Why plan? Planning is an essential tool in helping you build a successful business, as it helps to clarify goals and strategies, and ensures that you are achieving the best results.

This high input, highly stocked farm, depends on effective feed monitoring, efficient effluent management and improving herd fertility for success.

Paritea is one of eight Ngāi Tahu dairy farms at Whenua Hou, Eyrewell. Ngāi Tahu Farming is committed to best practice and continuous improvement in the cultural, social, environmental and economic outcomes of its operations.

Driscoll Dairies Ltd, Home farm, is a 675 cow, high input farm near Winton. Good pasture utilisation, and efficient use of in shed feeding are a priority. Building a sustainable and resilient business are important for the farm owners.

Postgraduate student research projects focus on making farms more efficient and sustainable while improving animal welfare. These scholarships enable recipients to focus on their studies and foster professional connections within the sector.

The DairyNZ-led FRNL programme – a cross-sector approach (2013-2019) provided new scientific knowledge, tools and technologies for forage production that can amount to more than 20% reduction of nitrate leaching from dairy farms.

Adverse weather events are becoming more common and can significantly impact dairy farm operations. Dairy farmers must have a plan to look after their people, animals, business and pastures to minimise the impact and ensure a quick recovery.

Heavy snow affects both the physical and emotional well-being of farming families and staff.

Dairy stockmanship covers interactions between cows and people, and when practised effectively, creates a safe and efficient work environment; it also improves animal health and production.

How do we reduce methane emissions from cattle within our pasture-based farming system? And when will farmers have solutions ready to use on-farm?

Crunching the numbers before spending money is critical. Use the Investment Calculator to work out what it might cost and what your return could be.

Carrying out a ‘bucket test’ will help determine the application depth, rate and how uniformly water is being applied during an irrigation event.

Use this calculator to measure the depth of effluent applied from a variety of effluent systems.

Use this calculator to calculate the dimensions and working volume of your effluent pond or tank.

This is a financial tool. It estimates the relative profitability of different catch crop options.

An overview of the income and expenditure you can expect in your first year.

A partial budget is often used to evaluate ideas and undertake sensitivity analyses. Once you've completed a partial budget, complete further analysis such as annual budgets and cashflows.

A balance sheet provides a snapshot of the current financial position. It is one of the major financial statements used by Chartered Accountants, business owners and bankers.

An annual cash budget details cash received and cash expenses going out. It indicates if the business is sustainable and estimates any cash surplus or deficit for the season.

An annual cash budget details cash received and cash expenses going out. It indicates if the business is sustainable and estimates any cash surplus or deficit for the season.