Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
Plan now how you will manage for drought this summer, says DairyNZ.
Spokesman Andrew Reid says the signs are ominous: NIWA reports show all New Zealand was drier than normal in November – strange given that a month ago people were talking about how wet it was.
This shows how quickly conditions can change, so farmers need to prepare to deal with a big dry, Reid says. The implications of the November dry, and what the rest of the season will bring, is “top-of-mind for us at DairyNZ”.
“People need a management plan in case things get worse and there is no rain in the traditionally dry months,” Reid says. “And they must be ready and willing to act on it. Having a plan is one thing; acting on it in a timely way and making decisions makes all the difference.”
Reid says the present dry spell is compounding the problems of incessant rain that fell earlier in the season. Farmers have since been playing catch-up to cope with a marginal start to the season. Now their focus is on the next couple of months.
One problem is the prospect of a supplement shortage.
“Pasture supplements weren’t harvested in spring because they were needed at the time so that option has been compromised. One option while pastures are still growing is to apply nitrogen or to extend rotations out to 30 days or so.”
Keep an eye on the weather so that if things turn a lot worse you can respond in a timely manner, Reid says.
Once-a-day milking is an option, but it should not be the first choice because of the long-term implications in the loss of production and the risk of increased somatic cell counts.
Christmas can wait
Stay alert to what is happening, regardless of the festive season, says Andrew Reid.
While DairyNZ staff traditionally take a break at Christmas they remain on call; and before then the consulting officers will get out messages via discussion groups.
“Also our website is a massive resource for people wanting to get clarification on any issue. On the website we have management plans available that people can work through.”
Despite the weather watch it is equally important everyone gets a break and has time to recharge their batteries, Reid says. Staff rosters should be arranged to facilitate this.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
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