The Dairy Exporter Podcast Proud Country Network

Women in rural communities are known for wearing many different hats, and the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) conference is a showcase of the women going above and beyond in the dairy sector and in their communities. 

The DWN’s 2024 “Enhance, Elevate, Evolve” conference was held in New Plymouth last week, and included the first ever non-dairy farmer recipient of the Fonterra Woman of the Year Award, herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts.

Host Sheryl Haitana takes the opportunity to talk to two DWN award recipients, as well as the CEO of DWN about the inspiring work being done by women in the dairy industry. 

Guests include:


Katrina Roberts, Fonterra Woman of the Year
Jules Benton, CEO, Dairy Women’s Network (DWN)
Rebecca O’Brien, DWN Regional Winner of the Year

Hosts:


Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, managing director of CountryWide Media

Fonterra Woman of the Year Katrina Roberts says receiving the award as a herd health veterinarian is a great opportunity to showcase the important role vets play onfarm.

After growing up on a beef and pig farm in Australia, she developed a passion for the dairy industry, especially with the farmers themselves. She talks to Sheryl about the work she’s done with her research as a vet, as well as life as an on-call dairy vet. 

DWN’s CEO Jules Benton says the awards are a great way to celebrate women in the dairy sector, who often just quietly get on with their work. She says it’s also a great opportunity to inspire other women in the sector, to take on leadership roles and get involved in their local communities. 

DWN’s Regional Winner for 2024 Rebecca O’Brien says her award is reflective of not just her work, but of the organisations that she works with. She says without those groups she wouldn’t be doing what she is now. 

Rebecca discusses her journey from growing up in the city, to moving to a remote dairy farm with her husband, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. She gives Sheryl an update on what’s next for her various groups, to keep locals connected in their community. 

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With more responsibility and skill needed by all staff, dairy farming isn’t the job it used to be. The incoming workforce might have higher qualifications than their previous counterparts, but two thirds of new farm workers don’t last beyond their first year on farm. 

So are we in need of a mindset change? In this episode we dive into how to make the most of an upskilled generation of workers and discuss how to keep them in farming businesses for longer. 

Guests include:


Shamubeel Eaqub, Freelance Economist
Tony Dodunski, CEO, Ag Assist
Chris Coughlan, Partner at Rural Coach

Hosts:


Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, managing director of CountryWide Media

According to Freelance Economist Shamubeel Eaqud, we need a significant change in mindset when it comes to keeping farm workers in our farming businesses. With farm systems more complicated than ever and requiring a higher level of responsibility from each farm worker he says the key to retaining staff is to stop thinking “what can staff do for me”, and start thinking about “what can I do for them?”.

Meanwhile, Tony Dodunski is striving to simplify the hiring of farm workers with his game-changing app Ag Assist. Connecting farmers and workers, the app allows users to see what is available in their area, from long-term to casual work. Opening up opportunities to utilise groups of people who have usually been forgotten, such as stay-at-home-parents, or retirees. 

Integrating everyone on farm into being a part of the business, and letting them take initiative within the business is key and our third guest, Rural Coach Partner Chris Coughlan says farmers need to be thinking about how they can build their own leadership skills, and use these to upskill and motivate their teams. 

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Over 2 million calves are produced from the dairy herd in NZ every year, with only a quarter retained for herd replacements. How do we build a ‘beef on dairy’ industry that is growing successfully in the States?

2023 Nuffield scholar and Canterbury farmer, Matt Iremonger says, money may save the bobby calf but to have a successful beef on dairy value chain several key changes need to be made to our dysfunctional supply chain.

Guests include:


Matt Iremonger - 2023 Nuffield Scholar and Canterbury farmer

Hosts:


Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Read Matt’s full Nuffield Report “What’s the Beef? Opportunities for Beef on Dairy in New Zealand”

Listen to the Beef + Lamb NZ Genetics Informing NZ Beef Podcast to hear about the popularity of Beef on Dairy in North America. 

This episode is a special bonus episode through CountryWide Media’s partnership with Rural Leaders and the New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarship. 
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Figured’s modelling initially saw the start of this season with 38% of dairy farmers making a loss. Forecasts have improved by the end of the season so are the banks going to be more supportive of longer term investment into sustainability goals?

This episode shares insights & forecasts, ways to deal with the bank for the long-term and how to manage the mental load of debt and cash flow stress. 

Guests include:


Amy Milbourn, Head of Data and Lending Support, Figured
Scott Wishart, Managing Director, NZAB
Sam Owen, Managing Partner at S and J Owen partnership and Rural Support Trust Facilitator and co-host of Bullshit & Bravery podcast

Hosts:


Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
Sarah Perriam-Lampp, managing director of CountryWide Media

As the season wraps up, Figured’s Head of Data, Amy Milborn, shares insights on the debt stress of dairy farmers which shows whilst now only 11% are making a loss, 40% of dairy businesses have cash flow cover problems for interest costs.

“Farmers have had 16% onfarm inflation, there’s cutbacks on repairs & maintenance, production system optimisation and a high interest environment,” says Amy. 

NZAB’s Scott Wishart explains how navigating with the banks has changed and the outcome of getting it right can be as much as 4% in basis points difference all based on having the right financial hygiene & strategy.

“If you have a strategy and a plan for the long-term delivered to the bank in a professional manner then the bank doesn’t determine your business strategy for you,” explains Scott.

There’s so much more to pressure than just cashflow or staff says both Waikato farmer and Rural Support Trust co-ordinator, Sam Owen.

“Farmers just want a flag in the ground for clarity and direction for the next step without it constantly moving,” stresses Sam.

Sam’s many hats from farmer, mental health advocate and farm consultant makes his chat with Sheryl really balanced in how to help farmers build confidence in investing in sustainable initiatives. 

 

SOUTH ISLAND DAIRY EVENT (SIDE):

The South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) is a two day conference for farmers, led by farmers.

This year celebrates 25 years of the event at Lincoln University and has a packed programme of workshops and keynote speakers as well as networking with other progressive dairy farmers.

SIDE event is between 24-26th June 2024 and registrations are open now!

View the programme and register: https://www.side.org.nz/ 

 

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Early indications that if cows get to choose what they eat it may result in milk that contains higher levels of nutrients for its human consumers. 

As part of a Lincoln University research trial, cows fed a range of specific pasture species in strips are producing milk that has higher levels of compounds such as vitamins E and B.

This episode Anne Lee sits down in the studio for an in-depth interview with the researchers.

Guests include:


Pablo Gregorini, Lincoln University Professor
Dr Anita Fleming, Ashley Dene Development Farm

Hosts:


Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

Lincoln University’s Professor Pablo Gregorini and Dr Anita Fleming are leading a major study at the University’s Ashley Dene Development Farm that’s not only investigating the impacts of diverse pasture species on animal health – it’s taking the study right through to look at effects on human health too as well as the wellbeing of soils, ecosystems, farm staff and communities.

 

“We’ve selected plants that meet cow needs in terms of drymatter throughout the season but alongside that has been a selection criterion related to the metabolites we know some plants can provide. Over time, as we learn more, we may change those mixes,” Anita says. 

 

Paddocks at the Integral Health Farm have been redesigned to include Tuna (Māori for eel) shaped belts of trees, shrubs and herbal layers that run through diverse pasture species sown in distinct strips.

 

The pasture strips involve three specific mixes:

Strip one. Ryegrass and white clover, proven to grow well through spring and autumn.

Strip two. Tall fescue and meadow fescue, known to be palatable, but also deep rooting to help cope with drier summer conditions. The fescues are mixed with red, white and annual clover along with lucerne and chicory.

Strip three. Chicory and crimson clover – sown in a narrower strip.

 

The chicory and crimson clover make up the “medicinal superfood” strip while the species included in strip two are all plants identified in previous studies to contain compounds that can positively impact metabolic processes in animals, she says.

To see the pictures of the Integral Health Dairy Farm out now in the 2024 Dairy Exporter Winter our read here in the online article.

 

AUTUMN 2024 PASTURE SUMMIT:

- Bay of Plenty Event: Wednesday, 1 May 2024 hosted by Jordyn Crouch & Isaac Algar in Atiamuri.

- Southland Event: Wednesday, 8 May 2024 hosted by Sam & Jenna Hodsell in Taramoa.

View the programme and register: https://www.pasturesummit.co.nz/ 

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As we come to a close on the 2023/2024 NZ season and dairy production ramps up around the globe, what is the wash up of this season and the forecast of the season ahead?

Will the avian flu in the US represent a decline in their domestic production be good for our exports? Is China producing more dairy themselves a concern to NZ dairy exports? How do we navigate European protectionism measures against dairy?

This episode talks to three experts who are focused on the markets every day to provide our dairy farmers with an outlook ahead. 

Guests include:


Cristina Alvarado, Dairy Data & Insights, NZX
Stu Davidson, High Ground Dairy
Kimberley Crewther, Executive Director, DCANZ

Hosts:


Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

As we slid into the end of our season at the end of May Cristina Alvarado from NZX’s Dairy Insights Team says that whilst overall the year on year data is declining, overall their milk price calculator shows an overall $7.82/kgMS when taking into account a lot of factors. 

Cristina shares with Sheryl global insights into shipping delays, avian flu in US cattle and Algerian tender for significant volume.

Stu Davidson of High Ground Dairy says don’t take your eye off China’s rise of their domestic dairy production for short-term volatility but long-term it still should be a worry as their demand will always outstrip their ability to supply themselves. 

Kimberley Crewther explains about the work DCANZ has been doing for dairy trade access and has been busy at the moment representing their 11 members to operate in a highly constrained and distorted environment globally as countries hold tightly onto non-tariff protectionism. 

AUTUMN 2024 PASTURE SUMMIT:

- Bay of Plenty Event: Wednesday, 1 May 2024 hosted by Jordyn Crouch & Isaac Algar in Atiamuri.

- Southland Event: Wednesday, 8 May 2024 hosted by Sam & Jenna Hodsell in Taramoa.

View the programme and register: https://www.pasturesummit.co.nz/ 

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