Buying their first farm has been a roller coaster ride for a young Canterbury couple, but taking on land ownership has put them in the driver’s seat and more firmly in control of their future. Words Anne Lee.

New Zealand’s dairy sector has been forged by globally unique farm operating structures, but, according to some advocates, the laws relating to them are no longer fit for purpose. Words Anne Lee.

Sharefarming agreements, including those for contract milkers, would benefit from updates and greater legal clarity to give more certainty for sharefarmers and farm owners. Words Anne Lee.

DairyBase analysis over the past five seasons (2020/2021 to 2024/25) provides a clear picture of how different dairy business structures are performing, from owner-operators through to sharemilkers and contract milkers, offering useful insights into profitability and other performance measures. Words Felix Rodriguez-Firpo.

Dr Terry Hughes will be remembered as a leading academic and farm consultant, supporting the South Island dairy sector at a pivotal time in its history. Words Dr Jim Gibbs.

South Waikato farmers, Hugh and Anna Edward, showcase the impact of strong operational discipline and smart equity growth. From cost-focused sharemilking beginnings to expanding their two-dairy system, providing a practical blueprint for profitable, modern dairy farming. Words Anne Lee, Photos Emma McCarthy.

From a Canterbury operation milking more than 8,000 cows to the farm of the 2025 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year, Ecolab’s world-first Next Gen Solids cleaning technology is taking the heavy lifting – and the guesswork – out of shed hygiene. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

With 40% of the world’s cow wearables market, data from 8 million connected cows worldwide and two decades pioneering RFID cow monitoring technology proven on New Zealand farms, Nedap is anything but new. Now you can access their cow technology ecosystem directly.Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

While calving can be a demanding time for cows, calves and staff alike, good preparation and planning can significantly reduce pressure when things ramp up – helping to keep people and animals safe, healthy and on track. Words Penny Timmer-Arends & Dr Stacey Hendriks, DairyNZ.

Effective pain relief using anti-inflammatories can have productivity benefits alongside the primary effect of making animals more comfortable. Words Rory Dean.

Choosing which livestock valuation scheme you use can have an impact on your tax obligations. Recent high cow prices mean if you’ve bought cows this year, the choice could be even more important. Words Trudi Ballantyne.

West Coast/Top of the South Sharefarmers of the Year are no strangers to hard work and determination. But they’re no strangers to burnout and mental health challenges either. They understand only too well the importance of work-life balance and walk that tightrope of high achievement and wellbeing on the daily. Woeds Anee Lee, Photos Kelsey McKenzie.

Understanding what’s happening in your brain when it’s constantly overloaded can help you recognise early signals all is not well. Listening to those signals and using some practical tools can help you reset and find balance again. Words Lance Burdett.

Action man, Jack Jensen, is directing his energy towards a cause that hit close to home, sparking connections to help others with tools that bring back the joy. Words Anne Lee.

Driving out the farm gate for a well-earned break may be the best investment you make for yourself, your family and your farm. Finding work-life balance means being proactive and locking that time away into your calendar. Words Anne Lee.

After another demanding season on Align Farms’ Mount Somers support block, the Hinterlands team took an end-of-season charter into Dusky Sound with Fiordland Charters – proof that investing in your team off-farm pays dividends on it. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

New research findings show that feeding calves higher milk allowances can have major lifelong effects on cow production and benefits on a range of animal health factors, prompting a review on advice for calf feeding. Words Anne Lee.

In what is believed to be the largest study ever carried out on plantain and the effects on animals, a New Zealand scientist has made a number of ground-breaking discoveries that could help farmers manage nitrogen loss and will advance the understanding of ruminant intake physiology. Words Anne Lee.

Ashburton dairy farmers, Lyle and Nicole Williams, sold the mixer wagon, went all grass and refused to install in-shed feeding. Maize silage is the one supplement that earned its way back – because nothing else builds cow condition like it. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.

Ravensdown's HawkEye Pro pairs more than 40 years of soil science with machine learning to take the guesswork out of fertiliser planning, helping dairy farmers put fertiliser where it works hardest. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp.