DAIRY Country

The national dairy herd grew last season for the first time in five years, and production passed 2 billion kgMS for the first time on record. In this week’s Dairy Country Podcast, CountryWide Media Senior Journalist Anne Lee speaks with DairyNZ Head of Economics and Insights Mark Storey about what the latest New Zealand Dairy Statistics show about the national herd, from regional cow numbers to production per cow and on-farm performance.
Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guest:
Mark Storey, Head of Economics and Insights, DairyNZ
Mark discusses record per cow production of 428kgMS, South Canterbury’s growth in cow numbers of 4%, and the fact the expected wave of new conversions isn’t showing up in the numbers yet. Anne and Mark also discuss a record six-week in-calf rate of 70.2%, herd testing reaching its highest level since the early 2000s and the rise of contract milking. Continuing the numbers theme, Mark and Anne talk about the importance of DairyBase and how DairyBase data supports benchmarking and scenario modelling, including El Niño analysis that put the break-even milk price for a strong El Niño at $8.90/kgMS. Mark explains AI’s role in speeding up that work, and what changes are coming to the DairyBase app and the Econ Tracker.

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New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2025-26: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/resources/resource-list/new-zealand-dairy-statistics-2025-26-pdf/
DairyNZ Economic Tracker Tool: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/resources/tools/dairynz-econ-tracker-tool/
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After several tough springs, Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) has had a much better start to the season, with good pasture growth and utilisation, cows calving on the milking platform and milksolids tracking ahead of target. Anne Lee speaks with LUDF Demonstration Lead Antoinette Archer and Farm Manager Peter Hancox about the season so far, the farm’s mating plan and the decisions coming out of its latest focus day.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guests:
Antoinette Archer, Demonstration Lead, Lincoln University Dairy Farm
Peter Hancox, Farm Manager, Lincoln University Dairy Farm

Antoinette explains why the farm has moved from 10-in-7 milking back to a tactical twice-a-day system, and why it is speeding up regrassing to as much as 25% of the platform this season to tackle weeds and lift pasture production. Peter discusses the farm’s all-AI mating plan using collars, sexed semen and beef across the bottom 40% of the herd, plus a run of 21 sets of twins this spring. They also cover how rising feed, fertiliser and fuel prices are affecting the farm’s budget, along with the beef-on-dairy panel at the focus day. That panel looked at Pāmu’s push to rear more of its calves, the development of a finishing value index (FVI), and why strong relationships along the supply chain are key to making beef-on-dairy work.

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Skim milk powder has long been the by-product of the dairy world, but strong global demand for protein has turned it into one of the main drivers of the market. Anne Lee speaks with HighGround Dairy’s Stu Davison about the forces behind the latest Global Dairy Trade jump of more than 4%. They cover skim milk powder prices topping US$4000/t for the first time since 2022, and why milkfat prices are falling while powders are rising.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guest:
Stu Davison, HighGround Dairy

Stu explains how GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, protein-enhanced foods and the shift towards milk protein concentrate and ultra-filtered milk have tightened global skim supplies. He also explains why the Middle East bought its largest GDT volumes since 2012. Speaking from Singapore after visits to Indonesia and China, he shares what he saw on the ground: falling milk production in China, cautious Chinese consumers, and new desert dairy farms in Inner Mongolia and Algeria that New Zealand will have to compete with. Anne and Stu also discuss Europe’s surprisingly resilient milk supply, the growing stocks of butter, and milk price futures trading above $10/kgMS. Stu explains the role of the weak Kiwi dollar and the risk to prices if El Niño doesn’t cut milk supply as much as the market expects. He also makes the case for a disciplined hedging policy over trying to pick the market.

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Entries for the new season of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards opened on October 5, and outgoing National Committee Chair Maegan Legg joins Anne Lee to talk about how the programme has helped launch farming careers, from expert judges’ feedback to the networks entrants build.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guest:
Maegan Legg, Committee Chair, New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards

Maegan shares how entering the awards in 2020 helped her and husband Terry set goals beyond sharemilking, leading to the purchase of a 56-hectare block of land. She explains how preparing an entry strengthens communication and planning on farm, and how the awards have evolved, including the extended age range for Dairy Trainee of the Year and the new Alumni of the Year and First Farm awards. With national committee positions opening up, she also has advice for anyone on the fence about entering. “Just do it.”

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A record dairy production season coupled with last year’s increase in the levy farmers pay to DairyNZ boosted the organisation’s income to more than $90m, Anne Lee speaks with DairyNZ CEO Campbell Parker about how the organisation is investing farmers’ money, rebuilding reserves and deciding where funding is needed most across research, science, farmer engagement and industry programmes.

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country
Guest:
Campbell Parker, CEO, DairyNZ

Campbell shares details on DairyNZ’s major areas of investment, including its resilient pastures, dairy beef opportunities and the responsible dairy programmes. He explains work being carried out in biosecurity, DairyBase, genetics and farmer training along with how farmers are using AI (artificial intelligence). Campbell talks about how DairyNZ ensures there are robust checks and balances around research and co-funded programmes, and why farmer feedback will be important as the organisation develops its strategy for the next five years.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.