Dairy farmer profits to hit record levels in 2025
The profitability of dairy farmers is likely to increase in the coming year, accordign to the latest report by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on the outlook for the primary sector.
Two Waikato agribusinesses, Deosan and Waikato Milking Systems, have joined with the province's rugby stars to promote sport in schools.
In February they announced an agreement to work together to advance the speed of dairy technology innovation and on-farm delivery of the best systems and products for New Zealand dairy farmers.
One of the first initiatives of that agreement is the joint sponsorship of the Waikato Chiefs Rugby Club to promote sport in rural schools.
From this month, dairy farmers have been asked to nominate a local rural school in the Chief's supporters region with three school sport rugby prizes to be won. The winning school will have their sports prize personally delivered by three members of the Chiefs.
Dean Bell, chief executive of Waikato Milking Systems, and Kip Bodle, managing director of Deosan, say their passion for helping people excel in their chosen field was born in dairying but extends across agribusiness and at home on the rugby field.
"We know rural schools face the same challenges as their urban counterparts, but these are often exacerbated by their relative isolation from large centres. The Waikato is dotted with small, vibrant schools and we want to do something which will make a difference to those schools and those kids.
"Rugby is one of the greatest training grounds for the attitude which will take children forward in the world so we're going to play our part."
Bodle says this campaign is about celebrating great grass roots brands from the Waikato and giving something back to the community.
"We are on a mission to connect with as many farmers as we can, at their shed gate, to give them a chance to try our products and meet our people.
"Getting our products on farm is how we can directly help improve the health and productive capacity of dairy herds with the best milking equipment for animals and people, and by improving udder health and the cleanliness of the milking plant. We see our rural school sports campaign as a way for us to achieve this while having a little fun at the same time."
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.