Dreamview Farm: "Paddock 30 Has Never Seen So Much Grass" – A Family's Sustainable Dairy Success

The Hill family wanted to align their 300-acre dairy operation with their sustainable business values and the eco-savvy Raglan community they serve through Dreamview Creamery. Running a split herd (60 cows for the creamery, 65 for factory collection) on an 85ha milking platform, they needed a nutrient management program that would improve pasture quality while reducing costs and environmental impact. As second-generation farmers with science degrees, daughters Jess and Kathy were keen on implementing a more holistic nutrient management approach that would support both production and sustainability goals, including carbon sequestration through better pasture management.

Working with AgriSea's Training and Development Manager Murray McEwan for almost two years, the family established a rigorous scientific trial comparing AgriSea Combo+ against their conventional fertiliser programme. Four comparative sites were monitored: two south-facing hill paddocks and two sea-facing paddocks. The AgriSea sites received two applications per year of Combo+, a combination of AgriSea Liquid Soil and Pasture Nutrition with Zeolite designed to remain in soil and improve nutrient and water retention. Measures included pasture quality assessments, visual soil assessments, and tests to determine cow grazing preferences. The trial was designed to run for at least three years to properly evaluate long-term soil health improvements.

Dreamview Farm demonstrates how science-based AgriSea programs can bridge generations and align production with sustainability values. The Hill family's journey—from 30 bottles in a shipping container to a 200 sq m creamery designed by son Matthew—shows what's possible when innovation meets tradition. The AgriSea Combo+ trial delivers on multiple fronts: dramatic pasture improvements that catch a 20-year veteran farmer's eye ("Paddock 30 has never seen so much grass"), cost savings from reduced fertiliser reliance, cow preference validating pasture quality, and carbon sequestration supporting environmental goals. The multi-generational collaboration is particularly inspiring: parents open to change, daughters bringing university science training, and AgriSea providing the tools to achieve their vision. As Murray McEwan notes, good pasture management can be a real solution to carbon sequestration, not just pine plantations. For dairy operations seeking to improve productivity while advancing sustainability—whether for regulatory compliance, community values, or both—Dreamview Farm proves it's entirely achievable. The family supplies locally produced A2 milk in reusable glass bottles to Raglan's eco-conscious community while building soil health for the next generation. That's the definition of sustainable success, and AgriSea Combo+ is helping make it happen.