NZ Dairy Exporter is NZ’s premier dairy farming subscription magazine. Our writers cover the latest issues, science, research and technology applied inside the farm gate and developments that have a positive impact on profits.
Our magazine tagline says it all: Learn, Grow, Excel.
Episode 11 – Be proactive with your calf rearing
Maize is pretty amazing for dairy farmers with both environmental and animal feed benefits that align with Fonterra’s target of 80% home-grown feed. Hear about Nestle’s recent presentation at a FAR maize field day, how maize is expanding into Southland with short maturing hybrids and how a Waikato dairy farmer is hitting $9,000/ha operating profit regardless of the payout.
Episode 10 – Is maize the answer to growing more feed on farm?
Maize is pretty amazing for dairy farmers with both environmental and animal feed benefits that align with Fonterra’s target of 80% home-grown feed. Hear about Nestle’s recent presentation at a FAR maize field day, how maize is expanding into Southland with short maturing hybrids and how a Waikato dairy farmer is hitting $9,000/ha operating profit regardless of the payout.
Episode 9 – How to fine tune your pasture utilisation in Autumn
Two farmers and an agri-tech innovator share their pasture philosophy and learnings from top performing dairy farmers in how they focus on pasture utilisation that leads to better outcomes from people, profitability and the environment.
Episode 8 – How bringing all your farm data to the table has better outcomes
Journalist Anne Hardie, along with Sheryl Haitana and Sarah Perriam-Lampp, talk with Reefton dairy farmer, Tom Oats, Lely Waikato sales manager, Tristan McLean and Rob McBeth of Peak Agricultural Consultants about how composting cow barns (‘mootels’) can make a real difference in high-rainfall climates.
Episode 7 – These farmers don’t worry about the weather in winter with their ‘mootels’
Journalist Anne Hardie, along with Sheryl Haitana and Sarah Perriam-Lampp, talk with Reefton dairy farmer, Tom Oats, Lely Waikato sales manager, Tristan McLean and Rob McBeth of Peak Agricultural Consultants about how composting cow barns (‘mootels’) can make a real difference in high-rainfall climates.
Cashing in on natural capital
Investors in major global funds are demanding that their investment is made into the reversal of the depletion of natural capital around the world. How can New Zealand farmers, who have higher levels of soil fertility and soil carbon stocks than other countries, cash in on this trend? By Sarah Perriam-Lampp.
The veal deal
Where others saw the issue of bobby calves in the dairy industry as a serious issue, Alan McDermont and Julia Galway saw an opportunity: to produce world class pasture-raised veal that everyone could enjoy.
Market view: Cautious optimism amid market fragility
Some farmgate milk price forecasts have risen, despite challenges in China and constraints with the Panama and Suez canals. By Rosalind Crickett.
Global Dairy: UK milk producers quit as prices slump
Who would be a dairy farmer in the United Kingdom today? Milk prices have slumped disastrously, input costs have rocketed, pollution regulations require huge investment while the Government seems intent on encouraging food imports. By Tim Price.
Global Dairy: Sweden in summer
Sweden has a mild climate, affordable land, and a lot of subsidies. And while several other countries in northwestern Europe are talking about shrinking livestock numbers, the Swedish government cherishes its dairy farmers. Jelle Feenstra and Sjoerd Hofstee report.
Aquifer Puzzle
The Te Waikoropupū Springs has some of the clearest water ever measured and steps are being taken to protect it even further; yet little is known about how the aquifer system feeding it works. Meaning for those making improvements and refining practices to reduce nitrate, there is no scientific method to produce data that proves they are achieving the right results.
The Northland cycle: Wet dry – rinse and repeat
Whatever happens to Freshwater Plan changes, Northland faces significant challenges with climate change. By Delwyn Dickey.
Driving out greenhouse gases
A Southland couple have bought the farm they were sharemilking and are taking part in the Carbon Neutral Dipton study. Anne Lee reports. Photos by Edwin Mabonga.
Stepping lighter in the north
A Northland sharemilking couple are making their mark on the environment of the farm where they live and work.
By Delwyn Dickey. Photos: Malcolm Pullman
Gaining credits for nature
Mitigating the risk of New Zealand’s unique wildlife, plants and habitats disappearing is at the heart of a proposed biodiversity credits system Phil Edmonds writes.
A Calf-Rearing Masterclass
The rewards for good preparation leading into calf rearing won’t just be felt this spring, they’ll go on for years as well-grown heifers become productive, long-time members of the herd.
Worms: Follow the sheep
Practices that dramatically lower ingested worm numbers in cattle are vital if the reliance on drench is to be reduced. The rapid rise in triple drench resistance in the national sheep flock is a warning. Anne Lee reports.
Shining a light on lungworm
Lungworm is an underestimated and often forgotten parasite in New Zealand, Dr Lisa Whitfield writes.
Saving peat with a barn
A barn housing 1000 Holstein Friesian cows won the 2023 Waikato Regional Supreme Award at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, for its commitment to productive genetic gain and precision effluent management. Sheryl Haitana visited the three siblings who are the fifth generation of the Singh family dairy farming in New Zealand.
Are biting flies a nuisance on your farm?
There’s a fly that hangs around cows at milking and it’s irritating to both humans and bovines, writes vet Lisa Whitfield.
Where is your bucket?
What and where we carry in our bucket of life’s experiences affects where we are going, Suzanne Hanning writes.
2023 goodbye
Frances Coles is always relieved to see the calendar flick over to January again each year, knowing that there is time set aside for catching up with family and friends.
Time to step up
It’s time to show New Zealand what we are made of, writes Trish Rankin.
Is platemetering a thing of the past?
Hamish Hammond ranks pasture-measuring as one of the highest priorities of the business.
Booking a week at the beach
Farmers have myriad ways of successfully dealing with Northland’s challenging landscape, but now’s the time to take a break, writes Andrew Booth.
MORE
Continue protecting your herds performance
Now’s the time to stay on top of animal health.
Shortcut to find relief workers
Connecting farmers with workers has never been easier thanks to Canterbury dairy farmer turned app developer, Tony Dodunski and his online platform Ag Assist. Words by Sheryl Haitana.
The Big Ball – in support of Rural Change
Looking an excuse to get out and have some fun while raising funds for a good cause? Why not dust off your ball gown or tuxedo and head along to The Big Ball at Lincoln in June and support rural mental health.
Continue doing what you do best
You’ve already made great genetic gains. You’ve improved your milk production, built a better herd, and are on track for further improvements.
50 years ago in the Dairy Exporter: February 1974
As NZ Dairy Exporter counts down to its centenary in 2025, we look back at the issues of earlier decades.