Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
The new strategy for the dairy sector will lead to a longer conversation about what New Zealand’s future farm and food systems could look like.
That’s the view of DairyNZ’s chief executive Dr Tim Mackle when talking about ‘Dairy Tomorrow’, the new strategy developed by DairyNZ with DCANZ, Federated Farmers and the Dairy Woman’s Network. It was launched last week in Wellington.
The new strategy embodies fundamental beliefs and positions, including successfully farming within limits; maximising the value from NZ milk while preserving the benefits in pasture based systems; caring for people, animals and the environment; and not tolerating people who fail to comply with rules on these subjects. It also is committed to greater transparency.
The strategy itself has six major commitments:
protecting and nurturing the environment for future generations
building the world’s most competitive and resilient dairy farming business
producing the highest quality and most valued dairy nutrition
leading the world in onfarm care of animals
building great workplaces for a talented workforce
growing vibrant and prosperous communities.
Mackle says sustainable dairy farming has a critical role to play in NZ’s prosperity and wellbeing . He says farming within limits and maintaining profitability is key to the industry’s success in global markets.
“We want to begin straight away collaborating on strategies and actions toward achieving swimmable waterways and finding new opportunities to reduce or offset our greenhouse gas emissions,” Mackle says.
“These actions will be ongoing priorities. At the same time we’ve put deadlines in place for implementing new initiatives, including developing cutting-edge science and technology solutions and implementing a new framework for world-leading onfarm animal care.”
One of the challenges the authors of this strategy will have is getting complete buy-in from farmers. In practical terms, what will ‘not tolerating non-compliance’ with key rules actually translate into? Refusing to take milk or cutting payout from recidivist non-compliers? How will they get all farmers to be great employers and not tarnish the image of the industry?
These and other challenges -- some of which are outside the control of the sector -- are acknowledged in the strategy: geopolitical and trade issues, changing cultural and social attitudes towards food, slow or declining growth and getting greater and faster adoption of new technologies. The report also notes the constraints on food production including water and, no doubt, land and the potential for disruption by climate change.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.