Amy and Greg Gemmell, dairy farmers in Manawatū, New Zealand, have found a perfect balance between technology and family life, thanks to the installation of three robotic machines in their dairy shed. The era of Greg needing to rise before dawn to milk the herd is a thing of the past, as the robots efficiently…
Taking The Initiative
As admin of a handful of relief milking groups on Facebook I’ve gained some insights into how farmers and job seekers interact with one another online. One recurring pattern I’ve noticed is this: a farmer posts an advertisement looking for a relief milker, but instead of private messaging or phoning the farmer to express interest,…
The Benefits Of Business Cards
Playing a key role in New Zealand’s economy, relief milkers are essential in ensuring the smooth running of the nation’s dairy sector. These individuals step in during peak times, emergencies, or when farmers and their regular staff are unavailable due to sickness, injury, vacation, or family commitments. However, in a competitive field where personal connections…
How Secure Is Your Farm Technology?
The increasing reliance on technology in agriculture has exposed the industry to a growing threat of cyber attacks, warns cybersecurity expert Alastair Miller. Government statistics from the Computer Emergency Response Team reveal a significant rise in direct financial losses from cybercrime in the first quarter of this year, reaching $5.8 million, marking a 66% increase…
Ron Sharp & The Herringbone
In 1952, Ronald Sharp, a visionary dairy farmer from Gordonton near Hamilton, New Zealand, forever changed the landscape of milking sheds with his revolutionary design known as the herringbone cowshed. This innovative creation not only alleviated the physical strain on dairy farmers but also significantly enhanced the efficiency of milking cows, setting a new standard…
Dairying With Deer
Not too quiet but not too flighty… it’s not easy finding the perfect milking deer. This is a big focus at Pāmu’s Aratiatia Deer Milking Unit near Taupō which is finishing its third season extracting creamy, nutritious milk from a mob of red deer. The better-suited hinds have got a little bit of go about…