A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.

Wearable collars, ear tags and boluses are becoming increasingly common on Kiwi dairy farms.

Two inline milk sensors are now available on monthly subscription from SenseHub Dairy, adding milk yield and quality insights to the SenseHub Dairy platform powered by MSD Animal Health.

For Ashburton farmer Craig Hickman, technology hasn’t replaced the way he farms, it’s strengthened how he operates day to day.

Every farmer has had that cow that looked fine for the morning milk but was off by the arvo. By the time something was visibly wrong, the problem had been building for days.

With the exception of a heat event during early January that brought some record breaking temperatures to the east coast of the North Island, it has been a very average summer and early autumn for most of the country.

OPINION: Wow, the world is a pretty terrible place right now.

Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.

New Zealand dairy farmers are making more informed, strategic breeding decisions, and it’s paying off, according to CRV managing director James Smallwood.