Fodder beet offers many benefits as an alternative crop to brassicas, but it also presents risks and challenges. So, what can we learn from recent research about how to deal with those risks and challenges? How have farmers adapted their feeding practices over time? And do we have all the answers or is there more research required? In this episode DairyNZ senior scientist Dawn Dalley summarises recent research findings, and North Canterbury dairy farmer and veterinarian Trish McIntosh joins us to share her experiences of using fodder beet.

Chapters:
1:07 - Dawn give an overview on her role at DairyNZ with fodder beet research
2:38 - An intro from Trish and how she got involved with this project
4:15 - Fodder beet learnings from the Forages for reduced nitrate leaching project
7:42 - Trish talks about how feeding practices have changed on her farm
10:53 - Research to find answers to some of the challenges farmers have experienced
15:54 - Feeding changes Trish has observed with clients over the last 10-12 years
17:50 - Cumulative effects of feeding fodder beet on our replacement dairy stock.
20:58 - The benefits of being involved with the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project
22:00 - Do we have all the answers or is there still more research required?
25:06 - Fodder beets role in dairy systems into the future
29:41 - Does fodder beet pose additional environmental risks when being grazed during winter?
31:46 - Practical take home messages from Dawn and Trish

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Recorded on 15 June 2022. We have some real challenges ahead of us as a country over the coming decades when it comes to improving water quality, increasing biodiversity, and reducing emissions. We all want to see improved environmental outcomes, we all have a role to play, and we can’t do it alone. Working together constructively will be the key to our success, but to do this we need to build strong relationships that are based on trust, integrity, and mutual understanding. Hear more about this as we talk with Dr David Burger, GM Sustainable Dairy, DairyNZ, Fish & Game Chair Ray Grubb, and a panel of (non-government organisations) NGOs and dairy sector representatives sharing their perspectives.

For more from the Farmers' Forum Series, visit our website.

Chapters:
2.34 - Dr David Burger – GM Sustainable Dairy, DairyNZ
10.26 - Ray Grubb – Chair, Fish & Game NZ
23:38 - Questions for David and Ray
27.06 - Panel: Nicola Toki (Chief Executive, Forest & Bird), Melissa Slattery (Chair, Dairy Environment Leaders), Richard McIntyre (Dairy Farmer & Deputy Chair, Fish & Game)

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Three years ago, Quinn Morgan was a self-described city slicker, working as a personal trainer in Perth and spending hours sitting in traffic. But then, after a wedding in NZ, Covid’s arrival, and some encouragement from farming family members, Quinn ended up reluctantly taking a job in dairy farming back in NZ. Fast forward to 2022, and he’s now leading a team of eight on a Pamu dairy farm in the Taupō area, raising his young family with a rural lifestyle and progressing quickly with his new career. In this episode, Quinn shares his story about how he ended up in dairying, and the challenging but rewarding experiences he’s faced since making the move. He also talks about what he’s doing to encourage others, particularly young Māori, into the dairy sector – including his involvement in DairyNZ's recently launched Great Futures in Dairying Plan. Quinn reckons we need to be looking in new places for our future staff. He wants others from a similar background to him – urban and/or non-farming – to discover what he has about the dairy sector: the career progression opportunities, the income stability, the supportive culture, and the chance to be a steward of the land.

Chapters:
1:12 – An unexpected career move 
3:25 – Quinn’s first farming opportunity
4:51 - What Quinn loves about dairy farming
6:55 - Winning the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year in 2021
7:45 - Are Māori values being reflected in the dairy sector?
9:57 – Quinn’s involvement in DairyNZ's Great Futures in Dairying plan
12:15 - Looking in new places for our staff
13:51 - Attracting young Māori to farming
15:30 - Future goals, and advice for other new entrants
17:43 - Mentoring younger farmers
21:39 - Recruiting and retaining staff
24:39 - Reflecting on his first few years in the dairy sector 
25:33 – Getting more rangatahi to enter awards

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Recorded on 20 April 2022. With over 12,000 businesses across New Zealand employing over 30,000 workers on farms, our success in attracting, retaining and growing our people will determine whether the dairy sector thrives or survives. We know dairy offers a rewarding career and lifestyle, so how do we attract the right people in a tight labour market? How do we make dairy appealing for someone considering their career options? And how do we look after skilled and capable workers, so they’ll stay with us? Hear from experts and farmers about their experiences and insights.

For more from the Farmers' Forum Series, visit our website.

Chapters:
1.56 - Tim Mackle, DairyNZ chief executive
14.35 - Lee Astridge, HR/Recruitment specialist
36.47 - Dairy farmer panel – Jordyn Crouch, John Totty and Jo Sheridan

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Foot-and-mouth disease has reached the tourist hot spot of Bali, and the risk of it entering NZ on the footprint of an unwary traveller or by other means, is now a little too close for comfort. So, what are the risks to farmers and primary industry as a whole? And more importantly, who is responsible and what do we need to do to be prepared? We chat to Liz Shackleton, Biosecurity Manager for DairyNZ, who talks about the level of risk, who is involved, and shares some tips for farmers on what to look for and what to do.

Notes:
DairyNZ foot-and-mouth disease webpage

Chapters:
1.00 – Intro from Liz and what led to her role in biosecurity at DairyNZ
2.25 – Where in the world is FMD now and how much of a threat is it to our primary industries?
5.28 – What steps are being taken to contain it?
6.19 – Addressing the concern of FMD arriving with imported stock feed or imported goods
8.23 – What can be done now and who is responsible?
11.18 – The importance of a tracing system
12.37 – How do we recognise an outbreak it before it spreads and what actions can we take?
13.32 – How does FMD get onto farm and what would you see if it does?
15.37 – What would the first days of an FMD outbreak look like?
17.19 – FMD has been in some other counties for a while, so how would an outbreak in NZ be different?
18.56 – How can farmers keep updated?

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Recorded on 9 March 2022. Kiwi dairy farmers are increasingly under pressure with ever-changing regulations, acute workforce shortages, and all the complexities that come with a changing world. Sometimes it can be hard to navigate while still making time for family, friends, and the stuff that matters most. What are these challenges? How do we manage the juggle and still feel ok? What is being done for us as farmers … and who is speaking up for us? How do I notice I’m not handling so well? Who can I talk to?

For more from the Farmers' Forum Series, visit our website.

Chapters:
2.18 - Overview from Jim van der Poel, DairyNZ Chair
7.22 - Former farmer and rural mental health advocate Doug Avery
34.32 - Dairy farmer panel – Wayne Langford, Loshni Manikam and Neil Bateup

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Wintering on crop isn’t just a Southland issue. New National Environment Standards for intensive winter grazing will come into effect in November 2022. Farmers all over New Zealand are having to review their wintering crop practices now and put some thought into how they’re going to winter into the future. In this episode, we chat with Central Hawke’s Bay sheep farmer Ben Tosswill and Southland dairy farmer Ewen Mathieson about winter grazing practices now and what’s next.

Chapters:
0.51 – Ben: banking back to farming
2.32 – Ewen: third generation farmer
3.20 – Changing consumer/market expectations
4.14 – What’s different now compared to five years ago?
5.13 – Ewen’s move away from cropping
7.18 – Meeting new regulations
7.59 – Flexibility to cope with curve balls
9.40 – Wintering as a North Island sheep farmer
10.20 – Sheep farmers lifting their game
11.34 – What Ben’s changed on his farm
13.10 – Reducing risk to animals and environment
15.10 – Cow lying time
16.39 – Lowering stress on sheep and staff
17.39 – Team culture and wellbeing
20.34 – Benefits of a written wintering plan
21.54 – Team buy-in on the plan
23.55 – Preventing small issues from becoming big ones
26.13 – Protecting waterways: silt fences (Ewen), temporary hot wires (Ben)
28.52 – Ewen: keeping the power on
29.49 – Ben: sharing the wintering plan
30.17 – Final thoughts: one thing farmers can do now

Visit our website for more on wintering

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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?

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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

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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

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