Supporting your Health & Wellbeing on Farm

Summer pressures often show up through small changes: pasture quality starts to slip, feed demand begins to climb, water use increases and cows respond differently to changing conditions.

With a lifetime of experience behind him, Terry knows a thing or two about milk quality, and he's spent two decades helping farmers get the most from their herds.

Growing up on a Waikato dairy farm, Abbey’s no stranger to the industry. Nearly five years into her career, she’s found her fit helping farmers unlock gains in productivity, profitability, and emissions efficiency.

Growing up chasing calves, riding tractors and drinking milk from the vat, to a career spanning zoos, camel dairy farms and ag-tech, Monique’s journey has come full circle, returning to the industry she loves.

Our reflection on this year’s People Expo brings to mind a whakataukī we have heard so often: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.

For three first-generation dairy farming couples, years of hard work, determination and keeping their eyes firmly on the prize have paid off in a big way.

From herd testing at LIC to on-farm land management for Taranaki Regional Council, Elizabeth has spent her career finding ways to support farmers. Now, she's doing it from the inside.

Dairy farm workers are still seeing steady pay rises, but the rapid wage growth of recent years has levelled out, according to the latest Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report.

The Growing Future Farmers Fonterra dairy programme is expanding, with expressions of interest now open for farmers and students in Waikato and Bay of Plenty who are keen to be involved in 2027.

On dairy farms across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, students are gaining hands-on dairying experience, learning on-farm alongside experienced Fonterra farmers who know that the future of dairy depends on those who come next.

Nearly two years into their search for their first farm, share farmers Braden and Brigitte Barnes stopped putting offers in, a reflection of just how hard it had become to make ownership stack up.

From retail to research farms, this Milk Quality Manager shares how a preventative approach helps support farmers before small issues become bigger ones.

Farmers across the dairy industry have been clear: there’s an opportunity to simplify how farm information is managed.

As the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event, National Fieldays is the highlight of the agricultural calendar, running from 10-13 June at the Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton and drawing more than 100,000 visitors across four days.

Bay of Plenty leader recognised for transformational impact across dairy sector and Māori agribusiness.

New Fonterra CEO Richard Allen could not escape university fast enough when he applied for the Co-op’s graduate programme in 2008, beginning an 18-year journey at Fonterra spanning several geographies and business units.

Farmers around the greater Ashburton area get to see lots of Farm Source Sales Specialist Sandy Delorino – as he is both the guy who will sell you the products in store, and the one who will deliver them too!

For Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) East Waikato Volunteer Regional Leader Tania Clark, leadership has always been grounded in connection.

Everyone’s journey to buying a farm is unique. For Gregor and Lynne Ramsay, it’s come after more than a decade of hard work.

As someone who knows the pressures of Moving Day all too well, Bex Green says how farmers prepare can set the tone for months to come.

The end of the season always seems to roll around faster than expected. Between drying off, staff changes, winter crop tidy-ups and getting ready for the new season, it can feel like everything lands at once.

We catch up with Whangarei’s Rachael Anderson to chat about her role as a Milk Quality Manager.

Autumn is a pivotal time on every dairy farm, when the decisions you make can set the tone for the coming season.

We talk to Hawkes-Bay based Technical Sales Representative Kenny Henderson who says his role is more than just a job to him, it’s a passion following on from years on the ‘tools’ himself.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience is how Fonterra farmers Belinda and Ben Price describe the international study tour to China this year.

Our team joined representatives from Sanitarium and Ministry of Social Development at Pokuru School in the Waikato to celebrate their volunteers. 

The Co-op’s Milk Quality team works nationwide, helping farmers work through food safety and milk quality regulations and issues, facilitating support through the Downgrade Relief Fund, and advising on practices to support milk quality improvements. We talk to the head of the team, National Milk Quality Manager Brent Spencer.

Navigating digital platforms and keeping it all ticking over – we catch up with Canterbury’s Meg Warrender to find out the intricacies in her role.

The Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Conference 2026 – Success Through Inspiration, proudly supported by Bayleys Canterbury, is shaping up to be our biggest, boldest and most empowering event yet.

Many Fonterra suppliers will be familiar with SMASH and their strong reputation for holding knowledge-filled learning events across the country, creating spaces for strong farmer connections and covering topical subjects.

The Co-op’s Milk Quality Managers work nationwide, providing farmers with independent advice on reducing bulk somatic cell counts, improving efficiency in the milking shed, and increasing productivity. We talk to Dannevirke-based Milk Quality Manager Jess Galloway about the role.

We sit down with Chris Appleby, Farm Source’s Director On-Farm Excellence, to find out how to track and record this season.

As many farmers know, even when you’re off the farm, work continues. The same is true for many New Zealand cancer patients who continue working throughout their treatment.

Entries are now open for the 2026 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, the nation’s biggest celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.

As summer rolls around, it’s not just a time for keeping an eye on pasture growth and enjoying a well-earned breather. Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean advises farmers to start planning for the next dairy season.

The search is on for the next outstanding leader in New Zealand’s dairy sector, with nominations and applications now open for the 2026 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award.

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.

The Co-op’s Technical Agriculture Specialists (TAS) work nationwide, supporting our team of Technical Sales Representatives (TSR). We speak with Waikato-based Jarno Sammet about the role and importance of planning which crops to grow for a great season ahead.

As dairy farmers hit the most critical point of the season, Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean is urging farmers to pause and take stock – because this is when fatigue, burnout and safety risks start to bite.

When the Cancer Society’s Waikato/Bay of Plenty division faced a shortage of daffodils ahead of its annual fundraiser earlier this year, the Co-op’s Lichfield site stepped in to help.

Farm Source has refined its support services and resources available to Co-op farmers to be more efficient, productive, profitable, and sustainable on-farm.

A desire to focus on improving the environment led to dramatic changes in how Waka Dairies farmed.

When farmers hear the words market activity and regulation, understandably, most just think “compliance”. The underlying reason for why we request certain behaviours or data is often lost.

Last year, 1500 farmers reached out to Rural Support Trust (RST) for support, with around 51% of cases requiring additional specialist support services.

Farmers who’ve stepped into contract milking for the first time this season should take time to celebrate the achievement and be wary of spending every waking minute on the farm.

Many Co-op farmers aged over 65 may find that the payout, coupled with regular superannuation payments, means they're sitting in a healthy financial position.

At Dairy Women’s Network (DWN), we know that the heart of New Zealand’s rural sector beats strongest when its people are empowered, adaptable, and supported.

Katrina Roberts, 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year, explores the power of trust and communication in farmer-vet relationships, drawing from her leadership journey and rural research.

Brodie and Ryan Smith are not yet teenagers but they are already inspiring their community with their generosity.

Hayley Morris helps farmers reduce compliance time. Learn about her innovative solutions and how they streamline farm operations for efficiency.

Agpac’s pink silage film raises global awareness and funds for breast cancer, supporting various health causes and donating millions to charity.

Opunake dairy farmers Trish and Glen Rankin donate over 5,000 servings of dairy to combat food insecurity in Taranaki.

Discover how Farm Source supports Fonterra farmers with innovative tools, services, and cost-saving solutions.

Celebrating 15 years of KickStart Breakfast, providing nutritious meals to over 42,000 students daily across New Zealand.

Discover the latest updates from the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, including committee changes and future plans.