Inside Dairy May-July 2025
This edition of Inside Dairy is focused on business resilience - how farmers are adapting and strengthening their businesses to thrive through the ups and downs.
On the cover, and leading the way are Southland sharemilkers Sam and Jenna Hodsell. Their story shows how smart system design, good people management, and flexible thinking are helping them build a future-proofed farm business.
Also featured:
- Acing the business of farming – Discover the habits and tools that top-performing farmers use to stay financially strong, whatever the season brings.
- A smart path to ownership – How Robert and Krystal Whitaker made bold but smart moves to achieve farm ownership in their 30s, setting themselves up for long-term success.
- Tackling N mitigation head-on – New research is exploring how different mitigation strategies can meet both environmental and business goals.
Plus, more news, practical tips and ideas inside.
Inside Dairy stories
More than just a job
Sharemilkers Sam and Jenna Hodsell are in it for the long haul, and that means building resilient and effective farm systems.
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Tackling N mitigation head-on
The Low N Systems programme explores how combining strategies can help farmers significantly reduce N losses while maintaining farm viability.
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Grounded in science, built to last
DairyNZ works to ensure that policies that impact dairy farming are practical, workable and enduring.
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A practical approach to freshwater policy
Farmers need certainty about the rules they must follow and the clear, measurable outcomes they should be aiming for.
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How to handle the high forecast
Farmers who overhaul their systems in response to payout fluctuations often end up worse off than those who hold steady and act strategically.
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Uniting for a better environment
The Dairy Environment Leaders forum brought its concerns – and positive energy – to Wellington.
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Managing risk in share farming
Structured communication and thoughtful recruitment underpin a strong, collaborative working environment.
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A smart path to ownership
Through savvy investing, disciplined budgeting and a clear vision, this young couple secured their first farm — proving farm ownership is still within reach for young Kiwis.
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Chasing pasture persistence
Scientific modelling indicates pasture persistence will decline in parts of the upper North Island as the climate changes.
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Plan ahead for safer calving
From paddock choice to late pregnancy and lactation, proactive management makes all the difference to winter calving.
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Acing the business of farming
With a range of tools on hand, a resilient farm business adapts quickly to challenges, safeguarding its systems and people to maintain progress.
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A closer look at wearable technology
As more and more farmers adopt wearables, new research aims to assess how they affect reproductive performance.
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Getting ahead on animal care
Thermal comfort and non-replacement calves are two key focus areas as national and global standards increasingly require greater attention to livestock in our production systems.
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