Lease or Sharemilking Opportunities Wanted
Hi, I’m Regan McCorquindale, an actively practicing farm supervisor and advisor to dairy farms throughout the Waikato. I’m fortunate to have found a career that I genuinely enjoy and one that feels like home.
Starting a business has always been natural for my brother and I. Growing up, we squeezed oranges, bottled the juice, and sold it to our neighbours, who reluctantly bought it out of guilt for the two kids showing up on their push bikes. Relief milking was the next way to generate some cash from farmers in the district as soon as I got my restricted license. This managed to fund my university ventures, both here in New Zealand and in Canada.
What keeps me passionate about dairy farming is how diverse and ever-changing it is. Being born and raised on my parents' dairy farm exposed me to the demands of farming from day one. The endless hours that go into the farm daily and the non-stop thinking of how things can be done differently and better each day led me to study AgriCommerce at Massey University in Palmerston North. To expand my knowledge further, I was accepted into a six-month exchange program at Guelph University in Canada, where I learned about different dairy farm systems.
After university, it was inevitable that I started my own business, Accurate Growth – Pasture Measuring, using a C-Dax tow-behind pasture meter. Through active marketing and presence at industry events, I grew this to 60 clients during the peak spring period. The introduction of satellite-based technology slowed my momentum, leading me to join this cooperatives consulting team.
Four years down the line, after learning from some of the best in the business, I pursued a childhood dream and started driving big tractors. I learned to operate and maintain various implements like power harrows, disc rippers and even did some trailer bashing - that was fun and entertaining at times.
In February 2022, I formed RECO – Redefined Consulting, and it has been an exciting journey ever since. The highlight has been securing four supervisory farms, of which one has recently been sold. This means providing off-farm support in the absence of the farm owner, organizing feed and financial plans, recruiting on-farm teams, arranging feed contracts, fertiliser programmes, liaising with banks and accountants, and planning for routine maintenance and capital improvements. These roles are very rewarding, but now it's time to apply these skills to a farm where I have a direct investment.
One of my key strengths is financial literacy. Working alongside dairy farmers daily, I assess their financial performance and sustainability, which keeps me motivated. This skill has helped me build a strong equity base, positioning me for the next exciting step into sharemilking or lease farming. I want to continue my professional career advising and supervising while integrating this new business venture into my daily role. My plan is to reduce our advisory client base to focus on core clients and supervisory farms, with the sharemilking/lease farm becoming a "supervisory farm" where I also own the livestock. For you as the farm owner, this means we have standard operating procedures in place to ensure all fundamentals and more are achieved, with frequent follow up visits to ensure everything is running smoothly. As a farm I am invested in personally, I am more than happy to put on the gumboots, overalls, and aprons and get my hands dirty, just as I do for the farms we currently supervise.
Why would you be interested in having me as your business partner?
Reputation that I have to maintain to uphold my industry presence. Your farm is in my absolute best interest to keep my credibility.
Genuine interest in growing individually and as a team member of the greater farming business.
Honesty, I am always willing to admit when I don't know how to do something or when things haven't gone as planned.
Clear and concise communication, a skill that I believe is the hardest to master and one that I actively work on daily.
Strong overall farm system knowledge, with insight into what works well on my clients’ farms, what doesn’t, and how to resolve challenges.
Confident and competent working with farm finances.
Great equity position, financial accounts and balance sheet can be provided after initial discussions
Access to a full suite of farm machinery, including two tractors, a feed-out wagon, bale feeder, trailers, PKE trailers, hay racks, and calf-rearing equipment, all in sound condition ready to be deployed on your farm.
I have been referred a very capable contract milker by my mentor who is keen to progress through the industry themselves but can't make it alone. Therefore, we require each others help to progress forwards. They have great experience leading a team and have managed to save up a great cash reserve to buy into a business model that allows us to utilise each others experience - maximising the knowledge your farm will have deployed upon it. Their details can be disclosed to serious interest and are also able to attend on-farm interviews.
Why do I back myself to be a great absentee sharemilker/lease farmer?
This is my profession; I am paid commercially to support dairy farmers and ensure they have the information and resources to do their job to the best of their ability.
Dedication and enthusiasm; I’ve been born and raised as an early riser, and although I’m not milking cows daily, I’m up at 4:30 am, either at the gym or reading farming and business books.
Working alongside dairy farmers daily, I learn quickly what works and what doesn’t.
Questioning is key; asking the right questions ensures the plan is clear and can be followed to a tee.
Dynamic and adaptable, ready to change plans as needed in response to uncontrollable factors like weather.
I have my team member Laura, Business Coordinator at RECO, supporting me daily with the supervisory and advisory farms, with her skills directly transferable to any farm I become involved with.
Technologically savvy, using online programs for farm reporting, nitrogen recording, water monitoring, and financial reporting to clients and bank managers, efficiently operating from our office in Te Awamutu.
Strong network, having built a solid network over the years with many people happy to support my future endeavours, vets, accountants, lawyers, service technicians to name a few.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy outdoor activities to keep fit such as mountain biking, road cycling, snow skiing, summer touch rugby, and tennis.
I have references available for both my professional and personal character, which I am happy to provide if you would like to discuss further. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss how a working relationship would benefit both of us and ensure your farm operates to its potential.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Regan McCorquindale
029 778 1989
regan@istreco.co.nz
