DAIRY Country Autumn 2026

Extended lactation is emerging as a potential option for dairy farmers looking to reduce labour pressure, improve flexibility and significantly cut the number of non-replacement calves being born each year. Anne Lee speaks with DairyNZ senior scientist Dr Paul Edwards about the research behind the system and the results emerging from farmlet trials at Scott Farm and a new study in Northland.

Willesden Farms is a diverse Canterbury farming business, spanning more than 6,500 hectares across Banks Peninsula, Kaitorete Spit and the Canterbury Plains. Anne Lee speaks with General Manager Matt Iremonger about the evolution of the farming operation, its recent dairy expansion and the role innovation is playing in improving both productivity and environmental outcomes.

West Coast dairy farmer Charlotte Aitken has taken an unconventional path to farm ownership, moving from a career in international banking in London to running her own dairy farm near Karamea. Anne Lee speaks with Charlotte about her journey into dairy farming, the financial discipline that underpins her business and the management decisions that have helped her build a profitable farming operation.

Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) has completed another challenging season, with wet spring and summer conditions affecting pasture utilisation, feed management and production across the farm. In this episode, Anne Lee speaks with Antoinette Archer and Peter Hancox about the season, the farm’s wintering strategy and the management decisions made to prepare for the year ahead.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most serious biosecurity threats facing livestock industries worldwide, with South Africa’s recent outbreak highlighting the devastating impact it can have on commercial dairy farms. In this episode, Anne Lee speaks with Georgie Muller, Steve Moss and Andrew Morphew about the rapid spread of the disease, its impact on dairy businesses and the urgent need for coordinated vaccine programmes and national response planning.

Technology, AI and environmental markets are creating new opportunities for rural businesses and farmers, with platforms designed to simplify recruitment, trading and carbon projects becoming increasingly relevant across the sector. In this episode from the Wānaka A&P Show Agri Exchange, Anne Lee speaks with Tony Dodunski from Ag Assist and Mitchell McLaughlin from MyNativeForest about how their businesses are helping farmers navigate labour shortages, rural commerce and the growing complexity of environmental markets.

Cow prices and livestock values are front of mind across the dairy sector right now, with strong market demand, rising confidence and shifting tax implications all shaping decisions for farmers buying, selling or expanding herds. In this episode of the Dairy Country podcast, Anne Lee speaks with Chris Lewis from BakerAg, Jamie Cunninghame, National Dairy Specialist at PGG Wrightson, and Trudi Ballantyne from Stem Rural about what’s driving current cow values, what it means for farm business decisions, and why understanding both market conditions and tax settings is becoming increasingly important.

There’s been a lot of talk when it comes to the new wave of dairy conversions but what’s really going on in terms of design and fitout? In this episode Anne Lee speaks with Tambo consultant Luke Palmer about what setups farmers are favouring, what they should be aware of when planning and what costs are on the rise. Tambo is an agribusiness management and consultancy company that has been working with a number of recent and planned conversions. Luke says it’s important to start with a clear understanding of the “why”, whether it’s expansion, succession, or improving system efficiency to guide decisions around design, scale, and investment.

The Science for Farmers tent at the Wānaka A&P Show this year gave farmers a great chance to see and hear about a wide range of research as well as ways that’s being implemented on farms. Dairy Country Podcast host Anne Lee was there and talked to Danny Donaghy of Massey University, Pāmu’s Head of Sustainability Sam Bridgman, and LIC Senior Herd Improvement Specialist Simon Worth. Each shared the ways science and innovation are helping farmers respond to climate pressure, lift system resilience, and future-proof performance.

A closer look at how wearable technology is reshaping animal health highlights just how quickly on-farm decision making is evolving, and why early intervention is becoming increasingly achievable. Veterinarian at Kaipara Farm Vets, Rory Dean, unpacks a real-time case study, explaining how collar data revealed a sudden drop in rumination and feed intake, signalling a serious internal issue before it became critical.