Six Priorities to Unlock Growth
OPINION: Dairy farmers know better than anyone that change is constant.
The dairy industry contributed 37% of the total value of New Zealand's primary industry exports in 2014-15.
Dairy earnings for the year totalled $13.2 billion.
This was revealed at DairyNZ's annual general meeting in Morrinsville this morning.
The industry employed 40,730 people during the year; 27,830 worked on farm and 12,900 in processing and wholesaling.
The total number of herds reached 11.970; average herd size was 419. Last year the industry had 5 million cows.
Waikato remains the dairy heartland with 34% of the herds.
The North Island had 74% of herds, producing 59% of total milksolids; the South Island 26% of herds but produced 41% of milksolids.
DairyNZ chairman John Luxton chaired his last meeting; he steps down today.
The new chairman will be elected by the board early next month.
For Taupiri dairy farmers Logan and Sian Dawson, their involvement in the NZ Dairy Industry Awards has been a key catalyst in the growth of their business - the experience helping shape how they approach the farm ownership pathway they are pursuing today.
West Otago dairy farmer Luke Kane has been awarded the 2026 Rabobank Dr John Morris Business Development Prize.
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
OPINION: After hogging the media limelight for telling a NZ Chinese MP to "go back home", Winston Peters has decided…
OPINION: With fuel prices soaring, one would have expected most farmers to be reclaiming excise duty on petrol.