Tom Laurent

“We are always learning in our role. Some days you’re sailing along, then you get a curve ball and you’re on the phone calling one of the team to compare notes… which we almost always can solve.”

With 24 years dairy industry experience and specialist knowledge of milking machines and water pumps, Tom says one of the unique things about his role is being able to work directly with farmers. “Being able to give advice on mastitis – an area that has a huge cost for them” is very rewarding.

Covering Waihi, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Coromandel, Hauraki Plains and South Auckland Tom says the area has many different weather patterns and soil conditions. “Hauraki tends to be drought prone with a lot of marine clay and peat soils, while Te Aroha gets good dumps of rain and South Auckland and Paeroa seem to be a little more consistent”.

A Paeroa local and keen golfer who’s always up for a beer and a laugh, Tom lives by his motto of ‘Life’s too short to wonder ‘what if?’