Talking Dairy

It’s no secret that soil carbon levels on New Zealand farms are among the highest in the world. So, why aren’t dairy farmers being rewarded for it? Also, is it worth trying to increase your soil carbon stocks, if so, how, and what’s the best way to measure it on your farm? To answer those questions on this episode is Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Adjunct Professor at Lincoln University, and a farmer-elected director of DairyNZ and Ravensdown. Jacqueline’s been deep into this topic for many years and she’s passionate about helping farmers get their heads around it.

Chapters:
0.48 - What is soil carbon and why is it important?
2.20 - How do soil carbon levels in NZ compare to other countries?
6.01 - Carbon captured in pasture - how does that process work?
8.25 - How are farmers in other countries being rewarded for soil carbon?
13.05 - Why aren’t NZ dairy farmers getting the same rewards?
14.52 - Management practices to maintain, or even increase, soil carbon stocks
18.43 - The effect the age and stage of soil has on soil carbon
21.09 - Soil carbon varying across a farm and even within a paddock
24.11 - How to measure carbon in your soil, and the change in those levels
27.19 - Details of the new study to monitor and measure carbon in soil at a national level
28.52 - What does this all mean for farmers, and what should they be doing?

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

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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 

Stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue and other wellbeing issues are a growing concern in the rural sector. Often, the conversations we have about it are focused on men. But what about rural women? They make up half of our sector, so why aren’t we talking much about their wellbeing too? Is it because we think they’re generally doing pretty well in this area? Dairy farmer and leadership coach Loshni Manikam says that’s not the case – many rural women are indeed struggling. So, what kinds of challenges are women facing, why don’t we hear much about it, and how does it affect us all?

Notes:
Samaritans: 0800 726 666
Lifeline: 0800 543 354
Depression helpline: 0800 111 757
Rural Support Trust: 0800 787 254
Farmstrong

Chapters:
1:27 - Why should we all care how rural women are doing?
6:43 – Who is Loshni?
10:24 – Why are many rural women are struggling?
13:36 – Why we don’t hear more about it? 
17:02 – What are rural women struggling with?
21:20 – Finding your ‘identity’ 
23:27 – The ‘ripple effect’ of when rural women are not feeling well
25:03 – Moving from struggling to thriving
29:17 – Prioritising yourself
39:10 – More info or get in touch with Loshni
40:38 – Support service contact details

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 

Does fodder beet have a positive future as a feed for cows in New Zealand? What are some key things to consider when feeding beet through winter? And how do you put systems in place to maximise cow performance and animal health, while also minimising fodder beet’s risks? Here to answer those questions, and more, are DairyNZ scientist Dr Roshean Woods and veterinarian Dr Charlotte Westwood. Roshean and Charlotte have been involved in a three-year research project on fodder beet and they share the results with us.

Notes:
Feed Checker calculator
Download the Feed Checker calculator
Published article: ‘A survey of fodder beet use and feeding practices on dairy farms in Canterbury, Otago and Southland’
DairyNZ fodder beet webpages

Chapters:
2:50 - Fodder beet background and current use
3:55 - Motivations for the latest fodder beet project and research
5:08 - Value of fodder beet to farm businesses
7:00 - Results of fodder beet farmer survey
8:16 - Key concerns to consider with fodder beet
10:37 - Measuring fodder beet for feed management
11:55 - Nutritional differences between fodder beet leaf and bulb
12:54 - Benefits and guidelines for testing your fodder beet crops
15:27 - Findings from fodder beet samples around the country
16:47 - Using the Feed Checker calculator
18:10 - Feed demands of pregnant dairy cows
18:56 - What happens to fodder beet crops over winter?
21:24 - Practical take home points from the latest fodder beet project
24:08 - Where to go for further fodder beet information

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 

Methane is a big topic and it’s a pressing concern for our sector. We need to reduce our emissions, while improving profitability – but how? In this episode we dig into the research DairyNZ’s doing in this area. Senior research scientist Dr Jane Kay, who leads the Less-Methane Team, joins us to explain what tools offer the most promise and when those tools might be available to adopt on farms.

Notes:
Keep up to date on this work
Contact Jane Kay at [email protected]

Chapters:
1:10 - Jane’s role and areas of expertise
2:00 - Overview of DairyNZ’s Less-Methane Team 
3:47 - Why are we talking about methane?
5:25 - What we’re trying to achieve
6:04 - Three main areas of research
8:30 - Deciding what to invest in
10:40 - What the research looks like
12:26 - Challenges of our pasture-based system
14:53 - Early-in-life intervention
16:23 - Automatic in-paddock feeder
17:29 - Slow-release capsules
18:40 - Feeds that produces less methane
20:05 - Solutions for as many farms as possible
21:47 - When will farmers see options? 
23:17 - Feeling optimistic
24:11 - What holds the most promise?
24:50 - How to find out more

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 we find skilled, capable and enthusiastic farm staff when they just don’t seem to be available? In this episode, Lee Astridge, a leading agriculture recruitment and HR specialist, shares actionable tips to help you navigate the recruiting process and make your farming business an attractive option in a tight labour market.

Links:
DairyNZ people resources
GoDairy

Chapters:
1:55 - How can a recruitment agency help farmers?
3:50 - How does dairy recruitment compare to other industries?
7:02 - Why is it so hard to find staff right now?
11:19 - Best time to post your vacancy
13:32 - Contract start dates
15:15 - Writing a job vacancy ad to attract the right people
16.55 - Being clear about your workplace culture
18:44 - Tailoring job ads to your audience
20:53 - What are the hardest roles to fill?
22:11 - Key things to offer to secure good candidates
24:45 - Will the increase in minimum wage affect recruitment?
25:22 - What to do if someone pulls out of a role
30:14 - Advice for interviewing candidates
36:05 - Being honest with those hard-to-attract roles
37:52 - Top three things to consider to retain staff

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 

What kind of technologies are farmers already using, why, and what are the next big things that could deliver value on-farm? In this episode we cover the likes of robotic milking and virtual fencing, but also a new device that could help prevent back injuries, and some technology aimed at helping us reduce heat stress in cows. It’s an exciting topic, but also a wide one, so to help us make sense of it are DairyNZ researchers Callum Eastwood and Brian Dela Rue. Also joining us is Will Burrett, General Manager of Ngāi Tahu Farming & Forestry, and a Director of Trev. Will talks about the technologies they’re using and thinking of using at Ngāi Tahu Farming, how they decide which ones to invest in, the outcomes they’re seeing, and any challenges with implementing their current tech.
 
Links:
New workplace design
New Dairies and Technology
Kanban boards
Ngāi Tahu Farming

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 can we lift the national average six-week in-calf rate from its current position of 67%? Two exciting new traits have emerged – age at puberty and AGD (distance from anus to genitals) – that could serve as early-in-life predictors of fertility performance. DairyNZ’s been investigating these traits, and others, by following 5000 cows in 54 herds. To find out what we’ve learned and what those findings mean for farmers, we're joined by DairyNZ senior scientist Chris Burke and DairyNZ PhD student Melissa Stephen, and Taranaki farmer Tracey Berquist.

Read more about the research here

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 effective is plantain at both reducing nitrate leaching and helping to fill the feed supply in warmer months? In this episode, we’re exploring the benefits and challenges of incorporating plantain into the farm system, specifically in the Tararua District. Our guests are sharemilker and DairyNZ extension partner Francesca Bennett and Tararua Plantain Project manager Adam Duker.

The Tararua project is funded by DairyNZ, MPI, and Nestlē with many supporting partners including AgResearch, Agricom, Massey University, Fonterra, and Horizons Regional Council.

Links:
Tararua Plantain Project
DairyNZ Plantain webpage
Plantain Potency and Practice Programme

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 

What prompted the Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm’s move to full-season 10-in-7 milking? And what impact has it had on animal health, fertility, production and staff wellbeing? We speak with demonstration lead Jeremy Savage. Also on the episode is DairyNZ scientist Paul Edwards, who shares what the research is telling us about the effect of different milking intervals on milk production, fat and protein yields, and even sleeping patterns for farm staff.

Links:
Better workplaces through flexible milking podcast
DairyNZ flexible milking research
DairyNZ flexible milking content
Lincoln University Dairy Farm data

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 

Does selecting bulls that have a high Fertility Breeding Value really improve your herd’s fertility? In this episode, DairyNZ senior scientist Susanne Meier talks about what we learned from studying a unique herd of heifers with high and low Fertility BV, during rearing and their first and second lactations. We also explore what prompted Dairy Holdings Limited to prioritise the fertility trait in their breeding programme, and what kind of results they’ve seen since. 

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