2026 Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship. Apply by 17 August 2025. Read More...

Apply for 2026 Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship by 17 August 2025. More details...

Dairy

Nick Vernon

This report by Nick Vernon, examines how biodiversity actions, community expectations, and stakeholder involvement intersect to build trust, improve environmental results, and support long-term sustainability.

David March

Wearable technologies offer real benefits in monitoring, labour efficiency, and safety on NZ dairy farms. David March’s report discovers that for high-performing operations, financial returns remain limited, highlighting the need to weigh costs, farm performance, and alternative investments before adoption.

Nicky Halley

Are microplastics entering NZ’s dairy supply? This report by Nicky Halley explores potential risks, public concern, and practical steps for farmers, industry, and policymakers to safeguard health, trust, and the nation’s clean, green reputation.
Grant Kay

Grant Kay

This report explores how NZ dairy farmers approach on-farm data sharing amid regulatory pressures. Farmers are rational—sharing data when trust, control, and value are assured. The “make/save/comply” framework captures their motivations, stressing the need for ethical, transparent, and mutually beneficial data ecosystems.
Jodie Goudswaard

Jodie Goudswaard

NZ dairy farmers prove profit and sustainability can align—pasture smart, cost-savvy, and values-led. A balance worth backing.
Kaitlin Bates

Kaitlin Bates

This report highlights the underutilised role of nutrition in New Zealand’s dairy sector. It identifies gaps in training, technology use, and knowledge integration. Key recommendations include standardised education, data-informed practices, cross-sector collaboration, and a systems-thinking approach, sustainability, and long-term farm success.
Katrina Roberts

Katrina Roberts

This report by Katrina Roberts highlights that strong farmer-female veterinarian relationships improve advice uptake and farm outcomes. Findings emphasise personal connection, trust, communication, and shared growth. Veterinary businesses should support advisors through training, flexibility, and resources to foster thriving partnerships, especially in female-led advisory roles.
Kurt Harmer

Kurt Harmer

This report explores the feasibility of NZ dairy farmers selling raw and pasteurised milk direct from the farm. It finds strong consumer interest and financial potential, but highlights significant regulatory, operational, and mindset challenges requiring targeted support and strategic planning.
Malinda Wynyard

Malinda Wynyard

Malinda’s report examines how NZ’s independent dairy manufacturers can future-proof for financial sustainability amid a decreasing milk pool and global market shifts. It finds that success depends on strong value-chain relationships, targeting values-driven markets, and exploring alternative access strategies to overcome distance and risk.
Michele Cranefield

Michele Cranefield

This report explores NZ’s changing farm ownership landscape, noting declining traditional pathways, rising land costs, and limited capital access. Models like equity partnerships show promise. Strategic planning, mentorship, and coordinated action are needed to address a $110–$125 billion capital gap.

Jenna Smith

Peatlands store 20% of NZ’s soil carbon but are largely degraded. This report explores restoration, wetland farming, and Māori-led solutions for climate and cultural resilience.

Ben Aiken

This research project seeks to understand how young dairy farmers in
Northland have got ahead and to learn from their examples and experiences.

Chloe Walker

Access to capital is constraining the sector's sustainability, productivity, and transition to the next generation of farmers.
Hamish Hodgson

Hamish Hodgson

This research paper aims to identify the key skills that drive profitability in NZ's dairy farming sector and explore how targeted training and development can enhance farm performance and overall economic resilience.

Oliver Hampson

The management of non-replacement calves, or bobby calves, is a constant challenge for the NZ Dairy industry. This report investigates potential options for reducing bobby calf numbers.

Ashlea Kowalski

This report looks at the current business model for contract milking within the New Zealand dairy industry. With research showing that 27% of contract milkers would be financially better off as a manager, contract milking it is not the most effective pathway for progression.

Sophia Hunt

This report analyses Algeria's dairy market and its significance as a major importer of New Zealand's dairy products, particularly Whole Milk Powder. It aims to assess our potential to enhance dairy exports to Algeria, and identify opportunities for value-add.

Rob Shaw

This report produces a concept plan for a corporate dairy farming company in Zimbabwe. It investigates the domestic and regional markets, general business environment and success factors in developing a corporate pasture-based dairy company.

Peter Saunders

This report examines risk management practices on Canterbury dairy farms and explores whether there is a need for the development of an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework specific to the dairy sector.

Sophie MacAskill

This report aims to identify possible actions and strategies to support New Zealand dairy farmers as modern genetic technology becomes permissible on farms.

Esther Donkersloot

This project aims to bring attention to the importance of stakeholder engagement during the research and development phases of a dairy technology or product.
Matt Iremonger, 2023 Nuffield New Zealand Scholar

Matt Iremonger

This report aims to explore opportunities to enhance the beef on dairy value chain in New Zealand by increasing value, improving efficiency, and aligning production with consumer demands.

Kylie Leonard

A reduction of Greenhouse gases is being demanded through our value chains. Farmers need to be at the table of change, not on the menu.

Anna Gower-James

This report proposes recommendations for New Zealand dairy exporters to explore further growth between New Zealand and Nigeria.