Options available with potential dairy sector cashflow restriction

A sizeable proportion of those in the dairy sector go through immense upheaval on Moving Day, and this year was no different with large numbers of workers, farmers and sharemilkers having to plan, shift and settle in before, on and following 1 June.

For many that includes dairy settlements, which this year generally went well, meaning new herds and new farmers are now in the process of settling into their new properties.

As ever with herd settlements, good quality dairy herds have been and will continue to be well sought after: farmers seek out well-recorded animals with proven genetic traits. Records are key, and the way farmers make sense of how they are breeding dairy cows. That can inform decisions about artificial insemination, to plans for surplus animals, whether dairy or dairy beef. Good record keeping around breeding decisions and outcomes is as important now as it has ever been, and quality will always generate a premium.

Associated with Moving Day, interest in the Global Dairy Trade and the closely related farm gate milk price is strong. With budgets tightening in recent months, farmers are monitoring where returns for the 2022/23 season will come to rest, and what initial indications that provides for the new season. Cashflow is the focus. For those in the dairy sector with restricted cashflow, PGG Wrightson’s GO-STOCK range now includes dairy with the GO-STOCK DAIRY offering. Meanwhile, with decisions about service bulls fast approaching, Defer-a-bull products can also assist with early season cashflow.

For more information on either GO-DAIRY or Defer-a-bull, speak to your PGG Wrightson Livestock representative.

Feeder calf sales are coming soon: first up in early July in Waikato and Northland, meaning now is the time to talk to PGG Wrightson about preferred opportunities and options around feeder calves.

Jamie Cunninghame, PGG Wrightson Livestock National Dairy Specialist