About the author

Hi my name is Steve Karl.

I come from farming background, have been born and raised on a small Dairy farm in a rural settlement south of Rotorua called Reporoa.

After leaving School, I attended Massey University and gained a Diploma in Agriculture in 1977. From there I gained experience in New Zealand and Australia working on various farms before taking up a 50% Sharemilking position with 170 cows at the young age of 22.
From there I graduated 4 years later to buying my own run down 80ha Dairy farm before a change of Government in 1984 changed the rules of farming to become a free market lead industry. This put huge stresses and strains on the NZ economy, with many farms and businesses collapsing.

Having survived this in my first years as a new owner, I went on to increase production and expanded the farm to 135 ha milking 300 cows.

After my father died in 1999, my brother and I took over the management of the family 100 ha Dairy Farm, including the existing 50% Sharemilker.

Thirteen years later and 2 changes of Sharemilker’s, the family decided to sell the now 200 ha farm and so a 56 year history comes to a close.

Having a long association with farming and rural people, I know there is a wealth of information out in the community that can be shared.

Cheers
Steve Karl