Planning and preparing for calving with your farm team will reduce stress when calving is in full swing and will help keep everyone safe and healthy. Spend time with your team prior to calving to create a plan that works for everyone.

More farmers are using wearables for heat detection and to ease pressure on skilled people at mating time. But do they lift repro results? Hear what the research says in this episode with DairyNZ’s Paul Edwards and CowSmart vet Line Ferriman.

Lucerne is a perennial legume with a deep taproot, allowing it to tolerate moisture stress more than most pasture species. In NZ, most cultivars are winter dormant, but some newer ones grow earlier in spring and later in autumn.

Early detection of clinical mastitis is key to protecting milk quality and cow health. Check regularly for signs such as, heat, swelling, pain in the udder, and changes in the milk. Learn how to recognise the signs and take appropriate action.

Tail management is crucial in dairy farming to ensure animal welfare and a positive working environment. Tail injuries can cause pain and impact how cows communicate.

A pasture feed wedge is a tool that visually displays your farm's current pasture situation. By ranking your paddocks based on average pasture cover, it can help you make proactive decisions about pasture management.

Kaiakiaki Māori (currently on parental leave)

One year into the Resilient Pastures Programme, hear what scientists and farmers are learning so far, the early insights emerging from the work, and what it could mean for future pasture decisions on your farm.

Down cows can add pressure at calving. Hear how a clear plan and the “pattern of two” can help you act early, support cow recovery and keep your team on track.

Could solar work on your farm? Hear from Chris McArthur from EECA and dairy farmer Rhys Mackenzie about where solar and batteries add value, and what to think about before you invest.

What could El Niño mean for your farm this season? Hear Phil Duncan from WeatherWatch and farm systems expert Steve Veix on what to watch and where to focus your planning early.

Are your calves reaching their potential? Discover what the research says, hear from a farmer who changed their system, and find out more about practical options to boost growth and choose what works for your farm.

Strong advice underpins confident on‑farm decisions. In this episode, hear what sits behind great rural advice and how connection, capability and shared learning help advisors better support farmers in a fast‑changing sector.

Global conflict may feel far away, until it hits fuel, freight and ripples into other farm costs. Hear how rising global tensions drive prices, what it means for inflation and interest rates, and the simple steps you can take now to protect cashflow.

What can dairy learn from horticulture robotics? Hear Professor Mike Duke share fresh thinking on automation, data and design, and what it could mean for the future of dairy farming.

Well-run effluent systems support productivity and long-term resilience. Hear about support you can access, tips for future-proofing, and why autumn is the ideal time to fine-tune your system.

Use autumn to lift BCS and set your herd up for a stronger season. Hear how smart dry‑off decisions, accurate condition scoring, and targeted feeding can boost performance and production.