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The article profiles several dairy trainees of New Zealand (NZ) including Mike Jensen, Royce King, and Jeff White, who have received the 2015 NZ Dairy Industry Awards' Dairy Trainee of the Year titles. It mentions appointment of Mike as herd manager for dairy farm owner Rodd Hodgson and discusses first dairying job of Royce. Also mentioned is the White's plan to be a farm manager or be contract milking 300 cows by 2016.

The article focuses on the status of Hauraki Plains dairy focus farm in New Zealand. Topics discussed include the role of sharemilker Natasha and Mathew MacInnes for farm management, the contribution of dairy farmers' organization DairyNZ for the farm, and the economic farm surplus (EFS) and profit of the farm.

The article examines the partnership between New Zealand-based Lincoln University and St. Peter's School to develop St. Peter's dairy farm and turn it into an outstanding demonstration farm. It states that the partnership aims to replicate Lincoln University's success at its own farm in Lincoln which has been developed since 2001. It adds that the partnership also aims to increase the farm's productivity while keeping its environmental footprint low.

The article reports developments in the dairy farming sector in New Zealand as of February 2014. It features farmers Bryan and Tesha Gibson, who explained the effects on profit and the environment of their move to reduce their stocking rate. It claims that the couple has participated in the 'Tomorrow's Farms Today' project, which aims to determine the relationship between higher profit, low stocking rate and low nitrogen leaching.

The article features dairy farmers and married couple Bryan and Jenny Clausen of Gordonton, New Zealand. It describes the daily routine of the couple on their farm. Every year, Jenny holds an open day as fundraisers for Waikato causes, such as Waikids health services. Their milk production has increased from 312 kilograms (kg) milksolids (MS) per cow in 2009-2010 to 354kg MS/cow in 2011 and 423kg MS/cow in 2011-2012.

The article features Lloyd Downing, president of the National Fieldays Society. He relates that he left school at the end of the fourth form because he was beaten by teachers. He joined the society as a volunteer helper and continued to play his part in keeping the annual agricultural show running at Mystery Creek. He has given support for more overseas exhibitors and the streamlining of the board.

The article discusses the developments in the dairy industry in New Zealand as of mid-2013. It features the farming experiences of two couples, namely, Dean and Lucy Marshall, as well as Luke and Shannon Pepper in Taumarunui, King Country, New Zealand. The couples have sharemilking contracts for the Te Uranga B2 Inc.

The article features dairy farmers and couple Graham and Rosemary Davison, who won the Waikato River Authority catchment improvement award at the 2013 Ballance Farm Environment Awards for the Waikato region, New Zealand. Particular focus is given to the couple's efforts to preserve the remnants of native bush on their farm in Otorohanga. The couple's approach to preventing flood damage is discussed. Their strategies for farm management and milk production are also discussed.

The article reports that polo is the preferred sport of farmers in New Zealand. Leny Kay, a 36-year-old farmer in Waikato, is determined to be among the fifth generation of Kays on the polo field. The Kihikiki Polo Club, which has 16 playing members, is one of New Zealand's 21 polo clubs run by farmers who play alongside professional players. Kay explains that playing polo needs two or three horses.

The article focuses on Fonterra Shareholders' Council member and farmer in Waikato, New Zealand Graham Barlow's discussion of the benefits of competing in multi-sport events and the challenges of intensive dairying. He describes the preparations and practice he underwent for his first multi-sport event including running and paddling a kayak. He cites an Icehouse entrepreneurship course in which he learned that a person has to look after his self to look after the business.

The article discusses the claim by Fonterra Shareholders' Council (FSC) member Malcolm Piggott of New Zealand that a unified voice for farmers is more effective than individuals alone confronting a challenge. Piggott is an experienced lobbyist for sharemilkers' rights. His advocacy role for farmers started in 1999, when sharemilkers were opposing a new demand being incorporated into certain sharemilker deals. The issue prompted Piggott to become more involved with Waikato Federated Farmers.

The article highlights the right feed balance strategy employed by farmers Ali and Rob Sherriff, owners of Huirimu Farms at Arohena, Waikato, New Zealand, for their high-producing Friesian-cross herd. The farmers use a combination of feeds that is different from the previous low-cost farming strategy. It shows the dairy conversion at the farm and credit is also given to farm consultant Parry Matthews for helping them apply his principle of fully feeding cows.

The article discusses the use of the decision matrix from DairyNZ by Pirongia dairy farmers and couple Warwick and Joyce Brown in making a decision regarding their retirement. The couple decided to retire from milking and from looking after the animals but not to give up maintenance work on the farm. This tool used by the couple is available on the official website of DairyNZ.

The article focuses on the efforts of the Turner family in managing their Karaka Jerseys herd on their dairy farm in Te Awamutu, New Zealand. The family has developed a farming system to maximise production despite their 200-cow herd of Karaka Jerseys, which is considered a small herd when compared to the country's average of 380-plus cows per farm. In 2011, their high breeding worth (BW) herd produced 79,200 kilogram (kg) milksolids (MS) from 196 cows.

The article announces that Ngahape, New Zealand dairy farmer Graham Lawry has been awarded the Jersey New Zealand Herd Recognition Award.

The article details the challenges faced by Waitakaruru, New Zealand dairy farmers Warren and Susan Barriball. According to the Barriballs, after the 2009-2010 drought, they realized that their farm investment was going backwards. They sought the help of Warren's former rugby coach Ian Handcock, who has established a farmer coaching consultancy called Target Focus. With the help of Handcock, the couple focuses on maximizing pasture growth and quality and reducing palm kernel wastage.

The article focuses on the farming business of sharemilkers Hamish and Katie Flett at Arohena in Waikato, New Zealand. The couple describe their progress in the dairy industry as onward and upward. They have a 22 percent lower-order sharemilking contract for three years with farm syndicate Arohena Pastoral and aim to gain a 50:50 sharemilking contract. They also want to build their equity to 1 million New Zealand dollars within the next five years.

The article focuses on the collaboration between farm owners by Rolly and Karen Saunders and farm managers Nathan and Vanessa McCluskie for the conversion of the drystock into a dairy farm located in Wharepapa South, New Zealand. It says that Rolly has invested 600,000 dollars in herringbone dairy while Nathan is in control of the planning and development of the dairy conversion. It mentions that the herd produces 201,000 kg MS which surpasses the expected output.

The article discusses the benefits of a split calving system as discovered by Waikato, New Zealand farmers Frank Portegys and Wendy Portegys. The system entails matching feed demand to supply the regular monitoring of farm inputs and an effluent pond with 90 days' capacity. The couple's Tauwhare dairy farm had won the Ballance Nutrient Management Award and the Livestock Improvement Corp. (LIC) Dairy Farm Award because of the split calving system.

The article profiles Tirau, New Zealand dairy farmers Quintin and Shari de Wet. It details how the couple successfully combined their passion for dairying and trout fishing. Quintin graduated from an agricultural college in South Africa and has worked on farms before immigrating with his parents to New Zealand. The couple are in their first dairy season for farm owner Pauline Laboyrie in Tirau.

The article reports on efforts to restore Lake Serpentine in New Zealand as a natural environment. Rob and Joanne Mourits, whose dairy farm surrounds three-quarters of the lake, have expressed support for the restoration efforts. The lake is considered important because of its water quality and because it supports the life of rare native plants and fish life. The lake at the Mourits' area is also valued because it is the home of a rare carophyte plant that cannot survive in other lakes.

The article explores the success of cattle raisers Wally Kite and his son, Zane Kite, who owns the Kiteroa Ayrshire, a dairy farm located in Ohaupo, New Zealand. Noted is that the family has a herd of 210 Ayrshire cows at a milking platform in an 80-hectare property and another 18 hectares used for grazing another 100 heifer calves. Moreover, the Kites regard the Ayrshire cows as a good breed of cows as it lasts well and produces more milk.

The article discusses the role of team effort in the successful dairy operation of Lewisridge owned by Chris and Caroline Lewis in Waikato, New Zealand. The farm conducts monthly farm meetings attended by the farm accountant, bank manager and visitors, among others. The longer term plan of Lewisridge includes building stock and pasture quality. Farm staff receive annual leave and statutory holidays.

The article discusses the growing international demand for New Zealand's Holstein cattle as of October 2011. It cites David Fullerton, a breeder in Waikato, who describes the growing profitability of his cows, and his expectations of more orders over the next three to four years. Fullerton said that most orders came from China, with more starting to come in from Vietnam, Russia, and India. Besides bulls, he said there were growing orders for dams and their embryos.

The article features the Waiomou Valley Farms in Okoroire, New Zealand, which won the 2011 supreme Waikato award in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The farm's chairperson is former South Waikato District Council mayor Gordon Blake. The other officials of the family business are his wife Pamela, their son Grant and his wife Lindsay.

The article deals with the benefits of using DairyNZ's InCalf programme for the dairy farm of Roger Lumsden in Waikato, New Zealand. The farm has already posted improvements valued at 59, 200 New Zealand dollars and is set to repeat the savings in the current season. It relates the impact of InCalf on the speed of calving at the Waikato farm. The aspects of the InCalf coaching programme for farmers are outlined. It discusses the reduction of empties with the help of InCalf. The farm's herd has been increased to 850 cows.

The article focuses on the impact of lean management inefficiencies in causing delays and wastage in dairy industry. Topics discussed include role of lean management in reducing working cost, increase in milk production and productivity with the FarmTune program of the periodical, and mentions that lean management improves workflow in milking and calving.

The article discusses the sustainability and profitability of the farm owned by dairy farmers Euan McKnight and Sarah McKnight in Reporoa, New Zealand. Topics explored include their milk production and milking efficiency, their involvement in the Tomorrow's Farms Today (TFT) study group which investigated environmental performance of participating farms, and the strategies they implemented that contributed to the significant increase in their return on equity.

The article highlights the benefits of attention to pasture growth and cow fertility to the Hauraki Plains focus farm managed by farmer Mathew MacInnes in New Zealand. The focus project is said to be considered by the manager as an opportunity to test an improved grass-based system. His experience in farm management includes working on a Walton farm and managing the smaller farm of his parents. He mentions the use of meal to maximise grass growth at the focus farm.

This article discusses the prevalence of suicide in New Zealand. Statistics show that an average of 540 have committed suicide in the country compared with 375 people who died due to car accidents. Some farmers advised to avoid working in isolation and suggested to encourage people to talk to someone. They partly attributed the prevalence of suicide among farmers to the pressures on families on farms.

The article features the Kereone, New Zealand-based dairy farmers Peter and Kathrine McIntyre, the recipient of the 2011 Massey University Discovery Award at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The McIntyres claimed that their success was due to careful planning and positive attitude towards sustainable farming. The McIntyres are also involved in community activities.

The article considers the possibility of reducing the environmental footprint of an intensive farming system as demonstrated in a dairy farm called Bellvue Farm owned by Ian and Helen Bell in Reporoa, New Zealand. Ian noted that his decision to capture as much nitrogen (N) as possible was preceded by an increase in their imported feed tonnages. The farm discovered that having autumn- and spring-calving mobs for year-round milk supply is beneficial to nutrient management. Ian noted his goal to achieve higher production per cow.

The article reports on the operations of Kaimai Cheese Co. in New Zealand. General Manager Sheryn Cook has recruited key people over the past 12 months in order to achieve more efficiencies. She states that their current focus is on growing sales which meant taking the Kaimai brand and Te Mata nationwide into Progressive and Foodstuffs supermarket chains.

The article profiles Jeff Bolstad, chairman of Federated Farmers sharemilkers section in New Zealand. In the industry, with his wife Annette, since the mid-1980s, Bolstad has represented his colleagues' concerns for almost 20 years and was part of a negotiating team of sharemilkers and farm owners who developed the variable order agreement in 2001, where the bottom line is a 21 percent share of the milk cheque for sharemilked herds of less than 300 cows.

This article reveals the plan of AgResearch to develop an 800-cow farm in Tokanui, New Zealand. The reasons behind this plan include the impending expiry of Ruakura farm leases and the need to ramp up involvement in dairy research. Its development, including installation of a rotary dairy with computerised milk monitoring, will cost close to $6 million including additional Fonterra shares, said AgResearch Chief Financial Officer Geoff Balme.

The article describes the farm system of Waikato, New Zealand-based Waratah Farms. Waratah Farms, headed by dairy manager Austin Heffernan, aims to be cow friendly, staff friendly and environmentally friendly. Aside from the team of three staff, Heffernan attributes the success of the dairy farm to its automated milking plant, weighing and drafting system, automated meal feeding, herd management and recording software.

The article describes the experience of married couple Troyeden and Nici Kuter in dairy farming in New Zealand. A few months after their arrival in the country the couple started working for Ngatea multi-farm owners Tony and Carla Fleming. To help prepare for the challenges at the Rangitaiki farm, Troy and other staff were flown south for a tour of the Lincoln University farm and similar farm systems. An overview of operations at the Flemings' farm is provided.

The article focuses on a dairy farm in Waikeria Prison in New Zealand which is designed to improve job training for prisoners and reduce the return rate of prisoners of the Corrections Inmate Employment prison system. Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor stated that the farm offered large-scale opportunities for inmate employment and was able to gain a revenue of $5.8 million, including livestock sales, in the previous season. INSET: Corrections Minister well acquainted with dairying and….

Focuses on nutrient management as part of the farming system used by the family of John Bluett in their dairy farm in Hamilton, New Zealand. Benefits of nutrient management; Effects of nutrient management on the reproductive performance of cows; Expansion of the Bluetts' farm. INSET: Poor uptake of nutrient management plans.

Focuses on the goat and dairy farms of Doug and Kathy Bentham in New Zealand. Introduction of the couple to goat farming; Production challenges; Utilization of soil and herbage tests.

Discusses the effects of business performance and on-farm activities at a dairy farm in Ngahinapouri, New Zealand, on the financial situation of sharemilkers Keith and Tracey Crawford. Background of the couple in sharemilking; Actions taken by the couple to improve their financial status; Cost reduction undergone by the couple in the dairy farm. INSET: Untitled.

This article looks at the way Max Jelbart had grown his dairy farming business in Victoria, Australia. It describes the circumstance in which he started his business. The growth of his dairy farm is discussed. It provides information on the profitability of the dairy farm. INSET: Moving in the same direction.

Focuses on the conversion of Kym Davey's farm to organic dairy supply in New Zealand. Description of the farm; Projected growth in the global market for organic food and beverages; Description of her calving management.

The article focuses on the decision of couple Megan Webster and Michael Webster to leave their professional careers in Auckland, New Zealand to go dairy farming in 2007. The strategy of the Websters' to reduce the impact of the payout drop, by reducing costs without losing production, is mentioned. The couple cites the four key cornerstones for the farm business which include profit, people, and feeds.

The article focuses on the strategy of dairy farmers Michael and Megan Webster to enlist in the Hauraki Plains P3 Dairy Trust Group to cope with the lower payout in Ngatea, New Zealand. It offers overview of the challenges faced by the couple in their operation when milk prices plummeted which has affected their income. It also outlines the positive impact of the couple's decision to become P3 Focus Farm which helped them improve production and increase profitability.

The article offers tips for dairy farmers on how to manage and prevent stress. Overview of the most common symptoms of stress which is a normal part of life that can contribute to both physical and emotional problems is provided. Tips for farmers on how to help ease stress by engaging in exercise, sleep and dramatic reduction of caffeine, smoking and alcohol are mentioned.

The article discusses labour inspector Christine McLean's optimism about the employment law compliance of dairy farms in New Zealand. Topics discussed include McLean's audit of farm employment across the country, the 100% compliance of a dairy farm in Te Aroha, and some farms' inadequate records of employee time, holiday and leaves.

The article discusses the professional life and sharemilking business of Johan Blom and Theona Blom, dairy farmers of New Zealand (NZ) who have won the 2015 NZ Dairy Industry Awards' Central Plateau Sharemilker-Equity Farmers of the Year title. It mentions Johan's early jobs as dairy herd managers and farm managers at dairy farms in NZ. Also mentioned is about their sharemilking contract with a farm in Ngakuru, NZ and their plan to increase their equity.

The article discusses the task of cooling milk to its regulated vat temperature in 2 hours rather than the present 3 hours. Topics discussed include the consideration onfarm to get milk even colder in the vat as a risk buffer, the need to invest in a pre-cooling system when the vat refrigeration is already at its maximum capability and the 4 main options for precooling water for use in plate-coolers such as cooling towers, ice banks and instant chillers.

The article discusses the Tomorrow's Farms Today research, conducted by Headlands agribusiness consultant Alison Dewes and colleagues, which investigated the economic resiliency and environmental performance of 25 upper Waikato River catchment farms in New Zealand. Topics explored include the involvement of Reporoa, Atiamuri, and Broadlands farmers in the study, the assessment of the farms' productivity, profitability, and risks, and the analysis of the milk prices offered by the farms.