On this episode of Talking Dairy by DairyNZ, we sit down with Cam Henderson, a dairy farmer and farmer-elected board member of DairyNZ. Cam shares his journey from the farm to the boardroom, revealing the challenges and rewards and offering practical advice for anyone considering applying for a role on the board this year at DairyNZ.
If you're looking to make a meaningful impact on the future of the dairy sector, this episode is a must-listen. Nominations are now open, click here to find out more and apply: DairyNZ Directors Election
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Welcome to Episode 80 of Talking Dairy. Winter can be challenging on dairy farms, and knowing what cows need during these cold, wet months is crucial for their health and productivity. In this episode, we are excited to have Dawn Dalley, a Senior Scientist at DairyNZ, sharing her wealth of experience and insights gained from over 15 years of research on managing cows in winter conditions.
Dawn talks about the challenges cows face in wet winter conditions and the key findings from extensive research on paddock-based wintering. She covers essential topics like grazing direction, critical source area protection, having a contingency plan, and why pugging depth might not be the best indicator of cow comfort. Dawn also highlights surprising results, some good management practices, and practical advice for caring for cows during extended wet weather.
Whether you’re from Southland or another part of the country, Dawn's expert advice and the improvements seen across New Zealand will provide you with actionable insights to enhance your wintering practices. This episode is packed with tips and strategies to ensure your cows thrive in winter, empowering you to make informed decisions for your herd's wellbeing.
Websites:
Best practice tips on wintering | DairyNZ
Tools and Resources:
Download DairyNZ Poster: Managing cows during winter grazing
Download DairyNZ Template: Your Winter Grazing Plan
Download DairyNZ Guide: Improving your wintering system
Check out our other Talking Dairy Podcasts on Wintering:
What's next for wintering? | Ep. 10 | DairyNZ
Wintering – not just a Southland issue | Ep. 28 | DairyNZ
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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In this episode of Talking Dairy, we dive into the topic of ongoing water quality improvement efforts by the dairy sector with Aslan Wright-Stow, Senior Manager - Science at DairyNZ. Aslan shares valuable insights on the sectors’ commitments, the progress made, measured benefits and the scientific advancements that are improving water quality management and decision making.
Links:
Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord
Waterbodies and wetlands
Talking Dairy Ep 73: Monitoring waterway health
Talking Dairy Ep 71: Water quality research update
Catchment group support
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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How do you benchmark your farm systems and performance within the sector? DairyBase enables you to better understand your farm system and its performance, by comparing KPIs (key performance indicators) and determining what is working well, then identifying opportunities for improvement. 20% of New Zealand farms contribute to DairyBase which offers two types of benchmarking – the business’s financial performance and the farm’s physical aspects, and compares them to industry standards or targets. Joining us for this episode to discuss everything DairyBase is DairyNZ DairyBase operations manager Jodie Goudswaard and dairy farmer Therese Earls.
Notes:
If you would like to learn more about DairyBase or register, please follow this link.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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Injuries are commonplace on farm, ACC shares that 40% of farm injuries are from a sprain or strain and most of these occur between August to October, aligning with spring calving for a lot of farmers. In this episode we talk to DairyNZ Senior Scientist Dr Callum Eastwood and QCONZ CEO Chris Leach about a joint project between ACC and DairyNZ. Callum and Chris share the learnings from the project on reducing sprains and strains on farm, and what innovations have been developed to make jobs easier and safer over the calving season.
Notes:
Reducing Sprains and Strains is a three-year project, co-funded through the ACC Workplace Injury Prevention Grants Programme, with the aim to raise awareness of common injury risks and develop easy-to-implement solutions to reduce these injuries. The project will end mid-2024. Come and see the best ideas at Fieldays on the DairyNZ site and find out more on our website.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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Animals are at the heart of every farming business. To support the sector in achieving high levels of animal welfare, DairyNZ has been interviewing farmers about their animal care practices for over a decade now. Join us as DairyNZ Lead Advisor Animal Care Penny Timmer-Arends and Animal Care Consult Contractor Hannah Fulton, talk to how the information from the consult is used to track changes in practice, inform extension activities and future research, and enlighten submissions to government when advocating for practical, outcome-based rules.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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When it comes to breeding more efficient cows, why is genetic gain so important and how can NZAEL’s online tools help? Join us as we talk to Rhiannon Handcock DairyNZ’s NZAEL scientist and dairy farmer Michelle Burgess, about the latest in dairy genetics and animal evaluation.
Notes
NZAEL is the industry good organisation for genetics and animal evaluation. As a wholly owned subsidiary of DairyNZ, NZAEL operates independently to ensure that farmers' interests are represented, striving for world-leading genetic gain that make our national herd resilient, profitable, and globally competitive. Find out more.
View the Ranking of Active Sires
Build your Bull Team
Bull Search
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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When it comes to budgeting on farm and forecasting spend, how do others do this? Join us as we talk to Mark Storey DairyNZ’s Head of Economics and Louise Collingwood – a South Waikato farmer, about the latest economic insights and newly updated DairyNZ Econ Tracker tool.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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When it comes to monitoring waterway health, what makes up a holistic assessment of stream health?
In this episode, we talk to DairyNZ Principal Scientist Dr. Craig Depree, who shares his approach on ecosystem health and what environmental factors influence freshwater management.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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When it comes to leadership and motivating the next generation, how do others do this? Join us for part two of our people leadership series, as we talk Tawera Nikau a retired professional rugby league player, who is now farmer, businessman and community leader, and Tina Ngatai who sits on several boards across the agricultural and horticultural sectors, to hear their views on leadership and how they go about involving the next generation within the farming sector.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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When it comes to improving water quality, what does best practice look like? And how do you invest in long-term solutions to meet changing regional regulations? Join us as we talk to DairyNZ Senior Water Quality Scientist Dr Katrina Macintosh and AgResearch Senior Scientist Dr Richard Muirhead about DairyNZ’s key research initiatives and how these projects can provide solutions to improve water quality.
Notes
Inside Dairy October-November 2023 (referenced at 6.37)
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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When it comes to managing a team, what does good leadership look like? And how do you invest in developing people when times are financially tough? In this people leadership series, we’re talking to different farm businesses across the country to get their perspectives on leading successful teams, and how to attract and retain the best talent. For this episode, we to talk to Southland share farmers Leo Panaligan and Hazel Baquita to understand their views on what makes up good leadership.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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How do you take a break from the farm? This summer farmers across the country, of all ages and stages, are hitting the beach to head along to Surfing for Farmers sessions. DairyNZ is proud to come on board as Surfing for Farmers “Grassroots partner” to support farmers coming together off-farm to catch up, have fun and boost their health and wellbeing. We’re talking to Southland dairy farmers Rob Black and Katrina Thomas to share more about what Surfing for Farmers is all about. Rob tells us why he keeps coming back for more, and Katrina a Surfing for Farmers coordinator and involved Rural Support Trust, shares how farmers can get involved up and down the country.
Find out more at www.surfingforfarmers.com.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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DairyNZ’s subsidiary NZAEL (New Zealand Animal Evaluation Limited) has recently made a new fertility trait update – in this episode we’ll discuss what this change will mean and how it will benefit farmers. Our guests are Ee Cheng Ooi from Abacus Bio, vet and geneticist who worked with NZAEL to develop the new fertility estimated breeding value, NZAEL quantitative geneticist, Melissa Stephen, who recently completed her PhD on early-in-life predictors of an animal’s genetic merit for fertility, and Hayden Lawrence, South Taranaki dairy farmer, who shares the impact a more accurate Breeding Value will have on his farm business.
Read more about the latest from NZAEL on our website.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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With NIWA’s prediction of an El Nino weather pattern and a high likelihood of a drier summer, how are farmers preparing? In today’s episode, we’re talking to dairy farmer Trevor Hamilton, who has dairy farm operations across the North and South Islands, and Kevin McKinley, DairyNZ regional partner in the Bay of Plenty. Trevor and Kevin will share their strategies for preparing for a dry summer including how to manage cow condition and pasture quality.
More information:
Summer management
Summer management plan template
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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Having more productive dairy workplaces can save hours, shorten the working day, and create more attractive workplaces. But what exactly is workplace productivity and how can we measure it? What practices and technologies are farmers using, and are they effective at improving productivity? DairyNZ’s Senior Scientist, Callum Eastwood and Research Engineer, Brian Dela Rue have been researching practices and technologies used to improve the productivity and efficiency of our dairy farm workplaces. In this episode they will share the findings of two recent studies on workplace productivity and farm tech adoption and give some practical advice on how to make some potential productivity gains in your workplace.
More information:
Workplace Productivity Study
Technology and Workplace Practices Survey 2023
Inside Dairy
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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What’s the best way to manage internal parasites in young dairy stock? Find out how worms limit production in calves, when to start drenching, how to choose the right drench – but importantly, why we need to focus on management factors other than drench. Our guests are Ginny Dodunski, Wormwise programme manager and vet, and Emma Poole, Wormwise facilitator, vet, farm owner and 2023 Young Farmer of the Year.
More information:
Wormwise.co.nz
Wormwise Facebook page
Heifer health
Video: Get the low-down from Emma on why it's oral drenches all the way for calves in their first year of life.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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Many farmers are looking for ways to get better value from their pasture, get through NIWA’s predicted El Niño summer, and control on-farm costs. Could deferred grazing provide a solution for some farmers?
In this episode, you’ll get the low-down on this cheap and flexible form of pasture conservation. Our guests are DairyNZ senior scientist Dr Wendy Griffiths and Waikato farmer Ian Butler, who’s used deferred grazing on his farm. Ian is also a DairyNZ Extension Partner in the Waikato. Wendy and Ian will explain what deferred grazing is and when to use it, its pros and cons, and importantly, what the research tells us about this feed management strategy.
Visit our website to learn more about deferred grazing.
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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Canterbury sharemilker Glenn Jones joins us to talk about the options he’s used to reduce nitrogen losses on-farm. He discusses how successful it’s been, the challenges he’s faced along the way, what he’s learned, and his advice for other farmers. Glenn was one of the partner farmers in a DairyNZ project set up to help dairy farmers in the Selwyn catchment reduce their nitrogen losses by 30%, while maintaining profitability.
Notes
Selwyn and Hinds - Meeting a Sustainable Future - DairyNZ
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re sharing the powerful story of Emma Walton, a young Waikato contract milker. Emma not only loves dairy farming, but says it saved her life. Find out why farming has been the key to her recovery, why she’s passionate about lifting mental wellbeing in the rural sector, how she copes with stress on the farm, her ambitions, and more.
Notes
Rural Support Trust: Help and support for rural NZ (rural-support.org.nz)
0800 787 254
Home - Farmstrong - Live Well Farm Well
Need to talk?
Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
Lifeline
0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE)
Youthline
0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.
Samaritans
0800 726 666
Farmer wellbeing - DairyNZ
Humankind: A Hopeful History: Amazon.com: Books
Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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What do saloon doors and exosuits have to do with reducing injuries on dairy farms?
They’re among a range of practical ideas DairyNZ is trialling to help farmers avoid sprains and strains, particularly around calving time. Hear about the designs and prototypes, including a new easy-entry calf trailer and a flexible breast rail, from DairyNZ senior scientist Dr Callum Eastwood and Waikato dairy farmer Marcus Graham.
Notes
This project has been made possible through $900,000 of co-funding by ACC’s Workplace Injury Prevention programme, supported by a $150,000 investment by dairy farmers through the DairyNZ levy.
Learn more at dairynz.co.nz/sprains-strains
Other useful links:
- https://farmwithoutharm.org.nz/
- dairynz.co.nz/healthandsafety
- farmstrong.co.nz/course/preventing-accidents-and-injuries-version
- talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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How do we reduce methane emissions from cattle within our pasture-based farming system? And when will farmers have solutions ready to use on-farm?
In this episode, recorded at DairyNZ’s Lye Farm, you’ll hear about the options being tested by our scientists, including feeding methane inhibitors to calves from birth. DairyNZ principal scientist Dr Jane Kay and technical team leader Olivia Jordan take us on a walk around Lye Farm’s world-class research facilities, explain when you might start seeing solutions, and discuss other methane research being done across the sector.
Show notes
Less methane - DairyNZ
Inside Dairy Aug-Sep 2023 - DairyNZ
Lye Farm - DairyNZ
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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With farm business viability top of mind and soils still very wet around the country, what are some steps you can take to make sure you’re spending your fertiliser dollar wisely? In this episode, hear solid advice from two legends of the fert industry: Dr Ants Roberts, chief scientist at Ravensdown, and Warwick Catto, science strategy manager at Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd. They discuss trends in fertiliser use, whether you can afford to skip soil testing, the best time to apply nitrogen fertiliser and in what quantity, herbage tests, sulphur and lime use, placement tools, effluent spreading, specific strategies for wet soils, and much more.
Notes
Booklets (fertiliser.org.nz)
Managing nitrogen fertiliser - DairyNZ
Soil Fertility for Pasture - DairyNZ
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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What are the main things to consider before approaching the bank for backing to go into herd-owning sharemilking? Sian Mitchell, ANZ agri manager, explains how to get yourself into as strong a position as possible to secure the bank’s support. She also covers the loan approval process, how and why the bank takes security over the cows, GST loans, loan structures, coping with profit ups and downs, and more.
Notes
Sharemilking and contract milking arrangements - DairyNZ
Budgeting tools - DairyNZ
Buy Contracts (fedfarm.org.nz)
Business by the Numbers - Dairy Training
Progression Management - Dairy Training
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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Is herd-owning sharemilking in your sights? Already in a HOSM partnership? In this episode, pick up some fresh ideas for both farm owner and sharemilker on how to succeed in this popular business structure. Our guests are Waikato sharemilker Rachel Bunnik and Dairy Farms NZ CEO Craig McBeth, who discuss what they like about the agreement, how the financials work, common challenges, keeping the relationship sweet, doing your due diligence, and much more.
Show notes
Sharemilking and contract milking arrangements - DairyNZ
Buy Contracts (fedfarm.org.nz)
Business by the Numbers - Dairy Training
Progression Management - Dairy Training
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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Farm to Boardroom: Cam Henderson on Leading DairyNZ | Ep. 81
18:28
What Cows Prefer in Winter | Ep. 80
23:26
Progress on water quality: where are we at and where are we going? | Ep. 79
27:11
DairyBase celebrates 20-year milestone | Ep. 78
17:13
Keeping a spring in your step | Ep. 77
27:15
Animal care consults | Ep. 76
23:28
Choosing the best genetics for your herd | Ep. 75
27:35
An economic update: a year in review and new season forecasts | Ep. 74
19:06
Monitoring waterway health | Ep. 73
23:00
People leadership and motivating the next generation | Ep. 72
24:04
Water quality research update | Ep. 71
22:48
How to invest in your people and be the best leader possible | Ep. 70
25:09
Giving Surfing for Farmers a go | Ep. 69
18:11
NZAEL new fertility trait update | Ep. 68
19:26
Summer dry planning and management | Ep. 67
25:09
Improving workplace productivity | Ep. 66
21:35
Better worm management for healthy heifers | Ep. 65
33:02
The low-down on deferred grazing | Ep. 64
16:57
Reducing nitrogen losses in Canterbury | Ep. 63
16:12
'Dairy farming saved my life' | Ep. 62
27:33
Taking the strain out of farming | Ep. 61
16:00
Methane research update from Lye Farm | Ep. 60
21:16
Getting the most from your fert spend | Ep. 59
32:36
Bank’s advice for herd-owning sharemilkers | Ep. 58
23:43
Succeeding in herd-owning sharemilking | Ep. 57
28:07