When effluent systems are designed and run well, they support your whole farm.

In this episode of Talking Dairy, Debbie Care from AgVice and Shaun Hazelton from DairyNZ share insights into how to set your effluent system up to improve productivity, make the most out of valuable nutrients and protect your business over the long-term. This conversation looks at what’s involved in establishing good systems, what’s worth prioritising, and why autumn is a smart time to get things in shape.

Links mentioned in this episode and more:

• Get DairyNZ info about effluent management and operation
• Download the effluent management plan poster
• Find DairyNZ accredited effluent system design companies
• How does your effluent system stack up? Do your own Warrant of Fitness.
• Effluent Training Courses - DairyNZ
• Find out more about AgVice and Debbie Care

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz

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 2025 Precision Dairy Farming Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch. In this episode, Dr Claudia Kamphuis cuts through the noise around data and shows you how to turn information into something of value. Drawing on her keynote presentation from the conference, she explains how smarter data use is speeding up breakthroughs and what that means for your everyday decisions.

You’ll hear why the real challenge isn’t collecting data, but knowing what to keep, what to ignore, and how to use it with confidence. Claudia shares practical insights on dealing with data overwhelm, connecting with the right people, and taking small steps that make technology work for you.

View the conference highlights, proceedings and more

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz

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

Autumn gives you a short but valuable window to set your herd up well.

In this Talking Dairy episode, DairyNZ scientist, Dr Susanne Meier, explains why hitting BCS targets before calving has such a big flow on effect—supporting recovery after calving, earlier cycling, stronger reproductive performance, and more milk in the vat next season. And DairyNZ farm systems specialist, Mark Williams, brings the farm system view: how to condition‑score your herd accurately, plan dry‑off dates with confidence, and choose feeding and drafting strategies that move the cows who need it most.

You’ll also learn about practical tools that make these decisions easier, including the dry off calculator, feed budgeting tool, and the BCS app many farmers now rely on to track progress through autumn.

Links mentioned in this episode and more:

• Milk On or Dry Off Calculator
• Body Condition Score (BCS) Dry-Off Calculator
• BCS App
• InCalf - Reproduction gap calculator
• Autumn smarts - Essential autumn tools for farm success
• FeedRight Module 26 - Allocate autumn pastures correctly (late lactation)
• FeedRight Module 27 - Measure and monitor body condition score (BCS) (late lactation)
• FeedRight Module 28 - Use crops and supplements profitably (late lactation)
• FeedRight Module 29 - Determine nutrient requirements (dry period)
• FeedRight Module 30 - Achieve body condition score (BCS) targets at calving (dry period)
• FeedRight Module 31 - Manage winter pastures and crops correctly (dry period)
• View all FeedRight Technotes

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz

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