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Why energy efficiency matters

Refrigeration is generally the third-highest energy user on a dairy farm.

Energy management is a key way dairy farmers and sharemilkers can cut costs and improve profits.

Moving the earth for good reasons

Depth is controlled by a full-width flat roller.

The benefits of sub-soiling and soil aeration are well known, not least their ability to create vertical fissures that help water and nutrients penetrate to plants roots, so helping increase production.

Sub-soiling has proven benefits

Subsoiling offers improved drainage and creates healthier soil conditions with increased worm activity, ultimately resulting in higher yields.

Choose the right cooling system

Milk cooling accounts for 30% of total energy costs of the dairy.

Milk cooling affects milk quality: the quicker the milk is cooled after milking, the better the quality when it is collected from the farm.

Trace elements essential for peak livestock performance – vet

Richard Sides, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health NZ technical veterinarian.

Despite New Zealand’s relatively benign climate lending itself well to pastoral farming, its soils can hide chronic mineral deficiencies.

Demand lifting milk fat value

Jersey bulls domninate the top 200 rankings.

A steady rise in the value of milk fat in recent seasons is due to strong consumer demand for milk fat products, says DairyNZ.

Planning prevents poor maize

Great-looking maize crops have been growing across the country.

The predicted dry patch, which in November seemed impossible to envisage, has arrived.

Exploring new ways to make a dollar

Farm forestry and tourism are blending well with Graham Smith’s dairy business.

Savings showered by the sun

Woodville farmer Matthew Jackson says his solar powered milk shed has cut his power bill by over 50%.

A Woodville, Tararua dairy farmer is halving his dairy shed power bill with a solar power system he will pay for in six years. And it has no batteries. Peter Burke reports.