RUNNING A profitable farm is always a ‘work in progress’, says Grant Wills, co-winner with partner Karen Preston of the Supreme Award for the Waikato region of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

THE ONLY certainty about farming is that no two seasons are ever the same. While the 2011-12 season produced a record New Zealand milk harvest, this year widespread drought conditions hit many North Island and West Coast farms hard, decreasing production and profit.  Climate experts predict the seasons will become hotter and drier in the years ahead. Weather is not the only challenge facing today’s farmer; recent global uncertainty has created large fluctuations in milksolids payout and there is an increasing focus on the environmental impact of dairying.

UNDER AGE and malnourished bobby calves arriving at slaughter plants have prompted Ministry of Primary Industries veterinary inspectors to call for further investigation of pre-transport management.

THE JERSEY breed was one of the foundation stones of the New Zealand dairy industry; not so today with the number and popularity of these brown cows diminishing initially in favour of the larger-framed Friesians but more latterly for crossbreds. 

The recent decline in the NZD, low interest rates, a good breaking of the drought, plus good dairy prices have left farmers in good heart at this year's national Fieldays, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says a new or increased levy is one option to increase the level of inspection in countries from where we import palm kernel expeller (PKE).

A Kiwi company with an innovation and technology focus has invented the first ever New Zealand-made electronic milk meter designed to use every milking, every day.

Fonterra farmers in the Tasman region hung up their milking aprons and got out the gardening gloves to teach local kids about life on a dairy farm during the winter months.

The drought cost $1.3billion to June 30, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says, in its Situation and Outlook report.

DESPITE DECADES of research and control measures, mastitis doggedly remains the single most costly animal health issue on New Zealand dairy farms today, says animal health company Virbac Stockguard.