A contract milker is a self-employed farmer, managing the property and paid on a negotiated price per kilogram of milksolids (kgMS) produced. Learn more about the considerations, advantages and skills required for this type of business ownership.

There are several ways time sheeting can be done, from app to paper –based forms. Understand your legal obligations as an employer and how to help your team complete them accurately and on time.

The risk of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) or bird flu is low for New Zealand but dairy farmers need to be vigilant and practice good biosecurity.

Creating a career plan with employees in a farming business benefits both the employee and employer. Offering opportunities for employees to advance their career goals is highly valuable for employers too.

Applying synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to grazed land is limited to 190 kilograms per hectare, per year. Dairy farmers also must report annual nitrogen use.

Managing payroll is an essential part of the dairy farming business. Putting the right systems and processes in place can ensure you pay your employees correctly while meeting payroll compliance requirements.

Thriving biodiversity supports dairy farming by enhancing water quality, reducing soil erosion, and providing habitats for native species.

When it comes to managing a team, what does good leadership look like? And how do you invest in developing people when times are financially tough? Join us as we to talk to Southland share farmers Leo and Hazel to understand their views.

Read more about how farmers and catchment groups can now use state-of-the-art monitoring that detects fish, insects, microbes, aquatic plants, terrestrial plants, and even birds from their genetic material being present in stream water.

Senior Area Manager - Central Taranaki

Selecting the right cultivar for your farm remains just as important as ever. Use this page to make informed decisions when choosing ryegrass cultivars for pasture renovation.

Ryegrass selection for a dairy farm system involves key decisions: choosing the right ryegrass variety (from annual to perennial), picking an endophyte for insect control, and selecting ploidy (diploid or tetraploid) and a heading date.

Establishing a successful sharemilking or contract milking relationship requires thorough due diligence. Understand your own situation, including goals, values, financial standing, and farming practices.

White clover is a top-quality feed used widely in New Zealand's dairy pastures. Different types have varying purposes in dairy farming. Italian and Annual ryegrass, and Red clover perform well in summer dry areas, complementing white clover in mixes.

The nature and scale of many dairy farming businesses is changing and there are many self-employed business opportunities available for individuals and partnerships.

Moving animals on and off a farm has its risks. A common way for cow-associated mastitis bacteria to be introduced into a herd is in the udders of cows that are brought in.

Feed density and storage are crucial for dairy farming. Proper planning optimises storage solutions and maximises feed resources. Use our tables to help calculate storage space requirements when planning new or evaluating current storage.

Maize is an essential crop for New Zealand dairy farmers, helping enhance feed supply, manage climatic risks, and support pasture renewal. Growing maize on a dairy farm can also extract soil nutrients and reduce costs in high-fertility effluent areas