Tight Management Campaign

DairyNZ says it’s been delighted with the success of its Tight Management campaign.

The campaign, involving 28 farms around the country, was developed in response to the low forecast of $4.55 at the start of the 2009/10 season, with the aim of ensuring that

“We seemed to really strike a chord with farmers throughout the country,” says DairyNZ Tight Management campaign leader Rob Brazendale.

“Throughout the last eight months we have had wonderful turnout at our events and thousands of farmers followed their local Tight Management farms by signing up to receive the regular email newsletter.”

Eight months later the forecast payout has risen sharply to $6.10, but Rob says the principles of Tight Management remain just as valuable.

Tight Management aims to ensure farmers improve profitability and the principles are relevant regardless of whether the payout is high or low.

The campaign focused on having a high level of financial awareness, good cost control, timely decision making, a high utilisation of pasture and a focus on cost-effective systems.

“Profit provides options for dairy farmers but profitability doesn’t usually happen by accident,” says Rob. “Our catch cry for the campaign was ‘capture the cash’, and that holds true in any farming season.

Rob acknowledges that DairyNZ has many people to thank for the success of the campaign.