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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.

Tatua Cooperative chairman Steve Allen is stepping down after nearly 30 years on the board, including a long tenure as chairman. Anne Lee speaks with Steve about his journey from farming a small 160-cow herd to growing his farming business and becoming involved in the governance of one of New Zealand’s smallest and most specialised dairy co-operatives. They talk about the decisions that allowed Tatua to remain independent through deregulation and the formation of Fonterra.

The Southern Dairy Hub is exploring what the future of dairy farming could look like through a side-by-side comparison of high genetic merit cows run at a 0.5 cows per hectare lower stocking rate than a more traditional herd. Anne Lee speaks with Southern Dairy Hub Acting General Manager Greg Delaney and DairyNZ Senior Scientist Dr Dawn Dalley about the latest results from the demonstration farm, including higher milk solids production per cow with significantly less supplementary feed.

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.

DNA testing is transforming dairy breeding by giving farmers greater confidence in parentage and allowing more accurate genetic information to be fed into breeding models. Anne Lee speaks with CRV myDNA Programme Manager Connie McFarlane about how DNA testing and genomics are helping farmers improve herd performance, from verifying calf parentage to increasing the reliability of breeding values and genetic indexes.

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.

This year’s New Zealand Sharefarmers of the Year know just how important it is to get sharefarming agreements right so that all parties are winning. Words Anne Lee, Photo Stan McDowell.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.