The Dairy Exporter Podcast

• Episode 57 - Passing the torch: the realities of farm succession

  Farm succession is one of the toughest challenges for farming families, with many young farmers struggling through the process. Rural counselor Kathryn Wright discusses the emotional complexities of succession, strategies for managing family dynamics, and tips for approaching these crucial conversations. Sheryl Haitana also speaks with Sandy Van Den Heuvel, Director of BlackmanSpargo Rural Law, about the legal aspects of succession, highlighting who the stress often falls on and when. Additionally, Greytown farmer Hamish Hammond chats about the season in Wairarapa and the importance of water efficiency and the upgrade they’re doing to their irrigation. Guests include: Kathryn Wright, Rural Counselor Hamish Hammond, Wairarapa farmer Sandy Van Den Heuvel, Director, BlackmanSpargo Rural Law Hosts: Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter Rural counselor Kathryn Wright shares insights on the emotional challenges of farm succession and the generational divide that makes these conversations difficult. While younger farmers often seek guidance, older generations can struggle to let go of control. Kathryn provides practical strategies for navigating these discussions, including the importance of timing, using “I” statements to reduce defensiveness, and bringing in an impartial perspective. She also highlights the mental toll of succession, identifying red flags for stress and burnout. Emphasising the need for balance, she urges farmers to prioritise their well-being and seek support when needed. With valuable advice on identity, control, and family dynamics, Kathryn’s guidance helps ensure that succession planning not only secures the farm’s future but also strengthens family relationships. Dairy farmer Hamish Hammond, based in Grey Town in the Wairarapa, shares insights into his farm’s seasonal challenges and improvements. With a promising spring and timely Christmas rain, Hamish’s farm saw a boost in milk and grass production. However, weather variability remains a challenge, with dry periods and strong southerlies posing risks to both animals and crops in the region. Hamish talks about his irrigation system, which covers 150ha, and the significant infrastructure upgrade underway to improve water efficiency. The new system will automate water distribution, saving both time and labor costs, while also enabling better feed production. He highlights the importance of managing water carefully, especially with looming restrictions, and emphasises the need for good soil moisture monitoring. Despite the challenges, Hamish remains optimistic about the future, citing the benefits of both solid infrastructure and favorable weather conditions. Legal expert Sandy Vanden Heuvel offers essential advice on the legal side of farm succession, focusing on the importance of early planning and the right structures to protect both the business and family dynamics. Sandy explains the differences between succession and estate plans, emphasising the risks of leaving things until after death, particularly with the Family Protection Act in play. She shares insights on common pitfalls, such as neglecting financial viability and failing to account for off-farm assets, and stresses the importance of clear, transparent communication with all family members. Sandy also advises younger generations to seek their own legal and financial counsel to ensure they’re fully informed when stepping into farm ownership. With practical tips on legal structures and the need for professional guidance, Sandy’s expertise helps ensure that succession planning is both legally sound and fair to all involved. Buy the Dairy Exporter Autumn Issue here SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - EMAIL NEWSLETTER (FREE - WEEKLY) SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - MAGAZINE ($79/YR FOR 4 JOURNALS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 56 - Overcoming adversity in the face of a life changing injury

  In this episode, Sheryl Haitana interviews Braden Coates and Hayley Ireland, dairy farmers from South Waikato, who share their inspirational journey overcoming Braden’s life-changing rugby injury and journey to farm ownership. They discuss their resilience, teamwork, and commitment to sustainable farming, as well as their success in the Te Ara Miraka Excellence Programme. Additionally, Ben Davidson, veterinarian and CEO of Dairy Smart, talks about antibiotic stewardship and how AI is revolutionising mastitis detection. He highlights how this technology helps farmers reduce antibiotic use, improve herd health, and make more targeted treatment decisions. Guests include: Braden Coates & Hayley Ireland, South Waikato dairy farmers Ben Davidson, CEO, Dairy Smart Hosts: Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter Braden Coates and Hayley Ireland, farmers from South Waikato, share their journey of overcoming adversity after Braden’s life-changing rugby accident, which left him with tetraplegia. Despite the challenges, the couple was able to achieve their goal of farm ownership on the 320-cow, system five farm with resilience, dedication and hard work as well as support from friends and family. Their story highlights the importance of community support and teamwork. Through perseverance and sustainable farming practices, Braden and Hayley have also achieved success, winning accolades in the Te Ara Miraka Excellence Programme. Their achievement reflects their commitment to high standards in milk quality, environmental practices, and operational efficiency. This powerful story of resilience showcases their strength in navigating life’s challenges and the importance of people. Ben Davidson, veterinarian and CEO of Dairy Smart, discusses the growing importance of antibiotic stewardship in dairy farming and how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming mastitis detection. With antibiotic resistance becoming a global concern, Ben highlights the need for farmers to be more cautious with their antibiotic use. Dairy Smart’s innovative AI-driven milk culturing system helps farmers identify specific bacteria in real-time, allowing for more targeted treatment and reducing the reliance on prophylactic antibiotics. Ben emphasizes that by accurately diagnosing bacterial infections, farmers can prevent unnecessary antibiotic use, manage herd health more effectively, and reduce the spread of resistant bacteria. This technology not only empowers farmers to make better treatment decisions but also improves overall herd health, reducing antibiotic use and improving farm sustainability. Ben stresses the importance of collaboration between farmers and vets to ensure the right treatment at the right time. Buy the Dairy Exporter Autumn Issue here SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - EMAIL NEWSLETTER (FREE - WEEKLY) SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - MAGAZINE ($79/YR FOR 4 JOURNALS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 55 - Hot science & industry insights: expert takes on gene tech, dairy innovation & more

  In this episode, we hear from experts at the Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, discussing the latest in dairy innovation, from benchmarking farm performance to using DNA technology for pest management. Plus, Glenn Jones shares insights from the Australian Dairy Conference and what’s coming up for farmers at this year’s SIDE event. Guests include: Kathryn Guthridge, Senior Research Scientist, Agriculture Victoria Research Peter Raedts, Researcher, University of Tasmania Mark Neal, Head of Data Science, DairyNZ Glenn Jones, Governance Group Chair, SIDE Hosts: Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter Kathryn Guthridge from Agriculture Victoria Research discusses using DNA analysis to identify pests in pastures or crops. She explains that farmers can collect soil or plant samples and send them to a lab, where DNA sequencing identifies insects present at the time. This proactive approach helps farmers make informed management decisions. Kathryn also talks about endophytes, which can boost pasture resilience by controlling insect pests. She highlights how different endophyte strains have unique chemical profiles effective against various pests, offering farmers a tailored solution. The method requires no expertise from the farmer, just sample collection for analysis. Peter Raedts from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture discusses a farmlet trial investigating nitrogen fertilizer reduction and increased species diversity, including clover, to maintain productivity. Four farmlets were tested with varying nitrogen inputs, from 300 kg to zero synthetic nitrogen. Despite the lack of fertilizer in one farmlet, productivity remained similar across all groups. Clover contributed to growth, but long-term sustainability remains uncertain. The trial is ongoing, exploring nitrogen sources and efficiency, including clover's nitrogen fixation and soil microbes. Peter emphasizes the need for further research to understand the system’s potential and its impact on environmental nitrogen loss. Mark Neal from Dairy NZ discusses the evolving approach to benchmarking, aiming to separate farm performance from farmer performance. By adjusting benchmarks based on specific farm factors like topography, infrastructure, and genetics, the goal is to create a more accurate assessment of a farmer’s performance. This method allows farmers with challenging conditions to be evaluated fairly, offering opportunities for learning from high performers in similar situations. Mark emphasizes the need for quality data and transparency to ensure the system helps farmers identify key areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing profitability without judgment for uncontrollable factors. Glenn Jones, Chairman of the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), shares insights from the Australian Dairy Conference. Alongside young delegate Levi Stewart, Glenn highlights key takeaways, including visits to the University of Queensland’s dairy research facility and a Wagyu and Angus feedlot. He discusses the inspiring recovery of dairy farmers Paul and Sharon Weir after a flood, and a macadamia farm’s successful transition from sugarcane. Glenn covers themes like succession planning, biosecurity threats, and the role of AI in dairy farming, emphasizing the importance of innovation, international collaboration, and technology in New Zealand’s evolving dairy sector. Buy the Dairy Exporter Autumn Issue here SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - EMAIL NEWSLETTER (FREE - WEEKLY) SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - MAGAZINE ($79/YR FOR 4 JOURNALS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 54 - Breeding for the future: mating plans, how to select the best bull team for your herd.

  In this episode, we discuss pregnancy scanning results across the country, with some farmers reporting low not-in-calf rates. We also explore the importance of planning for next season’s mating, selecting the right bull team, and how advancements in breeding technology, including sexed semen, are helping farmers improve herd efficiency and productivity. Guests include: Ben Watson, Co-Founder and General Manager, GENEZ Rosanna Dixon, Senior Agri Manager, LIC Mitchell Koot, Genetic Product Manager, CRV Hosts: Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter Ben Watson, General Manager of GENEZ, discusses the breeding business, which partners with top beef breeders to improve beef genetics for dairy farmers. He highlights the benefits of optimised genetics for traits like easy calving, rapid growth, and better carcass weight. Ben also explores the importance of traceability for identifying high-performing calves and how dairy and beef farmers can collaborate to boost profitability. He offers advice on using beef genetics to enhance herd performance while maintaining a healthy bottom line. Rosanna Dickson, Senior Agri Manager at LIC, shares her expertise on achieving successful mating outcomes for farmers. She emphasises the importance of pregnancy scanning and the benefits of mating in October. Rosanna also discusses the significance of planning for the next season, considering genetics and cow management. She advises farmers to evaluate their mating strategies post-season, focusing on calf futures and body condition scoring for better herd management. Rosanna encourages a tailored approach to breeding, incorporating genomics to improve genetic selection and manage risks effectively. Mitchell Koot, Genetics Product Manager for CRV, discusses the positive results farmers are seeing with sexed semen use. He highlights how targeting the right cows, especially those in early lactation, can increase success rates. Mitchell also touches on the role of wearable technology in improving heat detection and insemination timing. He explains the benefits of using frozen sexed semen and the growing demand for CRV's high semen fertility bulls. Additionally, Mitchell talks about CRV's Accelerate pack and the importance of selecting the right genetics for breeding, including options for dairy beef. Buy the Dairy Exporter Summer Issue here SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - EMAIL NEWSLETTER (FREE - WEEKLY) SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - MAGAZINE ($79/YR FOR 4 JOURNALS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Episode 53 - Is your farm insurance keeping up with the changes?

  This episode we take a deep dive into the changes affecting rising insurance premiums and advice on how to navigate the changes including a new insurance model called parametric insurance that will help farmers insure in the face of extreme weather events. Guests include: Brett Borrell, Commercial and Rural Manager, Gallaghers Insurance Lucie Douma, Head of Client Strategy and Advice, FMG Hosts: Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter Gallagher Insurance commercial and rural manager Brett Borrell, breaks down the key factors driving insurance prices up for farmers and how insurance for insurers (reinsurance) plays a significant role in the rising costs of premiums. He also discusses the challenges farmers face in managing risk and offers insights on how understanding the components of your premium can help make informed decisions. FMG head of client strategy and advice Lucie Douma, introduces the new insurance model parametric insurance. This is a model designed to help farmers manage extreme weather risks. She highlights its growing popularity and how it can complement existing coverage to ensure quicker and more efficient compensation when disaster strikes. Buy the Dairy Exporter Summer Issue here SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - EMAIL NEWSLETTER (FREE - WEEKLY) SUBSCRIBE TO DAIRY EXPORTER - MAGAZINE ($79/YR FOR 4 JOURNALS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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