DairyNZ lifts breakeven milk price forecast to $8.68 for 2025/26 season
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
A new DairyNZ and ACC project is looking at improving the health and safety of farmers by reducing the occurrence of sprains and strains on-farm.
The Reducing Sprains and Strains project is designed to develop solutions which support a sector-wide reduction in sprains and strains by 2030.
DairyNZ general manager farm performance Sharon Morrell says looking after their people is a priority for many farmers throughout the country, but issues often arise particularly during busy periods.
Sprains and strains represent around 40% of dairy farm injuries, with the highest risk period occurring between August and October.
"This coincides with peak calving on most farms, where we often see increased working hours and fatigue," says Morrell.
This project has been made possible through $900,000 of co-funding by the ACC's Workplace Injury Preventuon programme, supported by a $150,000 investment by dairy farmers through the DairyNZ levy.
"We are grateful for the ACC funding, as it will allow us to identify potential solutions to reduce sprains and strains, helping improve the wellbeing of our farmers - employers and employees," says Morrell.
"This project is exciting as it works towards improving our workplaces which will have positive outcomes for all farmers, supporting the sector to attract and retain staff.
"Our goal is to work with farmers to understand the causes of sprains and strains, potential solutions and drivers of change, to develop solutions that fit with their farming practices. This will then benefit other areas of the business, including farm productivity."
ACC workplace safety injury prevention manager Virginia Burton-Konia says ACC welcomes the opportunity to provide grants to organisations such as DairyNZ to lead initiatives aimed at improving workplace injury rates.
"Reducing the rate of injuries in the dairy sector would have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people working in the sector, and a safe and well workforce means more productive businesses."
The project will use expertise from global audit company, QCONZ for project delivery.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.