How do you figure out if a contract milking position is the right one for you? What things should you be asking the farm owner, what do you look for on the farm, and what are some common mistakes to avoid? In this episode, the second of our three-part series on contract milking, you’ll get the low-down on investigating a job offer from DairyNZ business specialist Paul Bird and ANZ agri manager Sian Mitchell.

Also, check out the excellent new contract milking short course launched recently by Dairy Training Ltd, DairyNZ and Federated Farmers. A successful pilot has finished, and the next courses are now confirmed.

Contract Milker Premium Calculator

Chapters
01:02 – Who are Sian and Paul?
02:40 – Young people being unprepared for contract milking
03:59 – Key principles a contract milker should be thinking about
06:03 – The contract milker premium
07:13 – Questions to ask in a contract milking interview
10:26 – What to look for when viewing a farm 
12:01 – Key things to look for in a contract milking agreement
14:43 – Why it’s so important to use professional advisors
16:40 – Why are official agreements important? 
18:06 – Can a contract milker borrow money to buy machinery/equipment? 
20:10 – Final thoughts

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, we’re joined by Zoe Bryson, who came third in the NZ Dairy Trainee of the Year Award earlier this year, after winning this category at the Central Plateau regional Awards. Find out how Zoe’s OE from Scotland to NZ has turned into a thriving dairy career, what she loves about farming down here in the Southern Hemisphere, what she’s gained from the Dairy Industry Awards, and her aspirations.

Notes
New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards
Zoe Bryson NZDIA Regional DTOTY Finalist Video
A world of opportunity for young Scot on OE

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, Bay of Plenty farm manager Dayna Rowe shares her thoughts on why we need to shape up our farm workplaces to stay competitive with other sectors. Dayna, who originally planned to be an actor, is on a mission to make dairy farming the best place to work – and it starts with her own workplace. Find out how she ended up in dairy farming, how she’s making her farm a great workplace, what she does to get off-farm, and more. 

Notes
The Great Futures in Dairying Plan
Inside Dairy October-November 2022

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, our guest is Northland third-generation dairy farmer Andrew Booth, who’s gone from climate change sceptic to Climate Change Ambassador. How did Andrew end up in the Ambassador role and what does it look like? What changes are he and his family making on their farm to reduce emissions? And what kinds of challenges are they facing up there in the North? Andrew answers those questions and more. 
 
Notes
DairyNZ Climate Change Ambassadors
Andrew Booth named North climate ambassador

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

In this live podcast recorded at Fieldays 2022, we catch up with Waikato farm manager Christopher Vila, who won last year’s NZ Dairy Manager of the Year Award. Chris shares his journey of moving to NZ from the Philippines and beginning a new career as a dairy farmer. He also tells us about his experience taking part in the NZDIA programme, his thoughts on career-changing, his views on the Kiwi dairy sector, and what he does to stay well. 
 
Notes
New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards
From farm assistant to winning the dairy industry's top title for 2021
Dairy farmer newcomer wins New Zealand manager of the year

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

A lower stocking rate, less nitrogen fertiliser and less imported feed – those are the characteristics of a ‘future farm’ being tested down at Dairy Trust Taranaki. Researchers are into their third season comparing a successful current farm system with a farm system that’s designed to meet the regulations and emissions pricing coming at dairy farmers. So, have they been able to make the future farm system work at a similar profitability to the current farm? And what’s happened with greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching reductions? To talk us through this exciting research are Jason Rolfe, general manager at Dairy Trust Taranaki, and DairyNZ farm systems specialist Chris Glassey.

Chapters
01:11 – The purpose of Dairy Trust Taranaki (DTT)
04:15 – DairyNZ’s relationship with DTT
05:15 – The DTT trial to reduce emissions while increase profit
06:22 – What does the research look like? 
08:45 – The partner farm network
10:04 – Challenges along the way 
11:10 – What have we learnt from the trial so far?
16:52 – Nitrate leaching across the farms
20:03 – The biggest surprises from the trial 
20:58 – Weather effects on the trial 
25:05 – How to follow what DTT is doing

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

How do you prepare to go from being a farm worker to a contract milker? What are some things to be aware of, what are the foundations for success, and how do you avoid the common mistakes? This episode is the first of a three-part series on contract milking, which we’ll be rolling out over the next few months. Joining us for the first episode to offer some top-notch practical advice are farm owner and ag consultant Brendan Attrill and Waikato contract milker Rachael Foy.
 
Notes
Sharemilking and contract milking arrangements

Chapters
00:38 – About our guests
01:36 – What is contract milking?
02:50 – Who is contract milking for? 
04:41 – The attraction of contract milking
05:17 – Skills required
08:11 – Cashflow and financials
14:24 – Surrounding yourself with positive people
19:14 – Tax requirements 
22:22 – Taking time off
23:34 – Relationship with your farm owner
27:02 – What to do before you take on a contract
29:43 – Final thoughts

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

We all know that attracting and retaining great staff is an ongoing challenge for the dairy sector. A group of Canterbury dairy farmers have put their heads together and come up with one solution to the problem – they’ve set up a training programme to attract young university graduates into dairying, fast-track them in their careers, and give them skills and support to succeed. Each graduate is matched with a reputable farmer, paid a competitive salary, and paid to attend 25 modules covering everything from pasture management skills to banking basics.  This year’s pilot programme has gone brilliantly, and to tell us all about in this episode is Campbell Tait, one of the farmers who’s helped set up this programme, and Peter O’Connor, one of the graduates taking part.

Chapters:
00:57 – About our guests
03:30 – About the graduate training programme
09:23 – Peter’s experience in the programme
13:06 – Modules – frequency, topics, creation
16:58 – Employment agreements, pay and accommodation
18:27 – DairyNZ’s support 
19:26 – What’s next and who’s interested
20:51 – Programme benefits and how to sign up

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

The Government has released its agriculture emissions pricing proposal. While the Government has accepted the sector’s recommendation for a farm-level split-gas approach, that’s where the similarities end. So, what does the Government’s proposal mean for dairy farmers? How does it differ to what the sector, through He Waka Eke Noa, recommended? And will the Government’s plan lead to reductions in methane, and without significantly affecting farmers’ businesses and the New Zealand economy? In this episode we're joined by DairyNZ strategy and investment leader Bruce Thorrold, who’ll explain the Government’s proposal, how it stacks up, and what it really means for dairy farmers.

Visit our website to read more and register for our online and in-person farmer feedback events.

Chapters:
0:41 – Is DairyNZ happy with where things have landed?
1:16 – What are the changes to what the sector proposed?
3:22 – Biggest areas of concern?
4:03 – What is the Government’s proposal?
4:58 – Any positive in the Government’s proposal?
6:14 – Pros and cons of the two Government options for nitrogen pricing
7:33 – Pricing incentives
7:53 – Sequestration recommendations
11:16 – Concerns about processer-level levy backstop option
12:47 – Reduction in milksolids production
14:14 – Any chance agriculture could still end up in the NZ ETS?
14:32 – What happens if politicians and farmers can’t find a compromise?
15:40 – Industry response and consultation period
16:02 – Details of the final decision from Government

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

As a dairy farmer, how do you go about choosing an accountant who truly understands your specific needs and challenges? How can you take full advantage of their knowledge and expertise? And what are some common mistakes rural accountants see farmers making, and on the flipside, things farmers are often good at in this area? Answering those questions and more in this episode is Nigel McWilliam, chartered accountant and director at MBS Advisors in Morrinsville, Waikato. Nigel is a dairying specialist accountant and is also a director shareholder of a 1200-cow farm in North Otago.

Notes:
Advice and support for your farm business

Chapters:
0:50 – Who is Nigel? 
2:08 – How to choose the right accountant
3:26 – What should a good accountant be able to do for you? 
4:08 - Difference between tax and management accounts
5:06 - How to gauge if an accountant truly understands farming 
6:06 – ‘Interviewing’ an accountant 
8:38 - Getting the most from your accountant on an ongoing basis
9:47 – Building a good working relationship 
10:50 - Does hourly rate or a set annual fee matter? 
11:38 – Benchmarking info from your accountant
12:40 – How accounts can tell a story
14:32 – What to do if your relationship with your accountant isn’t working
15:42 - Common mistakes farmers make with their finances 
16:37 - Things farmers are often good at in this area

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with DairyNZ

Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected