DAIRY Country

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DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee. Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand. Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with ourthousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world. Don’t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the subscribe button now and join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter to get the latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in thebusiness of dairy farming into the future.

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 129 - From burnout to balance

    Farm ownership can feel like a long way off for young dairy farmers, but Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblance are steadily working their way towards the goal. Anne Lee speaks with the West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Industry Award winners about their journey from early careers and contract managing to leasing farms and working towards ownership, while also discussing the personal challenges they have faced along the way.   Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guests: Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblance, West Coast Contract Milkers   Abbi shares her experience of burnout early in her dairy career and her journey through postpartum psychosis following the births of her children, while Frikkie talks about the impact it had on their family and the lack of support available for partners. They discuss the importance of recognising the warning signs, finding practical tools to protect mental wellbeing and building connections within rural communities. The couple also explain how they have used technology such as virtual fencing to manage their farms, the lessons they have learnt from different ownership models and why keeping business arrangements simple and aligned is key to achieving their goal of owning their own farm.   Read the article featuring Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblance here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/from-burnout-to-balance/ Find out more about the Better Pastures Together podcast by Barenbrug here: https://barenbrug.co.nz/podcasts Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 129 - From burnout to balance

  2. Sep 10

    Episode 128 - Southern Dairy Hub: More from less

    The Southern Dairy Hub is exploring what the future of dairy farming could look like through a side-by-side comparison of high genetic merit cows run at a 0.5 cows per hectare lower stocking rate than a more traditional herd. Anne Lee speaks with Southern Dairy Hub Acting General Manager Greg Delaney and DairyNZ Senior Scientist Dr Dawn Dalley about the latest results from the demonstration farm, including higher milk solids production per cow with significantly less supplementary feed.   Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guests: Greg Delaney, General Manager, Southern Dairy Hub Dr Dawn Dalley, Scientist, DairyNZ   Dawn explains how the future herd produced more than 520kg of milksolids per cow compared with 470kg for the standard herd, while using close to 40% of the  supplementary feed last season. In terms of total production, on a per hectare basis, production in the lower stocked, future herd is getting close to that of the standard herd. The future herd production was less than 100kg MS/ha lower than the standard herd. They also discuss grass-based wintering, body condition score changes and the wider potential benefits of running a lower-stocked, high genetic merit system. Greg and Dawn talk about the Hub’s new 1000-square-metre standoff pad, its design and how it’s being used to improve animal welfare during calving. The farm’s HubWatch weekly farm data updates are now available for the new season.  Dawn and Greg also give an update on the process underway to determine the Southern Dairy Hub’s future strategic direction.   Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 128 - Southern Dairy Hub: More from less

  3. Sep 3

    Episode 127 - The right pain relief

    Pain relief is becoming an increasingly important part of dairy cattle welfare, with more options available to farmers than there were a decade ago. Anne Lee speaks with Northland veterinarian Rory Dean about how cattle experience and show pain, why they can be difficult to assess as prey animals and how commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help cows recover from painful and inflammatory conditions.   Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guests: Rory Dean, Northland Veterinarian   Rory explains how drugs such as ketoprofen and meloxicam work, and their role in managing lameness, mastitis and difficult calvings. Anne and Rory also discuss pain relief for calves, including during disbudding and when treating conditions such as pneumonia, navel ill, joint ill and diarrhoea, as well as the importance of early intervention and pre-emptive analgesia. They explore the different roles of anti-inflammatory drugs, local anaesthetics and sedatives, why pain relief needs to be combined with appropriate treatment and nursing care, and the importance of following label instructions and veterinary advice to avoid overdosing and side effects.   Read the article from the latest issue of the DAIRY Country here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/the-right-pain-relief/   Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 127 - The right pain relief

  4. Aug 27

    Episode 126 - Your brain and burnout

    Burnout can creep up on farmers when the pressure to keep going and the constant stream of decisions never lets up. Anne Lee speaks with former police crisis negotiator and wellbeing specialist Lance Burdett about what happens when the brain becomes overloaded, why overthinking can be more damaging than working hard and how farmers can recognise when stress is becoming burnout.   Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guests: Lance Burdett, Wellbeing specialist   Lance discusses why simply pushing harder is not the answer, the importance of taking regular breaks and getting away from the farm, and practical ways to calm an overactive brain, including breathing, walking, writing and talking. Anne and Lance also explore how technology can add to the mental load when it is not managed carefully, the importance of choosing the tools that are genuinely useful and why changing the way we think about stress, learning and new challenges can help protect our wellbeing.   Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 126 - Your brain and burnout

  5. Aug 19

    Episode 125 - Finding Security

    Farm ownership can seem out of reach for young dairy farmers, but Biddy and Braden Barnes have shown it’s still possible with hard work, careful planning and the right opportunities. Anne Lee speaks with the Canterbury couple about their journey from contract milking and share milking to buying their first farm, and how winning the Fonterra and ASB First Farm Loan in conjunction with the NZ Dairy Industry Awards helped give them the confidence and financial backing to take the next step.   Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guests: Biddy and Braden Barnes, 2026 Fonterra and ASB First Farm Loan Winners   Biddy and Braden discuss how they built equity through herd ownership, calf rearing and property, the challenges of finding a farm in a competitive market and why they chose to purchase a 200ha dry-stock property near Sheffield with plans to convert it into a 750-cow dairy farm. Anne, Biddy and Braden also explore the different pathways into farm ownership, the opportunities and risks of contract milking and share farming, the importance of understanding farm contracts and why seeking advice and support can help young farmers make informed decisions.   Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 125 - Finding Security

  6. Aug 13

    Episode 124 - Updates needed to law and agreements

    Share farming and contract milking agreements are a fundamental part of New Zealand’s dairy industry, but are the contracts and legislation governing them still fit for purpose? Anne Lee speaks with The Sharefarming Consultants’ Louise Gibson and AgFirst’s Lycinda Lett about the challenges facing farm owners, contract milkers and share farmers, and why they believe the legal framework needs a refresh.   Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guests: Louise Gibson, Co-Founder, The Sharefarming Consultants Lycinda Lett, Consultant, AgFirst   Louise and Lycinda discuss gaps in the Sharemilking Agreements Act, the growing use of contract milking and the risks of relying on contract law. Anne, Louise and Lycinda also explore the importance of clear agreements and farm policies, power imbalances, disputes and mediation, guaranteed minimum returns and withheld milk payments, as well as the changes Louise and Lycinda believe could provide greater security and support successful business partnerships.   Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 124 - Updates needed to law and agreements

  7. Aug 6

    Episode 123 - Improving herds through DNA testing

    DNA testing is transforming dairy breeding by giving farmers greater confidence in parentage and allowing more accurate genetic information to be fed into breeding models. Anne Lee speaks with CRV myDNA Programme Manager Connie McFarlane about how DNA testing and genomics are helping farmers improve herd performance, from verifying calf parentage to increasing the reliability of breeding values and genetic indexes.    Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guest: Connie McFarlane, myDNA Programme Manager, CRV    Connie explains why around one in four calves can be mismatched to their dams without DNA testing, and how tissue sampling and genomic analysis provide a much clearer picture of an animal's true genetic potential. Anne and Connie also discuss how farmers are using genomic information to identify replacement heifers and select cows for beef or sexed semen, the importance of building larger genomic reference populations, how DNA testing is accelerating genetic gain in both dairy cows and bulls, and the future opportunities for genomic traits including hoof health, mastitis resistance and genetic defect screening.   Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 123 - Improving herds through DNA testing

  8. Jul 30

    Episode 122 - Following the milk price signals

    Global dairy markets have entered a period of correction after two years of exceptionally strong prices, with growing milk production putting downward pressure on key commodities. Anne Lee speaks with HighGround Dairy's Stu Davison about the global forces shaping New Zealand's farmgate milk price, from expanding milk production in the United States to Europe's heatwave, China's changing demand patterns and the latest Global Dairy Trade Pulse results.   Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guest: Stu Davison, HighGround Dairy   Stu explains why traders are already pricing weather risk into dairy markets as New Zealand heads towards a potential Super El Niño, and what that could mean for milk production and commodity prices over the coming season. Anne and Stu also discuss the growing competitiveness of US dairy exports, how conflict in the Middle East is influencing global dairy trade and food security, the impact of Europe's large butter and skim milk powder inventories, and why currency movements could play a significant role in New Zealand's milk price outlook.   Sign up to the weekly DAIRY Country email newsletter here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/sign-up/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Episode 122 - Following the milk price signals
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About

DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee. Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand. Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with ourthousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world. Don’t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the subscribe button now and join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter to get the latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in thebusiness of dairy farming into the future.

Information

  • Creator
    CountryWide Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    DAIRY Country