Foot-in-mouth
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left them wishing they had kept their mouth firmly closed.
THE HIGH-INPUT housed dairying that predominates in the US should be a pointer for New Zealand farmers on managing such ventures, says Crowe Horwarth managing principal Neil McAra, Southland.
McAra, recently home from a GEA/ANZ tour of farms in Wisconsin (a leading dairying state), says the visit underscored that New Zealand farmers must be clear on what they want to achieve by spending capital.
“They must know how their international competitiveness stacks up against the US because their farmers are using mega farms, with 2000-plus cows, to sell into the same markets we do,” he says.
These mega farms are competitive due to scale (40% of the US dairy supply), precision agriculture, modern technology, cheap labour (90% Hispanic, paid NZ$11.40-15.90/h), lower capital expense (US farmland half the price of NZ) and farming systems that suit the environment and economy.
“NZ land cost [requires] farmers to consider the return on investment in, e.g. irrigation systems, feed pads, cow houses and automated milking,” says McAra.
Also affecting spending decisions are skill requirements, setting realistic production budgets and environmental management, he says.
NZ farmers can counter the US threat with innovation and precision agriculture, up-skilling employees, leading well, adapting economically to manage environmental aspects, and by consolidating farms.
But McAra cautions that poorly managed high-input systems generate less cash than poorly managed low-input systems. DairyNZ research shows that fewer than 5% of farmers profit from running intensive systems.
Operating profit is the key to farm success, he says. Low operating costs/kgMS and high production/ha lift profit.
“Generally it takes 1kgDM to produce 1L of milk, so it’s essential to choose the cheapest, most efficient feed, especially in a low pay-out year when, based on the current milk price forecast, farmers will only receive 45c/L.”
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
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