Business

The following article, on dairy’s social licence to operate – perspectives from dairy technologies – is based on the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme report by Esther Donkersloot. Esther is a 2024 Kellogg scholar and an LIC scientist (quantitative genetics).

The following article is based on the Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarship report by Kylie Leonard. Kylie is a 2023 Nuffield scholar, and Taupō District dairy farmer.

With a rosy start to the global milk picture for NZ farmers, and downward pressure on some key onfarm costs, farmers could be in line for a better margin profit this season. Words Rosalind Crickett.

Educating and upskilling people on dairy farms is imperative to driving down risk and creating a more profitable business. Words Sheryl Haitana.

With more significant weather events occurring, insurance companies globally are applying a new policy for farmers to insure against events rather than insuring assets. Words Sheryl Haitana

An online survey of 518 people was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 with those who work or live on farms to understand their insurance needs, perceptions and behaviours.

No farm business would have missed the significant increase in the cost of insurance in the past year. Tony Leggett investigates what’s behind the increase and the options for reducing the cost in the future.

Dairy processors have been under pressure with more competition for domestic milk and a changing landscape with Australia becoming an increasingly attractive import market. Words Steve Spencer & Joanne Mills.

The world of dairy has a peculiar dynamic that many other commodity markets are without – a very prolonged response time to demand signals – namely the time lag between market signals and the ability to increase or reduce milk supply. Words Stu Davison.

Early forecasts for the season have been conservative alongside a rising breakeven Farmgate price. Words Rosalind Crickett.