Dairy NZ

Dairy Industry Data Network

Government, industry and agri-business are investing in data collection, databases and interfaces with farmers and other data users. Examples of this include NAIT, Dairy Core Database, Infovet and MilkHub. The potential to link these initiatives together has also been identified, and projects are underway that are taking this approach.
For DairyNZ (with its industry good role) the key to our participation in a Dairy Data Network is to act where there is market failure, but not to duplicate or prevent commercial investment. The aim of this project is to identify and carry out the industry good functions that support the industry benefiting from the efficient building and functioning of a Dairy Industry Data Network. The aim is not an industry-owned data warehouse, but rather an approach that relies on data being collected once, stored in an accessible database and used (under authorisation) many times through the network.
This approach is inclusive of government databases (e.g. Farms On Line, NAIT, NIWA climate data), commercial data (e.g. LIC, Fonterra, Infovet) and industry good data (e.g. core database, DairyBase). The aim is to build the components that deliver industry good while working with other participants to protect the data sharing concept behind the network.

The project aims to develop the databases, linkages and relationships with government and commercial partners to provide the network and resources that will focus on improving advice to farmers that enhances on-farm change and the delivery of the Dairy Industry Targets.