Tune in as Wade and Matt Towers, local Area Manager, sit down with Dave Swney, the 2025 maize silage catalogue cover and Waikato Dairy Farmer. Dave shares his journey of returning to the family dairy farm, transforming it into a sustainable and efficient System 5 operation south of Te Awamutu. In this episode, Dave shares the challenges faced over this period, including learning the importance of ‘time budgeting’, dealing with health issues and reducing the stocking rate to improve farm performance. By bringing young stock management back to the farm, Dave highlights the gains of better control and reduced costs, while balancing growing maize on farm with buying in feed to spread risk. The team then delve into Dave’s strategic approach to maintaining feeding consistency, improving reproduction results from 20% to 12% empty rates and emphasising the value of external expertise and farmer networks in continually improving the operation.
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44:32
Strategic transition from Spring to Autumn calving with Craig Lynskey and Kieran Bourke
Tune in to our latest episode with Taranaki farmers Craig Lynskey and Kieran Bourke as they share their journey transitioning from spring to autumn calving and the strategic advantages of this approach. The team discuss how increasing mild winters and challenging summer droughts pushed them toward this strategic shift. "Our growth rates through summer are often in single digits, yet consistently 40-45 in most winters," Kieran explains, highlighting the fundamental mismatch between traditional calving patterns and weather conditions. Craig and Kieran’s systems now capitalize on the autumn flush and strong winter growth, with cows reaching peak production precisely when high-quality feed becomes abundant. Both system 4 operations with feed pads and storage facilities. The results speak for themselves, with Kieran's Holstein herd averaging an impressive 650-670 kgMS/cow despite high stocking rates. The team dig into the practical aspects of their transition, from staggered calving dates starting in early March to grazing management strategies that maintain higher residuals through winter. Their advice for farmers considering similar transitions is clear: ensure you have a suitable climate, proper infrastructure, and systems to maintain feed quality year-round. The winter milk premium is "just the cherry on top" – the real value lies in aligning production with your farm's natural growth patterns in a changing climate.
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26:18
Understanding maize seed production
Field Operations Manager, Duncan Grant, shares his decade-long journey from field technician to leading the field operations in Gisborne. Discover the strategies and challenges of coordinating contract growers to maintain seed purity and manage cross-pollination risks. Learn from Duncan's insights the dynamic planning needed to tackle logistical hurdles presented by unpredictable weather conditions to produce some of New Zealand's highest quality seed.
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19:09
2024 Waikato Share Farmer of the Year - Logan Dawson talks maximising milk production
In our first episode of the year, Logan Dawson, 2024 Waikato Share Farmer of the Year (alongside wife, Sian Dawson), joins Wade and Matt to share his farming journey to managing an 880-cow share milking business in the Waikato. The team explores Logan and Sian’s system, examining how split calving and precise diets boost milk production. Logan explains balancing pasture and supplements to achieve high production metrics while keeping operations simple. They also discuss the financial strategies and technological advancements behind their on-farm success.Logan explains how his custom feeding tools and data analysis optimise feeding levels, leading to high profits per hectare.Join us for a thought-provoking episode filled with practical insights and forward-thinking approaches.
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42:33
Ian Williams on farming, future technologies (and fishing!)
In our last episode for the year, Matt and Wade are thrilled to be joined by a familiar face and former Feed for Thought host, Ian Williams. Ian's travels to the US earlier this year brought him face-to-face with exceptional farming practices and an unforgettable salmon fishing trip guided by a former scientist. With Ian's vivid storytelling, you'll hear about the shared dedication and adaptations of farmers worldwide and chuckle at some light-hearted chatter about theories that arose along the way. Switching gears, the team also dive into the rapidly evolving world of AI and technology and Ian’s predictions on how technology will shape the future of farming.
Welcome to Feed for Thought, a regular podcast hosted by Pioneer® Farm Systems Specialists Wade Bell and Matt Dalley. In this podcast series we aim to share in-depth information on technical and farm systems topics. Our aim is to keep the information practical and relevant to farmers and we hope to prompt thoughts, discussions and actions which improve the profitability and sustainability of farming. Tune in and listen to the team as well as our guests who will include researchers, agronomists and nutritionists from New Zealand and abroad. We hope to deliver cutting edge information, tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your investment in Pioneer® brand products and give you some “Feed for Thought”.
New Zealand