Talking Dairy

New Zealand’s reputation for producing sustainable, high-quality food is closely tied to how animals are cared for across the farming system. One of the sector’s ongoing challenges – and opportunities – is how non‑replacement dairy calves are managed.

In this episode of Talking Dairy, we explore the newly launched Dairy Beef Opportunities programme, a cross-sector initiative designed to lift the value of dairy-beef, unlock better outcomes for non‑replacement calves, and strengthen integration between the dairy and beef sectors.

Paul Edwards (DairyNZ), Richard McColl (Meat Industry Association), and Jim Inglis (Beef + Lamb New Zealand) share insights into what the programme aims to achieve, what’s underpinning the work, and what it could mean for dairy farmers – including how to get involved and where new value could be created across the supply chain.

Read more about the Dairy Beef Opportunities programme

Would you like to get involved? Find out more and register your interest here

Read the Inside Dairy story: Boosting the dairy beef sector

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 

Strong advice plays an important role in confident decision‑making. As farming continues to change, the way advice is shaped, shared, and supported matters more than ever. 

In this Talking Dairy episode, you’ll hear how strong, well‑connected advisors help farmers grow their businesses, and why investing in advisor capability lifts outcomes right across the sector. Jo Finer from the Institute of Rural Professionals of New Zealand and Mark Williams from DairyNZ share what this means in practice for farmers and rural professionals alike. 

For dairy farmers, this episode looks at how well‑supported advisors bring the latest knowledge and connected support to your farm business. 

For rural professionals, it explores the value of being part of a connected professional community that supports learning, lifts standards, and helps you stay relevant in a fast‑changing sector. 

Find out more about the Institute of Rural Professionals of New Zealand 

Visit the DairyNZ Rural Professionals Hub  

We’re proud to partner with the Institute of Rural Professionals of New Zealand 

Supporting trusted advice. Strengthening on-farm decisions.  

DairyNZ partners with the Institute of Rural Professionals to stretch your levy further — helping connect farmers with high-quality, practical advice across the sector. Their broad membership of vets, consultants, bankers and farm advisors plays a key role in supporting farm businesses every day. Our partnership strengthens that network by backing their annual conference and growing capability across rural professions. It’s all about making sure the people who support you have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to help you make informed decisions on farm. 

See how your levy is working harder through partnerships 

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 

When the pressure is on, having the right support makes all the difference. In this episode of Talking Dairy, we hear directly from the organisation supporting farmers through challenging times. Rural Support Trust national chair Michelle Ruddell joins DairyNZ people specialist Jane Muir to discuss the common pressures they’re seeing across dairy communities and what they do to ensure the right help is available at the right time. They also share practical insights to help ease the load and reset for the season ahead. 

We’re proud to partner with Rural Support Trust. 

Whether it’s financial pressure, a weather event, or personal struggles, they’re here to help. And so are we. 

Rural Support Trust provides essential support during adverse weather events to help farmers respond and recover. Their team of local rural people understand firsthand the pressures that can mount up. Their network and training can help with a wide range of situations.

Our partnership helps ensure farmers, their teams, and their families get the support they need, when they need it most. Together, supporting farmers through every challenge.

Find out more about the Rural Support Trust

See how your levy is working harder through partnerships 

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 

Global conflict can feel a long way from the farm gate until it starts showing up in your fuel bill, freight costs and next season’s budget.

In this episode, you hear from DairyNZ economist Mark Storey and farm system specialist Mark Speight about what the escalation of global conflict could mean for your farm business over the months ahead. They share insights into why fuel and freight costs are rising, how long higher costs could stick around, and what that means for inflation, interest rates and farm working expenses.

Most importantly, they share practical steps you can take now that are within your control such as stress‑testing budgets, planning for different cost scenarios, keeping cashflow front of mind, and maintaining strong farm system fundamentals.

You’ll also hear why New Zealand dairy remains resilient through periods of global volatility, and how your pasture‑based system gives you an advantage compared with many overseas competitors.

Links mentioned in this episode and more:

• Managing higher fuel costs on-farm
• Pasture assessment
• Budgeting
• Strategies to improve body condition score
• Team communication

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 can dairy learn from the way horticulture uses robotics and automation? 

In this episode, we're joined by Professor Mike Duke from the University of Waikato, recorded at the 2025 Precision Dairy Farming Conference where he was a keynote speaker. He works in horticulture robotics, and his insights translate to the challenges faced on farm. Mike talks about how new thinking around automation, data and design could shape the future of dairy, what dairy already does well, and where there’s room to go further. 

View the conference highlights, proceedings and 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 

When effluent systems are designed and run well, they support your whole farm. 

In this episode of Talking Dairy, Debbie Care from AgVice and Shaun Hazelton from DairyNZ share insights into how to set your effluent system up to improve productivity, make the most out of valuable nutrients and protect your business over the long-term. This conversation looks at what’s involved in establishing good systems, what’s worth prioritising, and why autumn is a smart time to get things in shape. 

Links mentioned in this episode and more:

• Get DairyNZ info about effluent management and operation
• Download the effluent management plan poster 
• Find DairyNZ accredited effluent system design companies
• How does your effluent system stack up? Do your own Warrant of Fitness.
• Effluent Training Courses - DairyNZ
• Find out more about AgVice and Debbie Care

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 

Recorded live at the 2025 Precision Dairy Farming Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch. In this episode, Dr Claudia Kamphuis cuts through the noise around data and shows you how to turn information into something of value. Drawing on her keynote presentation from the conference, she explains how smarter data use is speeding up breakthroughs and what that means for your everyday decisions.

You’ll hear why the real challenge isn’t collecting data, but knowing what to keep, what to ignore, and how to use it with confidence. Claudia shares practical insights on dealing with data overwhelm, connecting with the right people, and taking small steps that make technology work for you.

View the conference highlights, proceedings and 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 

Autumn gives you a short but valuable window to set your herd up well. 

In this Talking Dairy episode, DairyNZ scientist, Dr Susanne Meier, explains why hitting BCS targets before calving has such a big flow on effect—supporting recovery after calving, earlier cycling, stronger reproductive performance, and more milk in the vat next season. And DairyNZ farm systems specialist, Mark Williams, brings the farm system view: how to condition‑score your herd accurately, plan dry‑off dates with confidence, and choose feeding and drafting strategies that move the cows who need it most.

You’ll also learn about practical tools that make these decisions easier, including the dry off calculator, feed budgeting tool, and the BCS app many farmers now rely on to track progress through autumn.

Links mentioned in this episode and more:

• Milk On or Dry Off Calculator
• Body Condition Score (BCS) Dry-Off Calculator
• BCS App
• InCalf - Reproduction gap calculator 
• Autumn smarts - Essential autumn tools for farm success 
• FeedRight Module 26 - Allocate autumn pastures correctly (late lactation)
• FeedRight Module 27 - Measure and monitor body condition score (BCS) (late lactation)
• FeedRight Module 28 - Use crops and supplements profitably (late lactation)
• FeedRight Module 29 - Determine nutrient requirements (dry period)
• FeedRight Module 30 - Achieve body condition score (BCS) targets at calving (dry period)
• FeedRight Module 31 - Manage winter pastures and crops correctly (dry period)
• View all FeedRight Technotes

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 

Recorded live at the 2025 Precision Dairy Farming Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch, this episode features vet Kirsty Ashcroft from Anexa, who led a farmer panel sharing their experiences with wearable technology.  

Kirsty highlights the importance of starting with the basics in the first season, avoiding alert fatigue, and working closely with vets to turn data into earlier identification, better decisions, and stronger animal health outcomes.  

Kirsty also explains why successful adoption isn’t about the device itself, but about how you use it, who supports you, and how well the data fits your farm’s needs. 

View the conference highlights, proceedings and more  

Did you know? 

Since this episode was recorded, DairyNZ has begun a three-year research programme on cow wearables, shaped by farmers, to help turn data into practical insights. The work focuses on benchmarking, understanding normal behaviour, improving key decisions at calving and mating, identifying resilient cows, and exploring how wearables can support pasture management — all aimed at helping farmers get more value from their investment. You can read more about this in the Feb-April 2026 Inside Dairy.  

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 

If you want more control, confidence, and options in your business, building strong financial skills is one of the most powerful steps you can take. This episode shows you how to strengthen those skills so you can grow long‑term wealth and stay steady through whatever the season brings.

DairyNZ business specialists Sarah Brown and Paul Bird break financial management down into three simple parts: profit, drawings, and investing. You’ll learn how to benchmark your performance and budget with purpose so you can spot opportunities early and stay ahead of rising costs and changing payouts. They also share practical habits to reduce stress, smooth out variability, and avoid surprises - and explain how to invest surplus cash wisely, from essential upkeep to growth opportunities.

You’ll also discover levy‑funded tools you can use today - like DairyBase benchmarking, budgeting templates, cashflow tools, and courses such as Mark and Measure and Business by the Numbers - to keep building capability and confidence. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Annual Cash Budget Template
• Partial Budget
• 10-year equity forecast tool
• Monthly Cashflow Budget Fonterra Suppliers
• Get more DairyNZ business tools and resources
• View DairyNZ business information
• Discover the benefits of benchmarking your business against others - Join DairyBase
• Upskill with Dairy Training – find free training options.
• Mark and Measure is back for 2026 in Taupo (12-14 May) and Hanmer Springs (14-16 July). Find out more and register here.

Disclaimer: 

The content in this podcast includes general commentary on market trends. It should not be considered as investment advice. Certain transactions, such as those involving futures, options, and high-yield securities, carry significant risks and may not be appropriate for all investors. We advise seeking independent legal or financial guidance before making any investment decisions.  

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