Talking Dairy

What’s it like coming into the dairy sector with no experience? How can farm employers make it a softer landing for newbies and increase our chances of them succeeding and remaining in farming? What can we learn from seeing dairy farming through the eyes of a new employee?  Step on up John Gibson, who’s in his second season and has just taken on a 2IC role in Te Pahu, west of Hamilton. Hear John&a...

What might NZ dairy farming look like in 2030? What strategies and technologies could Kiwi farmers adopt to get ahead of our global competitors, like US mega-dairies?  DairyNZ researchers are on the case, seeking answers to those questions and more through an exciting project called Frontier Farms. It’s all about identifying the key challenges our farm systems need to address – and coming up with...

Covid-19, the Ukraine War and extreme weather events have created ongoing disruption globally and locally, with knock-on effects for New Zealand’s dairy sector. So, what can we expect in the coming seasons with farm costs, interest rates, labour supply and demand for dairy? What are the challenges and opportunities for farmers to be thinking about? And what are some emerging trends that could affe...

It’s been an incredibly tough time for farmers affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. For many, the recovery will be long and challenging.  We thought it would be helpful to hear from one farmer who’s been through something similar and can talk about what the recovery looked like. Dean Bailey was sharemilking in Manawatu when, in February 2004, a devastating flooding event left his farm submerged beneath...

There’s a lot of conversation circling about milk alternatives and their potential impact on global dairy consumption and NZ dairy farming. But what do we mean by ‘milk alternatives’? What are the differences between plant alternatives and precision fermentation? Also, where are milk alternatives at and what are the facts – and the myths – about new and existing products?  Here to shed some light...

How are Kiwi dairy farmers managing their way through the current economic climate to maintain their profitability? In Part 2 of this series, you’ll hear from Waikato owner operator John Bluett, and Canterbury herd-owning lower-order sharemilker Kylie Marriott. John and Kylie share their approach to coping with cost increases, how they calculate profit from various inputs, how they budget when thi...

How are farmers managing their way through the current economic climate to maintain profitability? Over the next two episodes, you’ll hear from a group of farmers who have kindly agreed to talk about their approach. We’ll ask them how they’re coping, how they calculate their profit from various inputs, like supplements, and how they go about budgeting when things are changing so quickly. In this f...

In this episode we wrap up our three-part series on contract milking. You’ll find out what a farm owner needs to know when it comes to employing a contract milker. How do you make your expectations clear, how do settle your new contract milker in well, and how do you support them to keep growing in their skillset? Bringing the answers are farm owner and ag consultant Brendan Attrill, and Waikato c...

How do you figure out if a contract milking position is the right one for you? What things should you be asking the farm owner, what do you look for on the farm, and what are some common mistakes to avoid? In this episode, the second of our three-part series on contract milking, you’ll get the low-down on investigating a job offer from DairyNZ business specialist Paul Bird and ANZ agri manager Sia...

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, we catch up with Waikato farm manager Christopher Vila, who won last year’s NZ Dairy Manager of the Year Award. Chris shares his journey of moving to NZ from the Philippines and beginning a new career as a dairy farmer. He also tells us about his experience taking part in the NZDIA programme, his thoughts on career-changing, his views on the Kiwi dai...

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, our guest is Northland third-generation dairy farmer Andrew Booth, who’s gone from climate change sceptic to Climate Change Ambassador. How did Andrew end up in the Ambassador role and what does it look like? What changes are he and his family making on their farm to reduce emissions? And what kinds of challenges are they facing up there in the North...

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, Bay of Plenty farm manager Dayna Rowe shares her thoughts on why we need to shape up our farm workplaces to stay competitive with other sectors. Dayna, who originally planned to be an actor, is on a mission to make dairy farming the best place to work – and it starts with her own workplace. Find out how she ended up in dairy farming, how she’s making...

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, we’re joined by Zoe Bryson, who came third in the NZ Dairy Trainee of the Year Award earlier this year, after winning this category at the Central Plateau regional Awards. Find out how Zoe’s OE from Scotland to NZ has turned into a thriving dairy career, what she loves about farming down here in the Southern Hemisphere, what she’s gained from the Dai...

A lower stocking rate, less nitrogen fertiliser and less imported feed – those are the characteristics of a ‘future farm’ being tested down at Dairy Trust Taranaki . Researchers are into their third season comparing a successful current farm system with a farm system that’s designed to meet the regulations and emissions pricing coming at dairy farmers. So, have they been able to make the future fa...

How do you prepare to go from being a farm worker to a contract milker? What are some things to be aware of, what are the foundations for success, and how do you avoid the common mistakes? This episode is the first of a three-part series on contract milking, which we’ll be rolling out over the next few months. Joining us for the first episode to offer some top-notch practical advice are farm owner...

We all know that attracting and retaining great staff is an ongoing challenge for the dairy sector. A group of Canterbury dairy farmers have put their heads together and come up with one solution to the problem – they’ve set up a training programme to attract young university graduates into dairying, fast-track them in their careers, and give them skills and support to succeed. Each graduate is ma...

The Government has released its agriculture emissions pricing proposal. While the Government has accepted the sector’s recommendation for a farm-level split-gas approach, that’s where the similarities end. So, what does the Government’s proposal mean for dairy farmers? How does it differ to what the sector, through He Waka Eke Noa, recommended? And will the Government’s plan lead to reductions in...

As a dairy farmer, how do you go about choosing an accountant who truly understands your specific needs and challenges? How can you take full advantage of their knowledge and expertise? And what are some common mistakes rural accountants see farmers making, and on the flipside, things farmers are often good at in this area? Answering those questions and more in this episode is Nigel McWilliam, cha...

Taranaki dairy farmer Kane Brisco nearly walked away from farming, worn down by the constant physical and mental strains of the job. But at his lowest, he started figuring out practical ways to cope with stress and recharge his passion for life on the land. In this episode, Kane shares the tools he’s developed – ranging from breathwork to boxing – to operate at his best. Notes Farm Fit NZ DairyNZ...

With entries for the 2023 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards about to open, we catch up with one of this year’s winners, north Waikato farmer Jimmy Cleaver. He took away the regional trophy for Auckland/Hauraki Farm Manager of the Year, as well as a stack of regional and national merit awards, including the DairyNZ People & Leadership Award. So, what makes the 23-year-old such a standout so ear...

Fodder beet offers many benefits as an alternative crop to brassicas, but it also presents risks and challenges. So, what can we learn from recent research about how to deal with those risks and challenges? How have farmers adapted their feeding practices over time? And do we have all the answers or is there more research required? In this episode DairyNZ senior scientist Dawn Dalley summarises re...

Recorded on 15 June 2022. We have some real challenges ahead of us as a country over the coming decades when it comes to improving water quality, increasing biodiversity, and reducing emissions. We all want to see improved environmental outcomes, we all have a role to play, and we can’t do it alone. Working together constructively will be the key to our success, but to do this we need to build str...

Three years ago, Quinn Morgan was a self-described city slicker, working as a personal trainer in Perth and spending hours sitting in traffic. But then, after a wedding in NZ, Covid’s arrival, and some encouragement from farming family members, Quinn ended up reluctantly taking a job in dairy farming back in NZ. Fast forward to 2022, and he’s now leading a team of eight on a Pamu dairy farm in the...

Recorded on 20 April 2022. With over 12,000 businesses across New Zealand employing over 30,000 workers on farms, our success in attracting, retaining and growing our people will determine whether the dairy sector thrives or survives. We know dairy offers a rewarding career and lifestyle, so how do we attract the right people in a tight labour market? How do we make dairy appealing for someone con...

Foot-and-mouth disease has reached the tourist hot spot of Bali, and the risk of it entering NZ on the footprint of an unwary traveller or by other means, is now a little too close for comfort. So, what are the risks to farmers and primary industry as a whole? And more importantly, who is responsible and what do we need to do to be prepared? We chat to Liz Shackleton, Biosecurity Manager for Dairy...