Farm System Analysis
Going green while staying in the black
The thought of reducing the stocking rate by 19% while cutting both nitrogen use in half and slashing imported feed would strike fear in the hearts of most dairy farmers. But the Step Change project at Dairy Trust Taranaki (DTT) Gibson farm has proven the strategy can improve profitability by 15% while reducing overall GHG by 18% and methane by 15%. By Jackie Harrigan.
Pasture management is where it starts
The long-held, fundamental tenet of getting the stocking rate and calving date right is confirmed with the data analysis, Anne Lee reports.
Farming in the sweet spot
Not enough is done to define the sweet spot in dairy farming. While the term is used readily, farmers do not know what it looks like. Chris Lewis writes.