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SFF Futures projects: dairy
The projects are listed according to their start dates. The latest project is at the top.
Collaboration Tai Tokerau
Project start: 8 July 2021
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $148,500
Industry funding: $148,500
Industry partner: Northland Agricultural Forum
Region: Northland
The project aims to encourage and enable networking and partnerships across sectors within the Northland primary industries, with the goal of developing a number of collaborative, cross-sector projects for potential future funding.
Early life application of methane inhibitor BOVAER 10 in dairy calves
Project start: 18 May 2021
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $547,620
Industry funding: $806,615
Industry partner: DSM New Zealand Ltd
Region: National
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas emitted by ruminants during digestion. The feed supplement BOVAER, developed by Royal DSM, is shown to immediately, consistently and effectively reduce these emissions. This project will investigate an application of BOVAER fit for New Zealand pasture agricultural systems, to see whether a lifetime reduction in methane emissions can be achieved through supplementation of calves.
Development of a multiplex immunoassay for detection of various bovine diseases and pregnancy diagnosis
Project start: 30 April 2021
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $404,040
Industry funding: $606,060
Industry partner: Pictor Limited
Region: Nationwide
This project will develop an affordable multiplex assay (test) to detect Johne’s Disease and pregnancy from a single milk sample. The project aims to encourage dairy farmers to increase testing to ensure more proactive and sustainable management of disease on-farm.
Plantain potency and practice
Project start: 20 April 2021
Project length: 7 years
MPI funding: $8,978,000
Industry funding: $13,249,000
Industry partner: DairyNZ
Region: Nationwide
This programme aims to deliver a low-cost forage solution to nitrate leaching. It is expected to demonstrate plantain’s efficacy at scale, so farmers have the confidence they need to invest in pasture and practice change. A major output of the programme will be a generic plantain evaluation system that will link to tools for farmers.
DairyNZ media release: New plantain research a turning point for dairy
Plantain Potency and Practice outcome logic model [PDF, 153 KB]
June to Aug 2021 - Plantain Potency and Practice progress report [PDF, 226 KB]
March to May 2021 - Plantain Potency and Practice progress report [PDF, 313 KB]
Vatman Pro / Auto
Project start: 1 March 2021
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $205,294
Industry funding: $307,942
Industry partner: Dairy Technology Services Ltd
Region: Waikato
DTS offers a centralised software dashboard for farming operations. This will be expanded on to enable farmers to make better data-driven decisions on-farm. Expected benefits include higher on-farm productivity, less waste, reduced environmental impact, and mitigation of known and tangible health and safety concerns.
Extension 350 enhancing associate farmer engagement and project evaluation
Project start: 20 November 2020
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $500,500
Industry funding: $90,500
Industry partner: Northland Inc
Region: Northland
Northland Inc is building on an existing extension model for 350 Northland farmers. The model relies on high performing farmers mentoring associate farmers, and has had mixed results. This project seeks to improve delivery to associates and evaluate benefits.
Optimisation of solar power into irrigation and/or stream augmentation systems
Project start: 20 October 2020
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $80,000
Industry funding: $150,000
Industry partner: Eiffelton Community Irrigation Scheme IN Soc.
Region: Canterbury
This pilot project will test and demonstrate the viability of solar power for targeted stream augmentation (TSA). TSA involves pumping groundwater to surface streams. This is for irrigation, and to support natural freshwater living systems.
Future Ready Farms
Project start: 1 October 2020
Project length: 5 years
MPI funding: $10,058,000
Industry funding: $15,087,000
Industry partner: Ballance Agri-Nutrients
Region: Nationwide
This programme aims to trial and develop 12 farm nutrient technologies that will help meet national environmental targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural chemical use, and nutrient loss to waterways.
Partnership to reduce food and fibre sector’s environmental footprint – Government media release
Ballance supporting the next generation of NZ innovators
Future Ready Farms outcome logic model [PDF, 635 KB]
April to June 2021: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 168 KB]
January to March 2021: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 229 KB]
October to December 2020: Future Ready Farms progress report [PDF, 141 KB]
Off-paddock wintering facilities and systems for Southern dairying – Phase 2 & 3
Project start: 15 September 2020
Project length: 4 years
MPI funding: $1,753,590
Industry funding: $1,434,760
Industry partner: DairyNZ
Region: Southland
This initiative will work with two design concepts for uncovered structures where cows are kept during winter, developed during phase one of the project. It will produce detailed designs through extensive consultation with local farmers, and then road-test the concept preferred by farmers and technical experts via an on-farm trial in 2022.
Next Generation Farming
Project start: 1 September 2020
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $417,100
Industry funding: $266,000
Industry partner: Next Generation Farming Trust
Region: Canterbury
Waimakariri farmers face significant environmental, water use and sustainability challenges. A group will develop a 'whole of farm business planning' approach to establish sustainability-focused future farm systems. Outcomes will be shared with the farming community.
Aiming for ‘next level’ environmental planning – Otago Daily Times
GoDairy campaign – providing the inspiration and opportunity to change careers
Project start: 1 July 2020
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $900,000
Industry funding: $490,000
Industry partner: DairyNZ
Region: Nationwide
GoDairy is promoting dairy as a career of choice and a viable long-term option in an industry that is New Zealand’s biggest exporter and that will help rebuild New Zealand’s economy post COVID-19. The campaign aims to attract at least 500 new employees to the dairy sector and is directed at recently unemployed/underemployed workers.
Taranaki dairy step change
Project start: 18 June 2020
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $222,600
Industry funding: $290,500
Industry partner: Dairy Trust Taranaki
Region: Taranaki
Dairy Trust Taranaki is partnering with DairyNZ's Step Change programme to create change on Taranaki dairy farms with the aim of increased profit, lower methane output and lower nitrogen surplus.
Future dairy farm systems for Northland
Project start: 18 May 2020
Project length: 5 years
MPI funding: $776,114
Industry funding: $917,920
Industry partner: Northland Dairy Development Trust
Region: Northland
This project will demonstrate strategies that may help farmers adapt their farm systems to mitigate the effects of climate change and comply with changing regulations. It will test the effectiveness of three different dairy farm systems.
New dairy genetics information system
Project start: 21 February 2020
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $792,000
Industry funding: $198,000
Industry partner: NZ Dairy Cattle Breed Societies
Region: Nationwide
This project is developing a new information system to collect information on the physical and behavioural traits of dairy cows, to help evaluate the performance of New Zealand’s top breeding bulls. The system will integrate with the Dairy Industry Good Animal Database, managed by DairyNZ subsidiary New Zealand Evaluation Limited.
Media release: New system to help evaluate performance of New Zealand's dairy genetics
