Talking Dairy

Recorded live at the 2025 Precision Dairy Farming Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch, this episode features vet Kirsty Ashcroft from Anexa, who led a farmer panel sharing their experiences with wearable technology.  
Kirsty highlights the importance of starting with the basics in the first season, avoiding alert fatigue, and working closely with vets to turn data into earlier identification, better decisions, and stronger animal health outcomes.  
Kirsty also explains why successful adoption isn’t about the device itself, but about how you use it, who supports you, and how well the data fits your farm’s needs. 
View the conference highlights, proceedings and more  
 
Did you know? 
Since this episode was recorded, DairyNZ has begun a three-year research programme on cow wearables, shaped by farmers, to help turn data into practical insights. The work focuses on benchmarking, understanding normal behaviour, improving key decisions at calving and mating, identifying resilient cows, and exploring how wearables can support pasture management — all aimed at helping farmers get more value from their investment. You can read more about this in the Feb-April 2026 Inside Dairy.  
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If you want more control, confidence, and options in your business, building strong financial skills is one of the most powerful steps you can take. This episode shows you how to strengthen those skills so you can grow long‑term wealth and stay steady through whatever the season brings.
DairyNZ business specialists Sarah Brown and Paul Bird break financial management down into three simple parts: profit, drawings, and investing. You’ll learn how to benchmark your performance and budget with purpose so you can spot opportunities early and stay ahead of rising costs and changing payouts. They also share practical habits to reduce stress, smooth out variability, and avoid surprises - and explain how to invest surplus cash wisely, from essential upkeep to growth opportunities.
You’ll also discover levy‑funded tools you can use today - like DairyBase benchmarking, budgeting templates, cashflow tools, and courses such as Mark and Measure and Business by the Numbers - to keep building capability and confidence. 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Annual Cash Budget Template
Partial Budget
10-year equity forecast tool
Monthly Cashflow Budget Fonterra Suppliers
Get more DairyNZ business tools and resources
View DairyNZ business information
Discover the benefits of benchmarking your business against others - Join DairyBase
Upskill with Dairy Training – find free training options.
Mark and Measure is back for 2026 in Taupo (12-14 May) and Hanmer Springs (14-16 July). Find out more and register here.
Disclaimer: 
The content in this podcast includes general commentary on market trends. It should not be considered as investment advice. Certain transactions, such as those involving futures, options, and high-yield securities, carry significant risks and may not be appropriate for all investors. We advise seeking independent legal or financial guidance before making any investment decisions.  
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

In this episode of Talking Dairy, DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker breaks down the State of the Dairy Nation Pulse Report, which captures the standout results from the 2024/25 season. You’ll hear how farmers produced record milk volumes from fewer cows, lifted productivity to new highs, and helped drive export earnings to more than $27 billion.
Campbell explains what’s behind the numbers, why the sector’s fundamentals are strong, and how the current season is tracking. If you want a quick, straight-talking snapshot of how dairy is really performing — and why your work continues to underpin the New Zealand economy — this episode is for you.
Download the State of the Dairy Nation Pulse Report
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

Recorded live at the Precision Dairy Farming Conference 2025 in Ōtautahi Christchurch, this episode features Craig Piggott, founder and CEO of Halter. 
Craig shares how he went from working at Rocket Lab to building virtual fencing technology that’s transforming pasture-based farming. He explains how Halter’s technology gives farmers precise control over grazing, lifts productivity, and creates more flexibility whether the goal is higher profit or better work–life balance. 
From early prototypes tested on his parents’ farm to a 300+ strong team and international growth, this is a story about grit, farmer-led innovation, and what precision tech could unlock next for dairy farm systems. 
View the conference highlights, proceedings and more 
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

Heat stress is a growing challenge on our dairy farms, and the impact on your farm could be bigger than you think. In this episode, you’ll hear how DairyNZ’s summer trial at Scott Farm is testing common mitigation tools, and assessing their return on investment, to find the best solutions.
Animal scientist Dr Charlotte Reed and senior animal care specialist Jac McGowan break down the research and share their early insights and observations from the trials. They also share current information and practical solutions you can use right now to keep your cows comfortable and productive in the heat.
 
Heat Stress research and current information
DairyNZ invests in heat stress research to give you evidence behind the solutions that improve cow comfort, protect performance, and support sustainable, future‑ready farm systems.
Read more about heat stress research in action at DairyNZ
Get current information for reducing heat stress in your dairy cows
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with DairyNZ
Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected