The Co-op’s Milk Quality Advisors support farmers nationwide on food safety and milk quality regulations, and facilitate support through the Downgrade Relief Fund. We talk to Takaka-based Angela Nicholson about the role.
While I grew up rurally in the Bay of Plenty, it was not until I went to Telford in the South Island to study that I really discovered dairy farming.
While studying for a diploma in rural business, I interned on a Landcorp farm, and went on to work there after graduating. I rose up the ranks quite quickly and by 22 was managing a farm. This was a great challenge and allowed me to learn a range of farm systems and skills in a short period of time. Due to great support from my employers and networking through the Dairy Industry awards, I was able to take on a contract milking role at 24-years-old.
Unfortunately, ill health meant I had to step back from farming, and I found new opportunities working in other areas of the rural sector, including a large animal vet clinic, QCONZ, where I was an assessor for three seasons, and then Farm Source.
I’m now based in Takaka (which is a lot warmer than Southland). As a Milk Quality Advisor, I work largely remotely, providing phone support to all our farms in the South Island and facilitating on-farm support with farmers, Milk Quality Managers, field teams, vets, and chemical representatives.
There is a lot of support available to Co-op farmers, and our role is to make sure farmers know what is there and how to access it. Having been in the role for several seasons, I’m noticing that more farmers are reaching out to us for support and are increasingly open to our calls. It’s encouraging to see that they’re recognising our role as a resource to help with milk quality, rather than feeling like they’re being questioned.
A lot of support is available season-wide through the Downgrade Relief Fund (Milk Quality Support). In essence, farmers can use their downgrade deductions up to the value that has been deducted to invest in on-farm services that will help overall milk quality and herd health. The funds are there to be used.
There is potential for any farm to have some downgrades over the season. Wet weather, plant failures, staffing shortages, gaps in experience and herd health issues for example, can all contribute to milk quality challenges. Our team is available to discuss a range of milk quality issues farmers are facing. The milk quality training we have available has been a great tool for farms with teams that have a range of experience. Completed on-farm by QCONZ, they are able to learn in their own plant, ask questions, and bridge knowledge gaps.
Bacterial grades are the most common reason for intervention. We’re able to call the farm and organise a trace-back so we can collectively see where the problem lies. With the Co-operative Difference payments on the line, farmers are generally keen to get the problem sorted quickly.
Increasingly, we’re having proactive conversations with farmers looking at ways that the farm can avoid increasing somatic cell counts, avoid downgrades, and navigate compliance changes such as chemical residues in milk. Having dedicated regions that we look after means that Milk Quality Advisors build relationships with local farmers, and the professionals that farmers work with – vets, field teams, and regulators. There’s a lot of trust and goodwill built up.
There are a number of support options available for farmers, and it’s important that we make these easily accessible for them to be able to utilise. I’d like to see every farm have its team go through our milk quality training. There is so much value for the dairy industry if we have staff who are knowledgeable and confident with why milk quality is important and how they contribute every day. They can then pass this knowledge on to future staff.
If you would like to improve your farm’s milk production and quality, get in touch with your local Milk Quality Advisor or book in for a milk quality service visit.