Shows / DAIRY Country
DAIRY Country
DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee.
Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with our
thousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and…
Episodes
DAIRY CountryEpisode 135 - A better spring at LUDF
After several tough springs, Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) has had a much better start to the season, with good pasture growth and utilisation, cows…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 134 - Protein powers the market
Skim milk powder has long been the by-product of the dairy world, but strong global demand for protein has turned it into one of the main drivers of the…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 133 - Inside the NZ Dairy Industry Awards
Entries for the new season of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards opened on October 5, and outgoing National Committee Chair Maegan Legg joins Anne Lee to…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 132 - What's DairyNZ up to?
A record dairy production season coupled with last year’s increase in the levy farmers pay to DairyNZ boosted the organisation’s income to more…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 131 - Couple Goals
Profitability in dairy farming comes down to getting both sides of the equation right, and Hugh and Anna Edward have built a system around tight cost control…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 130 - The end of an era for Tatua
Tatua Cooperative chairman Steve Allen is stepping down after nearly 30 years on the board, including a long tenure as chairman. Anne Lee speaks with Steve…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 129 - From burnout to balance
Farm ownership can feel like a long way off for young dairy farmers, but Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblance are steadily working their way towards the goal. Anne…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 128 - Southern Dairy Hub: More from less
The Southern Dairy Hub is exploring what the future of dairy farming could look like through a side-by-side comparison of high genetic merit cows run at a 0.5…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 127 - The right pain relief
Pain relief is becoming an increasingly important part of dairy cattle welfare, with more options available to farmers than there were a decade ago. Anne Lee…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 126 - Your brain and burnout
Burnout can creep up on farmers when the pressure to keep going and the constant stream of decisions never lets up. Anne Lee speaks with former police crisis…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 125 - Finding Security
Farm ownership can seem out of reach for young dairy farmers, but Biddy and Braden Barnes have shown it’s still possible with hard work, careful planning…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 124 - Updates needed to law and agreements
Share farming and contract milking agreements are a fundamental part of New Zealand’s dairy industry, but are the contracts and legislation governing…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 123 - Improving herds through DNA testing
DNA testing is transforming dairy breeding by giving farmers greater confidence in parentage and allowing more accurate genetic information to be fed into…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 122 - Following the milk price signals
Global dairy markets have entered a period of correction after two years of exceptionally strong prices, with growing milk production putting downward pressure…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 121 - The power of Spark That Chat
As a founder, Jack Jensen has built a large following through his multimedia company Msft Productions, producing content for some big-name companies while…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 120 - Building better calves from day one
Karen Fraser has spent years helping dairy farmers improve calf rearing through practical, science-based advice. Anne Lee speaks with the Farmlands Technical…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 119 - Setting calves up for life
Dr Ajmal Khan has spent more than a decade researching calf rearing, investigating how early-life nutrition and management influence the health, productivity…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 118 - Can grass replace winter crops?
Fraser Tasker has spent the past several years refining a grass-based wintering system on his Mid Canterbury dairy support block, replacing traditional fodder…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 117 - DairyNZ's extended lactation study
Extended lactation is emerging as a potential option for dairy farmers looking to reduce labour pressure, improve flexibility and significantly cut the number…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 116 - Truly integrated farming
Willesden Farms is a diverse Canterbury farming business, spanning more than 6,500 hectares across Banks Peninsula, Kaitorete Spit and the Canterbury Plains…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 115 - From banking billions to dairying dream
West Coast dairy farmer Charlotte Aitken has taken an unconventional path to farm ownership, moving from a career in international banking in London to running…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 114 - What happened at LUDF this season?
Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) has completed another challenging season, with wet spring and summer conditions affecting pasture utilisation, feed…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 113 - South Africa’s fight against Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most serious biosecurity threats facing livestock industries worldwide, with South Africa’s recent outbreak…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 112 - AI & carbon opportunities for farmers
Technology, AI and environmental markets are creating new opportunities for rural businesses and farmers, with platforms designed to simplify recruitment…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 111 - What rising cow prices mean
Cow prices and livestock values are front of mind across the dairy sector right now, with strong market demand, rising confidence and shifting tax implications…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 110 - Inside modern dairy conversions
There’s been a lot of talk when it comes to the new wave of dairy conversions but what’s really going on in terms of design and fitout? In this…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 109 - Designing the dairy farm of the future
The Science for Farmers tent at the Wānaka A&P Show this year gave farmers a great chance to see and hear about a wide range of research as well as ways…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 108 - Alerted by the collar, saved by the vet
A closer look at how wearable technology is reshaping animal health highlights just how quickly on-farm decision making is evolving, and why early intervention…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 107 - The drench resistance wake-up call
The episode is dedicated to the late Dr Dave Leathwick, AgResearch parasitologist, scientist and champion for the battle against drench resistance. A closer…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 106 - Real data shows real costs
A deep dive into the data on substitution rates based on real measurements reveals just how careful farmers need to be when it comes to budgeting on the…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 105 - Tools for growth
Lynaire Ryan from Agribusiness Education and Paul Bird from DairyNZ are focused on helping farmers build long-term wealth by improving financial understanding…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 104 - Genez: Smarter beef genetics for dairy
Ben Watson and Charlotte Gray from Genez are focused on improving outcomes for dairy and beef farmers by turning dairy-origin non-replacement calves into a…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 103 - Little habits build big equity
Eldon and Roseanne Megaw have built a career in dairy through contract milking while steadily growing equity in property and farm partnerships. In this…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 102 - Brix might not be best
A Brix test may mean high sugar for the horticulture sector but when it comes to measuring pasture quality, farmers are being told to look to traditional feed…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 101 - A market turn no one predicted
In this episode, Anne Lee sits down with Stu Davison of HighGround Dairy to unpack the sharp turnaround in global dairy markets and what is driving the recent…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 100 - Sharefarming Success: Planning, Risk & Growth
In this episode, Anne Lee chats with Jordain Beattie and Louise Gibson who break down what successful sharefarming really looks like and what it takes to build…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 99 - New Crypto Vaccine Hits NZ
In this special episode, Sarah sits down with Andrew MacPherson and Cara Sheridan to unpack the arrival of Bovillus Cryptium, a new vaccine for calves…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 98 - Pasture, People, Power Growth
In this episode, Anne Lee sits down with Mick and Kirsten O’Connor from Grass Gobblers to explore their journey from sharemilking to equity partnership…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 97 - Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year 2025
The Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award is designed to recognise leadership, contribution and future-focused thinking within the dairy sector, while also…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 96 - LUDF: Maximising Pasture, Plan, Grow
Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) has been taking another look at establishing plantain and how to combat weed pests. In this episode, Anne Lee finds out…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 95 - Low-N Systems in Practice
A major research effort aimed at cutting nitrogen (N) losses without losing sight of farm viability is putting practical system change under the microscope. In…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 94 - Dairy, GDT and Geopolitics
A volatile start to 2026 has put global dairy markets back in the spotlight, with a sharp lift in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction offering some early-year…
DAIRY CountrySpecial Episode - SenseHub Dairy: Innovating the Way We Manage Cows
This special episode of Dairy Country, powered by MSD Animal Health, dives into how SenseHub Dairy is reshaping modern herd management through real-time…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 92 - Precision Dairy Farming Conference: AI Transforming Farms
The future of dairy is data-driven, with New Zealand farmers exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools can transform efficiency, animal…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 91 - Net Zero Pilot Dairy Farm
The race to a net zero dairy farm is on, with Taranaki’s Net Zero Pilot Dairy Farm trialling ways to lower emissions while maintaining profitability. In…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 90 - Behind the Numbers: South Island Dairy Sales
The South Island dairy land market is heating up, with a record $87,000/ha paid at auction for a Canterbury dairy farm in November. In this episode, Anne Lee…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 89 - Farming for People, Profit, and the Planet
North Canterbury dairy farmer Stuart Neill, winner of the 2025 Canterbury Supreme Award at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, reflects on the long-term…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 88 - From Farm to National Stage
Taranaki dairy farmer Martin Keegan, winner of the 2025 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Farm Manager of the Year, shares how entering the competition became…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 87 - Watching the GDT
Global supply shifts and changing demand are shaping the outlook for New Zealand dairy prices, according to NZX Dairy Insights Head, Cristina Alvarado, fresh…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 86 - Navigating Global Dairy
Global market insights and on-the-ground observations are shaping the perspective of dairy analyst Stu Davison. He recently returned from China and shares what…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 85 - Gains grow in the detail
Simple, repeatable systems are proving to be a winning formula for North Otago couple Peter and Emma Smit. They spoke at a Pasture Summit field day earlier…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 84 - Lincoln University Dairy Farm insights
Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) is refocussing its strategy and making changes to several of its farm practices this season including the 10-in-seven…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 83 - Fonterra's focus shift
Peter McBride sees Fonterra’s proposed sale of its consumer business as a pivotal step in refocusing the co-operative’s strategy and strengthening…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 82 - Bruce Thorrold on change
Bruce Thorrold sees a wave of scientific opportunity on the horizon, with breakthroughs in methane reduction and genetic innovation set to reshape the future…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 81 - Wearable lessons
Cow wearables can provide a treasure trove of information, and for South Canterbury farmer Tom Lambie, the technology has delivered some real gems that have…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 80 - Optimisation driving dairy performance
Focusing on small incremental improvements alongside genetics are what is helping Pāmu deliver strong results and improve animal health. In this episode, Anne…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 79 - “Business as unusual.” Farming and trading in a changing world
Anne Lee speaks with Jonathan Mason and Emma Higgins at the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management (NZIPIM) conference. Jonathan discusses US tariffs…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 78 - Morrison Farming: Leading beef-on-dairy genetics
In this episode, Sarah Perriam-Lampp talks with William Morrison from Morrison Farming about supplying beef genetics to the dairy industry. He explains how…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 77 - Mastering Mastitis
In this episode, Anne Lee talks with North Canterbury sharemilkers Holly and Aaron Jackson about their dramatic reduction in mastitis early in their career and…
DAIRY CountryEpisode 76 - Beef genetics in the dairy system
Host: Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country Guest: Dr. Jason Archer, Head of Genetics, Beef + Lamb NZ Jason Archer talks to Anne Lee about the need for…