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.
DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says while farmers in the North Island have taken a hit from the weather, in the South Island the dairy season started well.
Mackle says this will lessen the impact in the overall drop in milk production for the season.
“Recognising some farmers have been particularly badly hit, in general I am still staggered that most farmers are coping well with all the issues they have been facing. Even when milk prices return to more normal or average levels, farmers will still need to run a tight ship, using pasture well and keeping a close eye on their costs,” he says.
While other dairy farmers worldwide have been hit by the global dairy crisis, Mackle says NZ farmers have suffered the most: they were the first hit by the crisis. The others, especially in Europe, were somewhat buffered by their strong domestic markets and EU subsidies.
But Mackle is concerned that as well as having to farm in difficult times and situations, NZ dairy farmers are constantly hit by negative publicity. This referse to recent video showing a handful of dairy farmers flaunting best-practice procedures in their ill-treatment of calves.
“There is no getting away from it; having grenades lobbed at them like this and [the public] questioning standard practices and values is upsetting for farmers. My advice is, they shouldn’t let it get to them because they know in their hearts that the vast majority are doing the right thing,” he says.
Mackle says this latest publicity highlights the need for the industry to explain to the wider public what are good, standard onfarm practices.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.