart on my sleeve. Advertisement 'Next thing I know I've got a ton of text messages, people are like 'Hey, well done, sticking up for yourself.' I had no idea what was going on, so I pulled up my Twitter (X) and said, 'Shit!'' In that exchange with Rangers beat reporters, de Haan expressed he was 'wasting time' at practice and that his Rangers tenure was 'f—ed.' He explained on the podcast that he immediately called general manager Chris Drury to explain. '[Drury] was great. I thought it was the honorable thing to do to hear it from the horse's mouth, so that's why I called him,' de Haan said. 'I just wanted to put the fire out. He's a good guy, he was good to me. No issues.' Despite all of the drama and frustration over not playing, de Haan is not ruling out a return to the Rangers. The defenseman is an unrestricted free agent and open to conversations with the Rangers, though that would appear to be a long shot. Advertisement 'I'm still an employee of the Rangers,' de Haan noted. Well, at least until July 1. Related Headlines
