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DairyNZ general manager of farm performance Sarah Speight.
Dairy farmers are seemingly more upbeat than they were three months ago but how long this positivity remains seems to depend on what the new Government does in the coming months.
So says Sarah Speight, DairyNZ's general manager of farm performance. She says the election of the new Government is playing a big part in the positive mood of farmers, along with the stabilisation of world dairy prices. But at the same time, she says farmers are particularly worried about the way that the new freshwater regulations are being implemented by regional councils around the country.
She says the limit setting process that is coming through from councils is a big worry - especially in places such as Southland, Canterbury, Manawatū, and Waikato.
"Some of these things are unworkable for farmers. There is a real hope that the incoming Government with its strong agricultural understanding around the caucus table will help with that and sort it out. But while farmers are positive they are wary about how much the new Government can get done in a reasonable timeframe," she says.
Speight says she's not sure that some of the councils know what the limit settings are going to mean for farmers and that is a worry. She says Northland, Southland and Otago are high on the radar for DairyNZ.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
DairyNZ deputy chair Cameron Henderson has been re-appointed unopposed for another term.
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Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
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