Next instalment of Fonterra YouTube series

The latest series focuses on milk safety and quality, and features dairy farmers from Invercargill, Waihi and Waiuku discussing the importance of sharing knowledge, using technology and high standards of animal welfare.

Supply Fonterra programme director, Lisa Payne, says the second Farm Focus series shows the passion and dedication dairy farmers have to delivering the top quality milk that goes into Fonterra's dairy products.

"Safety and quality start on-farm, and require absolute commitment to maintaining high standards and a fastidious approach to detail," she says.

In this series a former Fonterra tanker operator-turned farmer shows how he applied his knowledge of safety and quality standards gathered from years collecting milk to his farm.

Two husband and wife teams discuss how they combine technology, animal science and training to produce consistently safe, high quality milk.

Another husband and wife team show how a covered barn helps care for the herd during cold winter months and calving, and increases milk production

Payne says dairy farming can be complex, requiring a delicate balance of inputs and outputs, and that Fonterra farmers are some of the best in the world at getting high productivity from their herds while ensuring superior standards of animal welfare and top quality milk.

"What I want people to take away from watching these videos is the importance of great people, healthy animals and attention to detail in the production of quality New Zealand milk, and how what happens on-farm underpins the trust customers and consumers have in Fonterra's dairy products," said Ms Payne.

The four Farm Focus videos are now available on Fonterra's YouTube channel. The videos will also be posted on Fonterra's Facebook and Twitter pages under the hashtag #farmfocus.

Keep up to date with www.twitter.com/Fonterra and search the #farmfocus for further details.

About the farmers:

Marco & Boogie Dela Concepcion, Invercargill: http://youtu.be/ewqpgUdQn7c
Originally from the Philippines, Marco and Boogie came to New Zealand in 2005. The couple worked their way up as sharemilkers and equity partners before buying their own farm in 2010. Marco has an animal science degree and knows that quality starts with taking care of the herd: "Cows are part of the family, they're part of the business, and just like everything in the business you take care of them. You provide a stress-free environment and that leads to less animal health issues and more, higher quality milk."

Mark & Deborah Hamill, Invercargill: http://youtu.be/b6rC1K0l-rw
Southland farmers Mark and Deborah Hamill embraced technology when they converted their sheep farm to dairy six years ago. From the moment they started planning for their first conversion, the Hamills had a strong focus on milk quality, Mark explains: "When we were about to convert, Deborah and I went and looked at many sheds around the countryside. Farmers were all too keen to show us their new sheds and in the end we decided to go with the best for prevention of mastitis."

Tony & Marlene Walters, Waiuku: http://youtu.be/L09iFZ69Di0
Waiuku farmers Tony and Marlene Walters have increased their milk production by 40% since building a covered barn last year. The couple took their investment seriously, researching options for two years with a view to providing the best conditions for their animals. Tony explains: "We're very wet in this area, so we wanted to build a facility to house the cows over winter-time and to calve safely."

Roger & Erin Madsen, Waihi: http://youtu.be/gcArQkphj7o
Since taking over the family farm 24 years ago, Roger and Erin Madsen's milk has consistently passed every standard milk quality test every season. Roger is a former tanker driver and says collecting milk from thousands of farms helped him with ideas on how he can consistently supply safe milk. Roger says the key to their milk quality success is having good systems in place and not getting distracted while milking or washing.