News

Fonterra ‘All things milking’ workshop

Date: May 9, 2022

The Fonterra ‘All things milking’ workshop was held in Pongakawa last week and prior to that in Waihi for local dairy farmers.

Josh Wheeler (QCONZ) kicked the session off by sharing insight into the science around milking efficiency, milking frequency, and mastitis management, and how this can help farmers plan a simpler and more efficient approach to milking next season.

The key focus in all areas was getting the basics right.  Josh talked about efficient milking routines using our MbT device, and different milking frequency options at calving and through the season. He also spoke about mastitis management and the importance of focusing on the proven controls that work.

Each farmer took away alternative milking routines, and a wall poster on mastitis management that QCONZ and Fonterra designed to assist farmers.

Guest speakers were Ricky Phillips and Gordan McFetridge, two local farmers who have worked with Josh and applied these simpler approaches to milking and mastitis management with great results.

The event was organised by Jen Carter from Fonterra who said it was a great success and good to see farmers enjoying being challenged by new thinking and new approaches.

Other news

In late October Chris Leach led an MPI dairy development training programme for farmers and extension officers in Pak Chong, Thailand. Pak Chong is the central region of Thailand, approximately a 2 ½ hour drive north of Bangkok, and is at the centre of the developing Thai Dairy Industry. 

We were thrilled to be a major sponsor of the New Zealand Association of Resource Management (NZARM) conference held in Christchurch in October.

We flew the QCONZ flag again this year at the annual Red Meat Sector Conference, jointly hosted by the Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd.

As of 1 October, the QCONZ team will be delivering audits for the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP). We have been working hard behind the scenes to get systems and processes in place, and from August farmers can expect to start hearing from us regarding audit bookings.

QCONZ proudly sponsored the Milk Quality Conference in Hamilton on the 4th and 5th July. Attended by 125, this was a great opportunity for engagement and collaboration between industry and service providers in the Dairy sector.

In June, the QCONZ team gathered in Hamilton for our biennial staff conference. We had a great time bringing our team together from all corners of New Zealand to celebrate, connect, and have fun! Day one of the conference kicked off with a business update and group sessions where each business unit shared recent work

QCONZ was proud to be a sponsor of the recent Central Plateau and BOP Dairy Industry Awards, where we celebrated the successes of local farmers and connected with future industry leaders.

The Team at QCONZ is very proud, and excited, to announce that we’ve been chosen by New Zealand Farm Assurance Incorporated (NZFAI) and their Members to deliver audits and associated services for their programmes from 1 October 2023.

QCONZ has joined forces with DairyNZ to help deliver their ‘on-farm survey of workforce productivity.’ Our team will visit approximately 150 farms nationwide conducting a 60–90-minute survey with farm owners and managers by March 2023.

A big thumbs up to the organisers of the 2022 ITENZ conference which provided a great networking and learning opportunity for Tertiary Providers. This conference themes of courage, collaboration, capability, and creativity reflected the changing times and the new opportunities for the education sector.