DAIRY Country

Farm ownership is becoming a harder goal to achieve, especially for the next generation who might not have the capital to meet increasing land prices. In this episode hear from Sarah How, Co-Founder of Landify, on how the platform is setting up young growers with established farmers; Conrad Wilkshire from Property Brokers about how the property market is gaining momentum this spring; and CEO of Pā...

Drench resistance is already a widespread problem in the sheep industry, so how can dairy farmers stay ahead of the game, to avoid the same fate? Regular testing and monitoring are the keys to staying ahead, according to our guests in this episode, who discuss the tools and technology available to farmers right now.  Guests include: Greg Mirams, Founder & Managing Director, Techion Richard Fow...

Learning to live with Kikuyu is the reality for more farmers in the upper North Island. Featured in the brand new  Dairy Exporter Summer issue, Natalie and Andre Meier share their learnings from managing the subtropical grass on their farm. Also hear from Northland consultant Kim Robinson who gives her top tips for management of a Kikuyu system.  Guests include: Natalie & Andre Meier, Bay of P...

With mating underway it’s important to look at your pasture management systems to make sure your herd is eating well. Keeping quality while there is a surplus and then keeping an eye out on when to slow down your round is important to future proof feed supply.  Guests include: Mark Williams, Farm Systems Specialist, DairyNZ Robbie Ferris, GM of Piriaka Farms and Chair of Pasture Summit Hosts: Sher...

With mating season underway farmers will be considering how to make their herds more efficient, through breeding. Fonterra have been around the country on their Efficiency Evolution Strategy Roadshow, and two of their presenters share the tools they encourage farmers to think about when it comes to getting the most from your herd. Also hear from two LIC Agri Managers on their MINDA tool, and how t...

Salmonella outbreaks in herds can be devastating, and given the wet spring across the country, it is a grim reality for some farmers at the moment.  In this episode, hear from a vet managing Salmonella outbreaks in Southland; two Veterinary Technical Advisors from MSD Animal Health about how to prevent a Salmonella outbreak on your farm; and a Waikato dairy farmer about how she managed an outbreak...

Springtime is said to be the best time of year to put your farm on the property market, and those across the real estate sector are feeling optimistic about the way the market is heading with rising milk payouts, and more interest from investors back into the dairy sector. After a tough couple of years, it looks like confidence and capital are building – so could it be a good time to look at buyin...

Dairy companies are finding ways to make their businesses more efficient in a bid to lower emissions. However, we are also going through an electricity crisis, and how we use energy needs to be looked at across the board. In this episode we look at new technology such as hydrogen powered milk tankers, and electric powered boilers, as well as new mapping and modelling tools coming from Fonterra to...

With the latest Global Dairy Trade report out this week, the impacts of what’s happening overseas will be on farmers' minds. We chat to those with an eye on the global pulse about what New Zealand dairy farmers can expect for the rest of the year, and into 2025.  Guests include: Stu Davison, Senior Manager, Global Market Insights, HighGround Dairy Chris McCullough, Irish Journalist Cristina Alvara...

A busy calving season is underway across the country, and for farmers calf nutrition will be top of mind. In this episode we look at the different ways to develop your calf’s rumen, to raise healthy and feed-efficient cows.  Hear from Jacqueline McGowan from DairyNZ about developing the rumen; Grant Jackson from SealesWinslow about raising feed-efficient cows; and Penelope Drysdale, a Manawatū far...

Farmers are increasingly being asked to be as efficient as possible in order to meet emissions and environmental obligations – but what tools are out there to get started, and maintain, efficiency goals? In this episode we look at how dedicated farm reporting can improve efficiency onfarm, and put the tools in farmers hands. Also we get an update on the changes to the Fonterra Farm Insights report...

A jump in the payout forecast could signal dairy is again going to do the heavy lifting for the country’s struggling economy and brighter times could be on the horizon. So it’s a good time to look at what’s happening in global markets and what tools are available here to give farmers an edge onfarm. In this episode we talk to Southland Sharemilker Anieka Templer about equity partnerships and weara...

The New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management (NZIPIM) conference was held at Mystery Creek this week, a celebration of the rural professionals supporting our agriculture industry.  Sheryl Haitana talks to the President and Chief Executive of NZIPIM about how they see themselves as a conduit to growing the industry, and the winner of Rural Professional of the Year about his work educati...

The health of the herd is front of mind for dairy farmers, especially with the calving season underway. Issues like lameness can be costly and disruptive for a herd, so how do farmers keep ahead of the problem in the first place? We talk to those who know animal health best, including vets and researchers, to discuss what proactive solutions are out there to either minimise or prevent lameness in...

Milk price makes up over 50% of risk in a dairy farm business, and increasingly more farmers are adopting milk hedging options to make their income less risky. Some 20-25% of dairy farmers and manufacturers are using milk hedging tools, but how do farmers find out where to start, and what the risks are?  Hear from experts on some key points to be aware of on various hedging options, and from a far...

Maintaining a fifth-generation farm is no small feat, and the Stewart family farm just out of Palmerston North is a great example of how to keep the family business running into the future. Sheryl talks to both the fourth and fifth generations of Stewarts on the farm, with projects ranging from transitioning to dairy, investing time and money into regenerative native bush, and building a boutique...

In the third episode of our genetic modification and genetic engineering discussion series, hear from two different sides of the debate, on what the risks are of introducing GE into our market, and how these risks could be managed and identified.  Guests include: Jon Carapiet, Spokesperson, GE Free New Zealand  Dr Alec Foster, Biotech Industry Lead, Scion  Hosts: Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Expo...

The government has announced a bill will be introduced to parliament this year to change rules and regulations to genetic modification. Access to genetic modification technologies globally already exists, and in this episode we talk to chief executive of Grasslanz Technology John Caradus about what we can learn from overseas, to develop the best system for New Zealand and the work already underway...

With changes to gene editing regulations being signaled by the government, it’s time to have the conversation on why and how this would benefit New Zealand growers, and the general public.  But according to a survey 26% of growers don’t know how they feel about a change in regulations, which begs the question - are we having the right conversations about what gene editing means?  Guests include: D...

This week we caught up with some farmers who shared their expertise at SIDE’s 2024 Conference, along with a geneticist. From new traits being researched for the fertility breeding value, to tackling strategies to reduce N loss, and finally how to navigate the ins and outs of share milking contracts, hosts Sheryl and Anne cover it all.   Guests include: Dr Melissa Stephen, Quantitative Geneticist,...

We need to bring farmers to the table and take them off the menu, when it comes to fostering sustainable practices in the agriculture sector. 2023 Nuffield Scholar Kylie Leonard says trailing environmentally focused practices must be voluntary to succeed.  Having spent time overseas for this report, she says the best uptake she’s witnessed is where farmers have had the choice to change, and lead b...

The Dairy Exporter’s Sheryl Haitana and Anne Lee attended the 25th South Island Dairy Expo (SIDE) this week, to catch up on the latest dairy innovations. They chatted to the keynote speakers about resilience and wellbeing, rural bank lending, and the impact new proteins will have on dairy products, and how they can coexist alongside each other.  Guests include: Jonathan Hoets, Chair of SIDE Dr Dan...

With extreme weather events becoming more common, hot days in the sun are bad enough for people – so what are we doing for our livestock? Heat stress is a concerning issue for cows, but what are some cost-effective, practical solutions? And is it part of a broader conversation about farm-system resilience?  Hear from three experts in this field: Kyle Wills on a practical farm try-out; Annabel Davi...

There is a global race happening to reduce emissions from dairy farming with more solutions potentially becoming available to housed-cow systems. So where does that position New Zealand’s pastoral model? A big part of the emissions conversation is also around regenerative agriculture. Global companies such as Nestlé, Danone and Mars have all set targets to source more products from regenerative ag...

Having a methane breeding value would see a 5-15% reduction in methane output from the New Zealand national dairy herd by 2050. But one Waikato dairy farmer shares how he has already been on this journey to build a more efficient herd, lowering his greenhouse gas profile for a decade.    Guests include: David Chin,  Chief executive of LIC James Smallwood, Chief executive of CRV Ambreed George Moss...