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

Robert Lyons

Farmers market products through direct or indirect selling, with most using indirect methods via processors. The meat industry remains divided while dairy is monopolized. Producer options vary by location; research focuses on South Auckland.

Jim van der Poel

Many large co-operatives are grappling with the issue of how to fund their growth strategies without compromising the returns that they pay their farmer shareholders or put the co-operative at risk. Fonterra also has to deal with the issue of how it funds its growth aspirations.  The capital structure that was negotiated at its formation … Read more

Bayly Anna

Once-a-day (OAD) milking is a management option which can provide significant benefits to the New Zealand dairyfarmer. The limited research data on OAD suggests that the production loss is in the order of 7-30%, depending on the breed of cow (Jerseys lose less than Friesians) and the stage of lactation (early lactation, higher losses). It … Read more

Searle Gillian

All industries within New Zealand are experiencing pressure to find the quality and quantity of people to do the work. In order for the New Zealand dairy industry to be attractive to people in a tight labour market, there needs to be an alignment between the needs of the farming businesses and the needs of … Read more

Meyer, Basil

The objective of this project is to provide a comparison of financial performance for owner operated dairy farms in Canterbury, Southland, and the West Coast. Meyer, Basil

Buchanan Conall

Sharemilking is a contractual arrangement where one party (the farm owner) provides the infrastructure required for dairy farming, and the other (the sharemilker) provides the physical labour, management skills and some of the chattels or livestock required to operate the farm. Under the 50% agreement the sharemilker owns the herd, plant and mobile equipment. The … Read more

Wilson, Trudy

This is my chronicle in which I am recording the last few months of interesting and unforeseen circumstances in my life. My husband had a stint in hospital with an infected hand. Finally after two weeks I realized the inevitable, I was it. I had to take on the farming role; there was no one … Read more

Law Alan, E

The problem of Stray Voltage in Farm Dairies is not new. In the past extensive research was done on voltage and animal behaviour. This resulted in the formulation of construction guidelines for farm dairies. The dairy industry now hosts a new generation of dairy farmers that may not have the same level of knowledge and … Read more

Bicknell, John

Johne’s Disease is an infectious bacterial disease that primarily affects the intestinal tract of bovine and other ruminant animals. It is caused by a mycobacterium named Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. The microbe is only able to multiply inside an animal’s intestinal tract. However, the development of clinical disease does not occur instantly and, in some … Read more

Silich, Don J.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry is a resourced based highly fragmented industry with the distinctive competency of low cost production of milk-to-milk product. Fonterra co-operative has been created from a merger of three key players in the industry along with 14000 shareholders farmers, this company processes the primary resource of milk, manufacturing that resource into … Read more

Barbara Kuriger

Dairy industry needs 5000 workers by 2005. Despite high unemployment, attracting staff is challenging. Targeting school leavers may help meet future demands.

Robyn Clements

This report examines women's roles in New Zealand dairying, advocating for greater recognition and participation in decision-making. It explores barriers to involvement, leadership opportunities, and networking benefits for both women and the dairy industry.

Juliet Maclean

Agriculture is no stranger to technology but new technologies rarely receive an enthusiastic welcome, particularly when they relate to emotive issues such as animals and food.  Throughout history, people have used and adapted to both the positive and negative aspects of new technologies. Initially there were over one hundred reasons given by opponents as to … Read more

Jensen, David

Historically the New Zealand Dairy Industry has paid seasonal milk producing farmers the same price for milk irrespective of the month in which it was produced. Over the last ten years a number of attempts have been made to review this practice. Some schemes have been put in place that more closely reflects to the … Read more

Clark, Bridget

The Dairying Research Corporation (DRC) was established as a joint venture between the New Zealand Dairy Board (NZDB) and AgResearch in December 1990 to provide on-farm dairy Research and Development. DRC leads the New Zealand Dairy Board’s national programme for on-farm Research and Development. Providing extension activities and working with extension officers to ensure that … Read more

Simpson, Julie

The purpose of this study is to investigate the social impact of dairy conversions and the influx of non-South landers, to the Central Southland area. There has been a significant change in land use in many areas of Southland and it is important to know if the “community” is functioning in appropriate manner – in … Read more

Catherine Bull

The dairy market environment is changing rapidly as the millennium trend of “globalisation” intensifies competition and rationalisation of both buyers and sellers.  Acquiring critical mass in terms of milk and capital is necessary for dairy companies to successfully compete in the globalising market. Dairy co-operatives worldwide are grappling with finding solutions to achieve critical mass. … Read more

Guy Nathan

The Horowhenua District has a vast array of soil types, excellent road and rail access, the climate is mild and pastoral farming is declining and giving way to lifestyle blocks. Other land use activities that have increased over the last decade (1989 – 1999) are dairy farming, horticulture and forestry ventures. The Horowhenua District Council … Read more

Marise James

1. Deregulation of the UK Dairy Industry 1.1 The Milk Marketing Board in the UK was deregulated in 1994 and the previously integrated dairy industry was fragmented into separate organisations responsible for milk collection and dairy processing. 1.2 This opened the door for true competition for dairy farmers who could now choose to supply milk … Read more

Becroft Owen, D

I suspected that there is a significant problem in the New Zealand dairy industry with regard to high fatigue/stress levels. In researching this project I discovered that there has been very little work done in New Zealand with regard to fatigue/stress and none that looked at the dairy industry in particular. This may be due … Read more

Old, Kevin

There are many different components in bovine milk which change between farms, herds, individual cows, stage of lactation and types and levels of nutrition. Any variation in milk composition must have a return to either the consumer, the manufacturer or the farmer. It is believed that there are real economic advantages in the manipulation of … Read more

Speight, Sarah

Sharemilking is unique to dairy farming in New Zealand. It is an excellent form of employment for less experienced dairy farmers with the main objective of building up a strong asset base relatively quickly while not having to purchase land. For dairy farm owners that want to free up capital yet retain a reasonable income … Read more

Polson Ross

This Report aims to analyse the “on farm” costs and returns of a Proposed Irrigation Development in Mid Canterbury. The Land and Area is recognised as being suitable for irrigation development. Two detailed On Farm Development Programmes are cash flowed over a three-year programme using a case study property of 200 hectares (total). These Financial … Read more

Brown, Tracy

The New Zealand dairying industry is about efficiently converting feed into profit. “Efficiency of milk production is the New Zealand dairy industry’s key strategic advantage as it competes against subsidised milk products in the international marketplace … ” (Sir Dryden Spring – Chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board). To do this well we need … Read more