Making the most of higher milk price

Well-respected farm accountant and supreme award winner in the 2013 Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, Charmaine O'Shea, will talk to farmers about how to best take advantage of a boost in payout.

She will be joined at the Okaihau farm, owned by Alister and Lyn Candy and supported by DairyNZ, by respected dairy farmer Roger Hutchings. Together, they will provide farmers with a practical approach to managing finances and look at the opportunities and pitfalls that come with a higher milk price.

A review of the Okaihau farm's 2012/13 season will also be given. Focus farm facilitator, Gareth Baynham, says the field day will help farmers plan for a successful spring.
"The forecast milk price has resulted in some smiling farmers, but the challenge will be making sure the expected increase in milk price translates into generating profit on the farm," says Baynham.

"The goal is to set the farm up to hit targets this spring. In Northland, that starts with winter management.
"On the focus farm, for example, the Candys are planning to increase milk production this season by building on their experiences from the 2012/13 season and delivering on the focus farm goal of profiting from pasture."

Farmers Dave Gray and Peter Flood will expand on the 'profiting from pasture' theme.
"Both Dave and Peter have successfully built their farming businesses around profitable pasture management and will provide tips and tools to make pasture management simple and effective," says Baynham.

"Good pasture management starts with getting winter management right and these field days provide a good opportunity to glean some ideas off other farmers."

For more information contact Abbey Cameron at DairyNZ ph (09) 433 7527 or Gareth Baynham ph027 442 0556 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..