Get the inside scoop from Pasture Summit directors Robbie Ferris and Al Rayne. They reveal what’s happening at the upcoming Pasture Summit events, and why they’re a “must have” event on your calendar this spring.

In this episode of Talking Dairy, we explore the Resilient Pastures programme - a new research initiative tackling pasture persistence problems. Hear how farmers, scientists and funders are working together to find lasting, practical solutions.

Spring management focuses on the critical period from calving through to your balance date when feed supply meets demand.

The Resilient Pastures programme is a seven-year initiative focusing on enhancing pasture performance and persistence on dairy, sheep and beef farms across the upper North Island.

Regular pasture assessment on your dairy farm helps you manage your feed, plan grazing, and detect surpluses or deficits in pasture.

Average pasture cover is the measure of the quantity of pasture on the farm. Having average pasture cover targets for the farm at key times of the year is important for managing pasture supply and demand.

The purpose of allocating pasture accurately is to optimise both animal performance and pasture eaten per hectare.

Successful summer dairy farming demands regular monitoring. This page recommends farm walks, managing grazing residuals, monitoring body condition scores, staying informed on industry information, and future planning.

Effective performance management will help to maximise your team’s productivity. The process involves planning, monitoring, feedback, coaching, and performance reviews.

A cash management system, or cashbook, is vital for monitoring all payments and receipts, keeping track of compliance requirements, and managing day-to-day finances effectively.

With NIWA’s prediction of an El Nino weather pattern and a high likelihood of a drier summer, how are farmers preparing? In this episode, we’re talking to Trevor Hamilton and Kevin McKinley who share their strategies for preparing for a dry summer.

Odour from farm dairy effluent is increasingly an issue as herd sizes grow and urban boundaries get closer to operating farms. If the regional council receives a complaint about an odour, they will come out to the farm and assess the situation.

What’s the best way to manage internal parasites in young dairy stock? Find out how worms limit production in calves, when to start drenching, how to choose the right drench, and why we need to focus on management factors other than drench.

Looking after teats is crucial in dairy farming. Damaged or rough teat skin can lead to bacterial infections, discomfort for the cow, and increased risk of mastitis.

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.