A new bill has been introduced to parliament this week outlining the proposed regulatory regime for genetic technologies and genetically modified organisms. 

In this episode hear from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) science advisor Dr Emily Parker on the bill’s proposal for a tiered, risk-based approach to licensing and what could be exempt from the regulations. Also hear from from Dr Raj Bhula - the Gene Technology Regulator in Australia. Australia’s system has been used as a blueprint for New Zealand’s new regulations.

Guests include:

1. Dr Emily Parker, Professor of Chemical Biology at Victoria University of Wellington and Science Advisor to MBIE

2. Dr Raj Bhula, Australia’s Gene Technology Regulator, Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, editor, Dairy Exporter

2. Anne Lee, deputy editor, Dairy Exporter

Dr Emily Parker is science advisor to MBIE, and discusses how the hybrid model would use a tiered risk-based approach. 

Read more about the bill here:

• Gene technology regulation | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

• Gene Technology Bill 110-1 (2024), Government Bill Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Dr Raj Bhula is the Gene Technology Regulator in Australia. The Australian system has been used as a blueprint for the proposed regulations in New Zealand. She discusses the licensing process and regulations there and shares insights into the Australian experience in exempting some gene editing techniques from the regulations altogether.

Read more from the Australian Office of the Gene Technology Regulator:

• Community attitudes report

• Quarterly activities report

• One of the 20 year retrospective reports

• Genetically modified organism herbicide tolerance trait review report

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BVD is a significant problem in the dairy industry. In this episode we talk to the US-based scientist who carried out a world first by gene editing BVD resistance into a bovine embryo, cloning it and producing a live BVD resistant calf. Also hear more about LIC’s new partnership in an American gene editing project.

Guests include:

1. Dr Aspen Workman, scientist,  US Meat Animal Research Center

2. Emma Blott, general manager commercial, LIC

3. Jason Schrier, international dairy development manager, LIC

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter

2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

Dr Aspen Workman from the US Meat Animal Research Center, is the lead researcher in a project that led to the world’s first gene edited, BVD resistant cow. Ginger was born in July 2021, and is now due to have her own calf this month. 

• Read more about this study here.

LIC is a partner in a gene editing project, providing embryos that will be gene edited in the US to include the Slick gene for improved heat tolerance. The embryos will also be gene edited for BVD resistance along with resistance against two other diseases. Semen from resulting bulls will be used in Sub-Saharan Africa as part of the overall project, being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Having control over your finances puts you more firmly at the helm when it comes to the direction of travel of your farm business. Hear how a North Canterbury couple budgets and then monitors with good systems and communication so they and their two sons can meet the goals they’ve set together. We also hear from an accountant on how to manage tax so there are no surprises.

Guests include:

1. Duncan & Nicky Anderson, North Canterbury Dairy Farmers

2. Trudi Ballantyne, Director, Stem Rural

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter

2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

North Canterbury dairy farmers Duncan and Nicky Anderson share their financial management system onfarm as a team. It all started with a mark and measure course, which got them thinking about the future of the farms financials, alongside their two sons. 

• Read more about Duncan and Nicky Anderson here.

Director of accounting firm Stem Rural Trudi Ballantyne discusses some of the ways farmers can manage their tax, how the provisional tax system affects farm businesses in particular, and explains where AIM (Accountant Income Method) fits into that.

• Read the Special Report with Trudi Ballantyne here.

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Financial literacy is almost like learning another language, and in the summer issue of Dairy Exporter the special report focusses on where to start and what is to gain from improving financial literacy in our farm businesses. From understanding debt management, to growing your funds through compounding, in this episode we break down the key terms and tools.

Guests include:

1. Paul Bird, Financial Educator, DairyNZ

2. Chris Lewis, Managing Director, BakerAg

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter

2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

DairyNZ’s Paul Bird discusses the basics of financial literacy, including the everyday terminology, and how learning the terms and tools will help you grow a successful farm business, including the power of compounding money. 

BakerAg’s Chris Lewis discusses the key things to be aware of when it comes to running a financially strong farm business, including doing a budget together as a partnership, good communication on spending, and managing debt. 

• Read the Special Report here.

• Buy the Dairy Exporter Summer Issue here

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Farm ownership is becoming a harder goal to achieve, especially for the next generation who might not have the capital to meet increasing land prices. In this episode hear from Sarah How, Co-Founder of Landify, on how the platform is setting up young growers with established farmers; Conrad Wilkshire from Property Brokers about how the property market is gaining momentum this spring; and CEO of Pāmu Mark Leslie, on their new pathways programme.

Guests include:

1. Sarah How, Co-Founder, Landify 

2. Conrad Wilkshire, General Manager for Rural, Property Brokers

3. Mark Leslie, CEO, Pāmu

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter

2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

3. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Co-Founder of Ladify Sarah How discusses why they created Landify to support younger farmers into business and farm ownership pathways, and to connect them with established farmers. She says the big barrier for the next generation of farmers is having enough capital to purchase land, but also the connections to go into equity-partnership models with, which is where Landify can help.

General Manager for Rural at Property Brokers Conrad Wilkshire discusses whether the property market is softening, and what this could mean for both growers wanting to get into farm ownership, and those looking to sell. He says there’s a lot more market discipline happening this season, and good preparation around due diligence.

Pāmu has committed to creating more pathways to bring more farmers into the sector, by making it easier for farmers to get into farm ownership. CEO Mark Leslie discusses why they decided to do it, what they hope to achieve, and the pathways available. 

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Drench resistance is already a widespread problem in the sheep industry, so how can dairy farmers stay ahead of the game, to avoid the same fate? Regular testing and monitoring are the keys to staying ahead, according to our guests in this episode, who discuss the tools and technology available to farmers right now. 

Guests include:

1. Greg Mirams, Founder & Managing Director, Techion

2. Richard Fowler, Rotorua Dairy Farmer

3. Lance Price, Farm Manager

4. Ginny Dodunski, Programme Manager, Wormwise

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter

2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

Founder and Managing Director of Techion Greg Mirams discusses how changing biology is increasing drench resistance, and what tools and technology are options for farmers to keep ahead of the game. 

Rotorua farmer Richard Fowler has been part of an AgResearch monitoring programme that involved him routinely testing his stock, including for worms. Richard and Lance Price, who manages Richard’s runoff, discuss how the programme has changed their approach to drenching onfarm.  

Wormwise Programme Manager Ginny Dodunski discusses how drench resistance affects cattle herds, and how they’re trying to collect data to get a better understanding of the problems. She says it’s a farm-by-farm discussion about what can be done differently, especially on calf-only blocks. 

• Check out Wormwise here.

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Learning to live with Kikuyu is the reality for more farmers in the upper North Island. Featured in the brand new Dairy Exporter Summer issue, Natalie and Andre Meier share their learnings from managing the subtropical grass on their farm. Also hear from Northland consultant Kim Robinson who gives her top tips for management of a Kikuyu system. 

Guests include:

1. Natalie & Andre Meier, Bay of Plenty Farmers

2. Kim Robinson, Agribusiness Consultant & Director, AgFirst

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter

2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

Bay of Plenty dairy farmers Andre and Natalie Meier have learnt to embrace the summer grass Kikuyu, and have also altered their system to once-a-day and are enjoying the productivity wins. They discuss how they got here.

• Read their story here.

Kim Robinson, Agribusiness Consultant and Director at AgFirst, has been part of the system alternation on the Meier’s farm, and discusses the approach they took, and the advice she has for other farmers dealing with Kikuyu. 

• Find Kikuyu resources on the AgFirst website here.

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With mating underway it’s important to look at your pasture management systems to make sure your herd is eating well. Keeping quality while there is a surplus and then keeping an eye out on when to slow down your round is important to future proof feed supply. 

Guests include:

1. Mark Williams, Farm Systems Specialist, DairyNZ
2. Robbie Ferris, GM of Piriaka Farms and Chair of Pasture Summit

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

DairyNZ’s Mark Williams discusses pasture management as we head into the spring flush for pastures, including the targets farmers need to keep in mind, having a well communicated plan, and making the right decisions at the right time. 

Robbie Ferris is the General Manager of Piriaka Farms, as well as the Chairperson of the Pasture Summit. He discusses why pasture management is important especially at this time of year, with mating underway, and why it’s important to have the right policy onfarm including stocking rates. 

Learn more about the Pasture Summit in Episode 9 of the podcast here.

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With mating season underway farmers will be considering how to make their herds more efficient, through breeding. Fonterra have been around the country on their Efficiency Evolution Strategy Roadshow, and two of their presenters share the tools they encourage farmers to think about when it comes to getting the most from your herd. Also hear from two LIC Agri Managers on their MINDA tool, and how they’re using it to make bespoke plans for their farmers on what efficiency means to them.

Guests include:

1. Malcolm Ellis, Strategic Advisor, Fonterra
2. Louise Cook, Environment Programme Lead, Fonterra
3. Charlotte Gray and Rosanna Dickson, Senior Agri Managers, LIC

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Malcolm Ellis and Louise Cook from Fonterra hosted Fonterra’s Efficiency Evolution Strategy Roadshow. They discuss different strategies to get more efficiency from your herd and farm system. They say due to challenges like M Bovis farmers haven't had the chance to get into selecting cows for efficiency, but it’s time to look more closely at the replacements we are breeding. 

Senior Agri Managers at LIC Charlotte Gray and Rosanna Dickson discuss the “MINDA” tool, and how LIC creates bespoke understandings of what “efficient” is to each individual farmer. They discuss how to get the best from the best cows, the limitations of herd data, and ways of measuring efficiency. 

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Salmonella outbreaks in herds can be devastating, and given the wet spring across the country, it is a grim reality for some farmers at the moment. 

In this episode, hear from a vet managing Salmonella outbreaks in Southland; two Veterinary Technical Advisors from MSD Animal Health about how to prevent a Salmonella outbreak on your farm; and a Waikato dairy farmer about how she managed an outbreak on her farm during the dry period, and what she’s doing now to prevent it happening again.

Guests include:

1. Sam Lee, Southland Dairy Vet, Northern Southland Vets
2. Kim Kelly, Livestock Veterinary Technical Advisor, MSD Animal Health
3. Andrew MacPherson, Veterinary Technical Advisor, MSD Animal Health
4. Louise Collingwood, Dairy Farmer, Ōtorohanga

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter
3. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Southland Dairy Vet Sam Lee says cows that are already under stress are more prone to contracting Salmonella, and it doesn’t have to have been brought onto the farm by external factors such as birds. The Salmonella bacteria likes wet conditions, so he has been dealing with it especially this year with an especially wet spring in Southland right now. 

MSD Animal Health are receiving a high number of calls from vets around the country seeking advice on best practice management of Salmonella as a result of outbreaks they are seeing from their farming clients. Livestock Veterinary Technical Advisor for MSD Animal Health Kim Kelly, and Veterinary Technical Advisor Andrew MacPherson, share what they are seeing out on farms at the moment and how to avoid an outbreak of this devastating bacteria on your farm.

Thanks to using SenseHub Dairy collars Ōtorohanga dairy farmer Louise Collingwood was able to pick up the symptoms of Salmonella and get the farm vet involved early to treat her herd. The health alerts from the devices go out even before the cows themselves show symptoms visible to the farmer.

For more information

• To find out more about Salmonella visit Top Farmers Know-How https://www.topfarmers.co.nz/know-how/salmonella/
• To find out more about prevention with Salvexin+B click here.

Other Important Notes:

• https://www.topfarmers.co.nz/know-how/salmonella/
• https://www.topfarmers.co.nz/know-how/salmonella/salmonella-in-cattle/  PODCAST: Sharemilkers Matt and Jennifer Davison share their experience of a Salmonella Brandenburg outbreak on their Canterbury dairy farm and MSD Technical Vets talk about how common outbreaks of Salmonella are, what the options are for damage control and how to prevent it in the first place. 
• Salmonella fact sheet https://www.topfarmers.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/244/2022/12/NZ-SAL-210900003-TFKH_Salmonella_Fact-Sheet-1_Salmonella-In-Cattle_2021.pdf

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