Talking Dairy

How do you keep your pasture and profit goals on track when your farming situation changes? In 2024, Leighton and Hayley Parker hosted around 280 people at a Pasture Summit event on their Canterbury farm. Their business stood out for strong cost control and profitability, high pasture use and production, and improved reproductive performance. Two years on, they’re farming somewhere different. Leighton shares how their plans are tracking, what has changed, and where they’re heading next. Join ...

Kim Robinson from Agfirst and Dr Paul Edwards from DairyNZ join Willie McKnight to discuss findings from a multi-season trial comparing different supplementary feeding systems. They explore the full cost of producing extra milksolids, from feed costs through to the wider impacts on your farm system, and share insights to help you assess whether extra feed is delivering value for your business. Links to more info Marginal milk research, tools and resources Supplement Price Calculator FeedCheck...

New results from a four-year trial show plantain reduced annual nitrate leaching by an average of 33% while maintaining milk production. In this episode of Talking Dairy In 10, Kate Fransen from DairyNZ and Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane discuss what the findings mean for dairy farmers, how the research compares with on-farm experience, and the practical considerations when including plantain in a farm system. Find out more about the research Get tools and resources on plantain Have ...

In this episode, Julian Reti Kaukau sits down with Ahuwhenua judges Rito (Basil) Tapuke and Peter Ettema to get a behind-the-scenes look at what judges notice when they visit a farm. They explain why bigger does not necessarily mean better, what stands out beyond the numbers, and how strong governance, clear decision-making and alignment between owners, trustees and farm teams can shape performance. The kōrero also explores what Māori farming businesses can gain from entering the Ahuwhe...

In this episode of Talking Dairy In 10, Jac McGowan talks with DairyNZ's Forage Value Index (FVI) research project manager, Janet Montgomery, about the next phase of FVI research. Find out what researchers aim to find, the plans for the FVI tool, and the trial that’s underway to gather more evidence about ryegrass cultivar performance. Links: What's important in your pasture and how do you decide which cultivars to use? Share your feedback here. Find out more about the Forage Value Index rese...