From Biggar to Gore: A decade of hard work leads to farm ownership for the Ramsays

Having come from a long line of Scottish dairy farmers, dairy farming is in Lynnes blood. Supplied.

Ten years after stepping off a plane from Scotland, Lynne and Gregor Ramsay are about to pay the deposit on their first New Zealand dairy farm, a 200-cow, 105-hectare property near Gore.

It marks the culmination of a decade of determination, long hours and careful planning for the Southland couple.

Lynne grew up in a long line of Scottish dairy and sheep farmers, while Gregor is a first-generation farmer from a family of teachers and engineers.

He first travelled to New Zealand in 2010 and quickly fell in love with the country. Three and a half years later, after returning home, he came back to Southland.

 In that time he had met Lynne, and less than a year later she followed him across the world.

“Our neighbours were so nice to us and took us under their wing,” she says. “I found the harder you worked and the better you were to people, the better people were back to you.”

The couple began their New Zealand journey in Tuatapere, managing a 250-cow farm. Gregor went on to work for Fonterra as a milk supply manager, while Lynne took a position as a meat inspector at Finegand Freezing Works.

A few years later they began their sharemilking career on the Taieri Plains, just outside Dunedin, initially milking 140 cows for four years before taking on a neighbouring 280-cow contract-milking job in their fourth season.

When COVID-19 hit, they decided it was time to focus on the farm full-time.

“We’d both been working town jobs as well as farming,” Lynne says. “By 2020 we knew it was time to put everything into the business.”

In 2023 they moved south to Riverton, taking on a 320-cow 50:50 sharemilking position, half Jerseys and half Friesians, milking twice a day in a 30-a-side shed.

“We keep everything as pure as we can, so we have as few bobby calves as possible,” Lynne says. “I want to try and give as many animals a life as I can.”

The Ramsays run a straightforward operation, avoiding expensive technology in favour of good stockmanship and practical systems.

“We’re very much tail-paint and that’s it,” Lynne says. “At our scale, collars and sensors just don’t stack up on cost.”

     The Ramsay’s take pride in running a lean but productive farm. Supplied.

With three young children – George (5½), Hamish (4) and Fraser (2½) – Lynne has had to adapt.

“I turned my days into nights so I could get as much done when the kids were asleep,” she says. “During calving, it’s often easier to be up at four in the morning than to juggle it all later in the day.”

The couple take pride in running a lean but productive farm.

“Over the last four years we bought a new tractor, mower and fertiliser spreader,” Lynne says. “They’re the three things we use nearly every day. If they’re not working, that’s downtime and lost efficiency.”

Working with minimal staff – often just a visiting backpacker – means time off is limited. “We make sure to have a proper break once we dry off at the end of May,” Lynne says. “The rest of the year is full-on.”

The new farm near Gore will see the couple step from sharemilking into full ownership. “We’ve always done small farms and kept costs low,” Lynne says. “At the moment we’re doing over 600 kg milk solids per cow. The strong milk price and good stock values have helped fund this next step.”

Both credit off-farm experience for helping them reach their goal.

Gregor’s time with Fonterra gave him valuable insight into finance and business structure, while Lynne’s work as a meat inspector helped the pair gain residency and build their savings.

“It’s been about having different skills and different baskets to pull from,” she says. “You just keep your head down, keep going and don’t give up.”

Gregor and Lynne Ramsay with their children George (5½), Hamish (4) and Fraser (2½). Supplied.

She says the biggest challenge has been raising a young family away from relatives.

“We have no family here, so we’ve had to rely on friends. During COVID, all our kids were under two. There were plenty of days when I had one strapped to my back while we worked.”

Looking back, Lynne says Southland has given them opportunity and community in equal measure.

“It’s a small place – your reputation goes before you. If you work hard and treat people well, doors open.”

Her advice for others hoping to climb the dairy ladder is simple.

“Don’t believe everything you see online. It doesn’t show the sweat and the tears,” she says. “Spend a few months in different regions before you commit to one. And think outside the box – find extra skills or side income to keep things moving.”

For Lynne, the message that matters most is perseverance. “Work hard and lower your expectations,” she says with a laugh. “If you have no expectations you can achieve anything.”