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P3 Dairy Trust, 123, Ngatea (2026)

26/05/2026

This graph shows how the composition of expenses on New Zealand dairy farms have changed over the last 60 years.

Total feed expenses have come to dominate, while fertiliser and labour have decreased as a proportion of dairy farm total expenses.

22/05/2026

Monitor Farm Update

Grays

Current situation

The Grays completed their final dry-off this week finishing the season at 200,243 kg MS (8% up on last season). Weather conditions have been ideal for drying cows off and dry cows have been able to be held tight without damaging pastures. Round length is sitting at 96 days; however, this will decrease to 90 days once the dry cows have finished their shut down period. Most dry cows are being offered 9 kg DM grass and 1 kg DM silage while some lighter condition cows are getting more silage. The dry cows still being shut down are being offered minimal grass, 3 kg DM/cow/day of hay and 3 kg DM/cow/day of pasture silage.

Livestock

The most recent group of cows were dried off at an average body condition score of 4.7, meaning a small gain is required before calving. The herd is currently split across four mobs and will be redrafted next week based on condition score. Heifers returned home and have begun their training period with Halter ahead of teat sealing early next week.

Feed planning

Pasture growth rates remain at 35-40 kg DM/ha/day, with adequate soil moisture levels from cooler nights despite limited rainfall over the past month. Average pasture cover sits above 2,400 kg DM/ha, which is higher than recent years for this point in May. Given current pasture levels, Farm Manager Teagan is planning to reduce winter supplement use and utilise more pasture instead.

Fertiliser and infrastructure

The last of the autumn fertiliser is nearly complete, with 30 ha of the farm remaining. Otherwise, the team have been busy with maintenance and infrastructure work across the farm including race upgrades, calf bedding preparation, and strategic spreading of effluent solids by targeting areas not covered by the effluent platform.

Hauraki Trust Farm

Current situation

There are 114 cows later-calving cows still milking which will be dried off early next week. Pasture growth rates have remained above 40 kg DM/ha/day due to warm daytime temperatures. Once the remaining cows are dried off, the rotation length will be extended from 60 days to 85 days. The focus is on maintaining the pasture quality currently on farm with levels of clover in the sward still high. The farm remains on track to reach target average pasture covers of 2,400 kg DM/ha by the start of calving (1 July). Forecasted rain later this week, extending the round length, and an application of Ammo will help to achieve this.

Animal health

Liver biopsies are planned for June on the Trust farm. A sample of ten cows and some heifers will be assessed for trace elements such as copper, selenium, zinc and vitamin B12. From these results, a mineral supplementation plan is formed for the 2026/27 season to meet the herd’s requirements. Having incorporated the animal health monitoring and mineral supplementation for nearly one full season, the Trust anticipate seeing the greatest response in increased milk production in the upcoming season after correcting deficiencies this season.

Piries

Current situation

The Piries are now down to 180 milkers following two herds being dried off over the last two weeks. The remaining milkers include approximately 30 empties along with August and September calvers. Farm owner Brian expects to milk 120 cows through winter to justify operating the cowshed. The heifers (see photo) returned home last week from the runoff in exchange for 140 dry cows sent to the runoff for wintering.

Maize and new grass

New grass paddocks are coming back into the grazing round, with the milkers used to lightly graze them. Extra care is being taken around nitrate risk on peat soils where higher organic matter leads to higher levels of plant available nitrates compared with clay soils. Maize will remain in the diet over the next 10 days while weather conditions allow for good utilisation. Zinc is still being dosed through the maize silage, as facial eczema risk remains due to high spore counts.

Management changes

As the season comes to a close, the Piries would like to acknowledge Contract Milker Lucky, who is finishing up at the end of the season, and thank him for his contribution. They wish him all the best for the future.

With an incoming contract milker starting, the Piries have outlined their process for ensuring a smooth transition:

-Complete Federated Farmers Contract Milking Agreement.
-Complete any required house upgrades prior to new staff arriving and property inspections of staff housing, including photo records.
-Ensure cowshed and milking plant is operating efficiently and meets compliance standards.
-Ensure all farm vehicles and machinery are recently serviced.
-Support incoming contract milker closely at the beginning with grazing plans.
-Record average pasture cover and supplement levels at the start of the season.

Commentary by Rhys Dawson Perrin Ag Consultants Ltd

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18/05/2026

The P3 Trust warmly invites you to our AGM - Monday 15th June at 7.30pm at the Centennial Centre, Hauraki Plains College, Hayward road, Ngatea.

10/05/2026

Monitor Farm Update

Grays

Feed situation

A lack of rainfall over the past 10 days has seen pasture growth rates decrease from 50 to 36 kg DM/ha/day. The Grays are focused on maintaining rather than increasing pasture cover over the next month, targeting 2,500 kg DM/ha by planned start of calving on 15 July. PKE supplementation is finishing for the season, with the system transitioning back to pasture and silage only. Based on feed on hand, Teagan expects the silage stack to be closed shortly too. Some paddocks are beginning to show signs of being nutrient deficient, so the team is prioritising their autumn fertiliser, applying PhaSedN with added salt and selenium.

Dry off

There is a total of 107 dry cows on farm following 81 cows dried off on 1 May. The milkers are still producing well which is making dry-off more challenging. Once everything is dry on 18 May, the whole herd will be drafted into mobs based on calving date.

New grass

Regrassing results have been mixed. Fescue paddocks are establishing well and are approaching first grazing at six weeks post-sowing. In contrast, a ryegrass paddock has struggled following heavy rainfall shortly after drilling. A decision to re-sow this paddock will depend on soil moisture conditions, with the option to delay until spring if needed.

Hauraki Trust Farm

Current situation

There are currently 115 cows milking after 288 July‑calving cows were dried off on 24 April, and 57 cull cows have now left the farm. Feed demand has dropped over the past fortnight following a reduction in cow numbers. This has allowed average pasture cover to lift to 2,230 kg DM/ha despite limited rainfall over the last two weeks. The figure below demonstrates this lift in cover along with pre-grazing residuals increasing as the round length has extended to 60 days.

Pasture silage

Following the previous newsletter, the Trust has tested the quality of another batch of pasture silage. The results can be seen below and indicate a higher feed quality highlighted by lower dry matter and fibre levels, and higher crude protein levels.

Looking ahead

With over 300 cows due to calve in July, the focus is on building covers toward 2,400–2,500 kg DM/ha prior to on calving (1 July) to set the farm up for another strong season. A Nitrogen application has been deliberately delayed until forecast rain arrives later this week. The farm remains on track toward a season target of 187,000 kg MS, exceeding the previous record of 169,500 kg MS.

Piries

Current situation

The Piries are still milking all herds on farm. The young herd will be dried off this week, along with 40 surplus MA cows that are yet to be sold. Heifers are returning home from grazing shortly, while some later-calving cows will be shifted to the runoff.

Cow condition across the milking herd is strong, with most animals at or above BCS 5.0. This has been driven by six weeks of high-quality maize feeding to date, allowing dry-off decisions to be made based purely on calving date rather than cow condition.

Nitrogen and undersowing

The Piries have applied 100 kg/ha of PhaSedN Quick Start, supplying nitrogen and sulphur. Farm Owner Brian considers sulphur to be a key benefit, particularly given their peat soil type. Application rate has been reduced from a typical 130 kg/ha to 100 kg/ha this season in response to fertiliser costs. Additionally, some paddocks are being topped up by undersowing with perennial ryegrass (Legion).

Yellow Bristle Grass (YBG)

YBG is becoming an increasing concern locally. The Piries have been engaging with neighbouring landowners around spread and control, as it begins to appear more widely across the Plains. Early incursions are being seen on drystock properties and along roadsides, with seed spread primarily via imported feed, machinery, and vehicles.

Commentary by Rhys Dawson Perrin Ag Consultants Ltd

06/05/2026

There are 344 dairy herds within the Hauraki Plains, representing approximately 11% of the Waikato region’s 3,029 herds. Of these farms, 179 are owner-operated, indicating that owner operators remain the dominant farming model locally. Sharemilking also remains a significant pathway within the district, with 80 sharemilkers operating across the Plains, demonstrating continued opportunities for progression within the dairy industry.

Average farm size on the Hauraki Plains is 117 effective hectares, slightly below the Waikato regional average of 125 hectares. Average herd size is also lower at 321 cows compared to 358 cows regionally. This suggests that Hauraki Plains farms are generally smaller, family-focused operations rather than larger-scale intensive farming businesses.

Stocking rates on the Hauraki Plains average 2.74 cows per hectare, compared to 2.87 across the Waikato region. The lower stocking rate may reflect the local farming system and land profile, with farmers potentially focusing more on pasture-based efficiency, lower input systems, and maintaining sustainability within the region’s soil and environmental conditions.

25/04/2026

Join us at the next Progressing on the Plains group

24/04/2026

Monitor Farm Update

Grays

Feed situation

After receiving more than 200 mm of rain in April already, conditions at the Grays farm have stabilised with sunshine returning. Despite soils being wet and drains running full, ground damage has been well managed to date, with the feed pad currently only used for milkers. Feed quality has softened with wetter conditions, so residuals are being closely monitored and supplements adjusted accordingly. With good cow condition, ample supplement on hand, and limited culls remaining, the focus is firmly on protecting soils and maintaining flexibility heading into what feels like could be a long, wet winter.

Dry off planning

Dry off decisions are progressing on plan. Twenty-six cows were dried off on 14 April based on BCS, and calving date. The next group is planned for the first week of May, with around 80 cows carried through to mid-May. Just under half the herd (45%) will have dry cow therapy (DCT). Criteria for treatment include higher SCC animals, previously treated cows, and older cows. Dry cows are currently on deferred grazing at 9–10 kg DM grass/cow/day.

Hauraki Trust Farm

Current situation

The July‑calving cows are being dried off this week, leaving around 130 cows to be milked through to late May. The Trust operates a selective dry cow programme, with only cows recording an SCC above 100,000 receiving dry cow therapy. The dry cow diet initially will consist of 4 kg DM grass and 4 kg DM hay. Alongside this first round of drying off, the remaining 50 cull cows are scheduled to leave the farm. As feed demand reduces, the round length is expected to naturally extend from 33 days to 50 days.

Piries

Current situation

With growth rates now at 50 kg DM/ha/day and a round length of 45 days, pasture covers are lifting following 100 mm of rain over the past week, supported by an application of PhaSedN QuickStart at 130 kg/ha.

The heifer mob is due to be dried off on 30 April, following a final herd test. This herd test will also help determine the number of cows that will be carried through winter.

At this stage, the plan is to milk the remaining MA cows through to 15 May. This will be reviewed every few days based on feed availability and milk production.

Dry cows

The Piries operate a no teat seal policy when drying cows off. They use dry cow therapy (DCT) for all cows with somatic cell counts over 100,000 SCC, as well as cows with a history of mastitis.

For the Piries, the perceived benefits of teat sealing do not outweigh the costs and management implications. They have found teat seal can reduce the ability for calves to drink from their mothers and can cause blockages in filters within the cow shed. The Piries acknowledge there is some mastitis risk, stating that having one or two heifers affected by mastitis each year is a trade-off they are willing to accept compared with the cost and complexity of teat sealing.

Facial eczema

Unfortunately, the warm wet autumn, while great for grass growth, has brought a long period of high facial eczema risk which has been challenging for many farms on the Plains.

Contact your veterinarian for advice specific to your herd, but some general guidance is provided below:

Spore counts continue to be at risk levels so preventative zinc dosing should still be in place. Zinc added to feed for cows and as boluses for youngstock provides the most reliable protection. With water dosing, prevent access to other water sources to ensure cows receive a full dose.

Dry off and provide supportive care to affected cows. Avoid grazing high-risk paddocks and feed hay, silage, or crops is possible.

Avoid copper supplementation until spore counts have reduced.

Ensure a good transition plan is in place for calving as cows with facial eczema damage are prone to metabolic disease.

Commentary by Rhys Dawson Perrin Ag Consultants Ltd

11/04/2026

Monitor Farm Update

Grays

Feed planning

The Grays currently have an estimated 70–80 t DM of pasture silage on hand. The intention is to carry approximately half of this through winter to help fill the feed deficit in early spring. At current feeding rates, and as milking cow numbers decline through drying off, pasture silage will be feed through to mid-May. In addition, there is 50 t DM of maize silage available on farm. With PKE prices increasing over recent weeks, having this level of supplementary feed secured provides flexibility.

Cow numbers and dry off planning

Getting rid of cull cows remains slower than planned with 28 cull cows sent to the works last week due to limited capacity at the processor. To date, 26 cows have been dried off, based on body condition and calving date. A further 80–100 cows are planned to be dried off at the end of next week, with the remainder of the herd scheduled to milk through until 18 May. This staged approach is aimed at capitalising on a good season of pasture growth and milk production while protecting cow condition for next season.

Regrassing

The final turnip paddock has now been sown in ryegrass, although rabbit pressure has been an issue shortly after drilling. Earlier paddocks drilled into tall fescue and meadow fescue have responded well following 70 mm of rain last week and are showing good, even germination. Fescue paddocks were sown at 30 kg/ha, while the perennial ryegrass paddock was sown at 25 kg/ha. Results from deferred grazing back in February have been positive. The photo below shows the high clover content in these paddocks and new grass coming through following self-seeding.

Hauraki Trust Farm

Current situation

Nitrogen has been applied across the farm over the past week following 80 mm of rainfall. A total of 80 kg/ha of N Protect was applied, hoping to build cover and extend the round length as new grass paddocks remain out of the grazing round. Milk production has declined noticeably since moving fully onto their silage stack from bales, reflecting poor quality. A sample of the pasture silage has been sent away to be tested.

Dry off planning

The Milkers have now been split into two herds based on calving date. Of the 458 cows currently on farm, 287 are July calvers. Given the size of this group, contract milker Donald is planning for a relatively tight calving spread and high feed demand through July and August. Body condition for the July calving herd is being prioritised, with this group scheduled to be dried off on 24 April. The remaining cows will continue milking through to 18 May. There are currently 40 empty cows still on farm with the plan being to sell in milk empties that are five years old and under and cull the rest. Coming into the herd for next season, 118 heifers away at grazing were scanned with 108 in-calf, four empty, and six Freemartins.

Regrassing

The focus over the coming weeks is to get remaining chicory paddocks sprayed out and drilled back into new grass early enough to get two grazings before winter. When selecting paddocks for cropping next season, the Trust are targeting poorer performing paddocks (open areas, summer grasses, willow w**d) and undersowing these paddocks with an annual now to bulk them up heading into winter. These paddocks will then be cropped in spring 2026 before going back into perennial ryegrass in autumn 2027.

Piries

Feed position

Average pasture cover has lifted over the past fortnight, increasing from approximately 2,000 kg DM/ha to 2,100 kg DM/ha. Despite no nitrogen application since mid-January, residual nutrients from consistent PhaSedN use are still delivering strong growth responses, particularly in new grass paddocks from last season. These paddocks have averaged growth rates of 50-55 kg DM/ha/day since their last grazing (see below).

With recent rainfall, a fertiliser application is planned to build covers and extend the round length.

Maize silage

Supplementary feeding continues to play a key role in supporting pasture and maintaining production. Maize silage is currently being fed at 5–6 kg DM/cow/day. Due to its high grain content, careful management is underway to minimise the risk of scouring.

Milk production

As of 2 April, total season production is sitting at 378,000 kg MS. Farm owner Brian is forecasting a further 32,000 kg MS for April and 16,000 kg MS for May, which would bring the season total to approximately 426,000 kg MS.

Looking ahead

The team are currently forming their dry off plan, with heifers expected to milk through to the end of April. A later-calving group of cows will be sent to the runoff at dry off, with the Piries noting that, given transport costs, dry cows need to remain at their runoff for a minimum of two months to make the transport cost effective.

Due to the rising cost of fuel, security has become an increased focus, with cameras being installed around fuel storage and the diesel generator.

Commentary by Rhys Dawson Perrin Ag Consultants Ltd

27/03/2026

Monitor Farm Update

Grays

Pasture growth

Over the past two weeks pasture growth rates have dropped from 35 kg DM/ha/day to 28 kg DM/ha/day. While there are still a few paddocks with covers up around 2,700 kg DM/ha, this will drop back to 2,400–2,500 kg DM/ha over the next few days.

Feed planning

Grass silage has now been introduced into the diet to extend rotation length and substitute the turnips which is finishing this week. Silage feeding will increase if pasture covers continue to decline depending on the growth following this week’s rainfall. Production has held around 1.45 kg MS/cow/day; however, a small decline is expected now that the turnips have finished.

Cow numbers and culling decisions

Cow numbers are higher than ideal for this point in the season with 40 empties expected to leave the farm over the next week. The Grays would have liked to reduce numbers earlier to be able to extend their round length more comfortably. Final herd testing for the season has been completed, and all cows have recently been individually body condition scored to support dry off planning. The whole herd average BCS sits at 4.60, with the older mob averaging 4.37 BCS and the heifer mob averaging 4.84 BCS.

Regrassing

Two paddocks of grazed out turnips have now been regrassed as part of the Resilient Pastures programme. To date, 3 ha has been sown in a tall fescue, meadow fescue and clover mix, with a further 2 ha into tall fescue and clover. Drilling the fescues has been prioritised due to their higher temperature requirement for germination when compared to ryegrass and a longer time to establish. Subsoiling was done ahead of drilling to improve the drainage in these paddocks coming out of crop. This management change is expected to deliver benefits to new grass paddocks through winter and spring and improve their longevity.

Hauraki Trust Farm

Current situation

Despite limited rainfall through March, soil conditions on the clay have held together reasonably well. Pasture covers have dropped and the Trust is looking to capitalise on the rainfall this week with nitrogen on hand and ready to be applied. The pasture silage allocation in the milkers’ diet has been increased, feeding up to 7 kg DM/cow/day over the last week. Contract milker Donald notes that the milk response has been much better off the first cut of silage in early spring relative to a later cut which the team are feeding out now. The final herd test for the season was done this week and will inform upcoming stock decisions. In particular, the Trust is considering selling a group of high-performing empty cows.

Regrassing

The milkers are currently on the final grazing round of the chicory. While the crop still looks green, growth has slowed significantly. The first chicory paddocks are scheduled to be sprayed out next week, with some areas due to get additional digger work prior to regrassing. Once the chicory finishes, PKE feeding through the shed is planned to increase from 1 kg DM/cow/day to 2 kg DM/cow/day.

Milk production

Production remains a major positive. The farm is 39% ahead for the month, and based on current performance, is on track to reach the farm record for the season by the end of this week. Key contributors to achieving this over the past 12 months include cow condition, trace element and mineral supplementation, a much tighter calving spread, and an exceptional season with regard to grass growth. Donald identified that further gains can be made from targeted pasture renewal of poorer performing paddocks, maintaining silage quality for use in summer/autumn, and improving nitrogen use efficiency by shifting to smaller, more frequent applications.

Piries

Current situation

Some much-needed rain has arrived over the last two days after soils were starting to dry out. Average pasture cover has dropped to 2,000 kg DM/ha and pre grazing covers now sit around 2,500 kg DM/ha. Current pasture growth rates are in the mid 30s, but there is confidence that covers will respond quickly after this rain.

Feed planning

Stock numbers are being actively managed with 32 surplus in-calf and in-milk cows being sold recently. The remaining empties on farm are planned to be milked through winter. The farm is currently operating on a 35-day round, with plans to gradually extend this heading into April.

Milk production

The milkers are currently producing 1.5 kg MS/cow/day and is tracking approximately 20% ahead of last year for the month of March. All but one herd are still being milked twice-a-day. Farm Owner Brian is expecting total milk production to reach 410,000 kg MS, which will be a new farm record. This is a result of higher summer stocking rates and consistent feed supply over the season through maize silage and pasture performance.

Looking ahead

As the war in the middle east continues, input prices such as fuel and fertiliser continue to increase. The Piries are carefully prioritising capital expenditure; calf shed work will proceed along with water infrastructure improvements, while some fencing and race projects which are less urgent are being deferred.

Commentary by Rhys Dawson Perrin Ag Consultants Ltd

25/03/2026

Hauraki Plains breakeven milk price ranges from: $7.43 - $9.22/kgMS

Each year DairyNZ forecasts a breakeven milk price for New Zealand dairy farmers. According to the forecast, the average dairy farmer will have a breakeven milk price of $8.68 per kilogram of milk solids (kgMS) for the 2025/26 season.
Data from DairyBase shows the breakeven milk prices for farms in the Hauraki Plains range from $7.43 to $9.22 per kgMS.

If you would like to calculate your farms breakeven milk price, use the table below.

Cash expenses – cash income = breakeven milk price.

P3 Dairy Trust

26/05/2026

22/05/2026

18/05/2026

10/05/2026

06/05/2026

25/04/2026

24/04/2026

11/04/2026

27/03/2026

25/03/2026

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