Fonterra and DairyNZ join forces to tackle nitrogen leaching
Fonterra will team up with DairyNZ to expand a trial to help improve waterways and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
A challenge for DairyNZ is to engage farmers during the good times – it’s easier in difficult times, says David McCall, general manager R&D.
During the good times the industry good organisations get pilloried for questioning farmer capital investment that might have questionable long term returns and lock in fixed costs. Or they get pilloried for messages about maintaining high efficiency and keeping onfarm costs low.
“We get pilloried for questioning when we see farmers chasing the last kilogram of milk solid during an up price, when if they did the sums they would find they got less profit than if they didn’t chase them.
“We’ve got to come out of this downturn and remember those messages for the next upturn because that is what will make us even better again in the downturn and make us resilient.”
From 1998-99 to 2013-2014 the dairy industry increased its profit per hectare by $1200 and DairyNZ has an aim to increase this by $50 per hectare each year, he said.
A Mid-Canterbury dairy farmer is bringing a millennial mindset to his family farm and is reaping the rewards, with a 50% uplift in milksolids production since he took over.
OPINION: People have criticised Christopher Luxon for the time he’s taken to appoint a new chief science advisor.
A new Indonesian school milk programme is expected to significantly increase the country's total dairy consumption, creating opportunities for New Zealand and other global dairy players.
Fonterra has invested in a new effluent pond mobile dosing service to support farmers to reduce emissions and make progress towards its on-farm emissions reductions target.
It was again time to celebrate a successful year at Waikato's Westmorland Estate Limited.
Federated Farmers says the farming sector has been unable to effectively address quad bike safety.