THE GOALS of the 2013 Southland Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Don and Jess Moore, are to optimise production and maximise profit to reach farm ownership and enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

CANADIAN DAIRY farmers Don Dietrich and Larry Parkin are two members of the Gay Lea Foods Cooperative delegate body, the equivalent of Fonterra’s Shareholders Council. 

JAMES COURTMAN is young, ambitious and already successful.

DAIRYNZ’S CHIEF scientist, Dr Eric Hillerton says the findings of a feed conversion study by his organisation, LIC and the Australian dairy industry has exceeded his expectations and is world class science.

SCIENTISTS FROM DairyNZ, LIC and the Australian dairy industry have been able to prove that some calves and cows are more efficient converters of feed than others.

THIS YEAR you’ll have learned the value of even small amounts of rainfall – as if you didn’t know already. You will realise that about half the rain that arrives on your property runs off the farm in winter so the next revolution in dairy farming will be to store winter rainfall and irrigate it in summer. Even if the amount of water stored is small, it may keep your farm alive.

A RECENT Small Milk and Supply Herds (SMASH) field day near the Manawatu township of Sanson attracted 50 farmers. 

THE BENEFITS of keeping stock out of waterways with fencing can be boosted by a planted margin, which will help improve water quality. 

WHAT’S A cow’s field of vision? How well do they smell? What is their sense of taste? Do they feel pain as we do?

THE NEW Zealand head of the world’s newest standalone animal health business, Patrick Dorahy, is enthusiastic about what it means for farmers, vets and pet owners.