The Country 29/10/25: Tracy Brown talks to Jamie Mackay

The Chair of DairyNZ addresses the animal welfare issues surrounding cows not being milked (or being milked OAD) because of power cuts. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress. To tell us
about it and to tell us what we can do
about it is Tracy Brown Madam had a dairy farmer
by memory, Tracy just beside Hobbiton and also chair of
Dairy en Z. I know that Dairy and Zed's been
busy on the ground in the Deep South with all
those farmers down there who are trying to milk cows
at the moment without power, there are some real animal

(00:23):
health and welfare issues coming up, not to mention the
state of mind to some of the farmers. What's the
advice you've got for the people on the ground in
Southland and Southwest Otago.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, thanks Jamie. So I've just been over at the
International Dairy Summit in Chile and only back in New
Zealand for about twenty foot but over twenty four hours,
So still kind of coming to grips with the situation
in South and the Cross Canterbury. But I've been in
regular contact with our chief executive and being in contact
with some of our staff. So there's some key things

(00:57):
that we really want people to think about. So the
first one is there's information on the rule if people
can get power there's information on the rule support trust
around community get togethers and just checking on your neighbors,
checking on your family, keeping people safe, our daring. ZT
Area managers can offer help in terms of farm system

(01:19):
support and they've been doing a bit of that already.
Health and safety as a priority, Jamie, and as people
start to clean up for on trees and what have you,
we want to make sure that staff are aware. And
then you know, people are fatigue, they're exhausted, so they
need to treat all power lines as live unless it's
been confirmed otherwise, you know, when they're cleaning up trees,

(01:42):
if they've got animal health and welfare concerns, which many
people have, and just get in touch with your local
vet to get some advice, and then get in touch
with regional counsels if people have got effluent concerns in
terms of what they need to do with that, or
you know, the has been some dumping of milkware haven't
been able to be collected, so just keep in communication

(02:05):
with your original councils on that. But you just really
want people to know that we're really thinking of you.
We know it's a tough time. You know, some people
have had no power since about Thursday last week, and
I know the services are working really hard to try
and get that reconnected and to get generators around to
people that need generators to get their cows monked.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Yeah, and I'm assuming the local regional councils are going
to cut these farmers some slack around effluent ponds and
having to dump milk.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah. So there's been good communication more FA SECT deal
with the regional council. So it's a huge team fit, Jamie.
You know, between Deer and z Beef and land Fed's
will Support Trust has played a huge role in all
of this, and a regional council, so everybody's there to
support farmers. We want farmers to know that Deering Zid's
got your back. We're here to support you. You just

(02:56):
need to reach out and tell us what you need
in terms of idiate needs and then ongoing need.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
And don't be afraid to ask for help just quickly.
On the International Dairy Conference, we spoke last week to
Andrew Hoggart, who was there representing the government. You were
in Chile. Had you been there before?

Speaker 2 (03:14):
No, it was my first time in South America, Jamie.
So it was a really good opportunity to just get
some context in terms of the farm systems over there
and learn a little bit more about what goes on there.
But it's the idea is probably the most important global
gathering for the world's dairy community. So it was a
really incredible opportunity to get together in that non competitive

(03:38):
space and talk about the challenges that people face and
sort of think about how we can sell some of
those together as a wider dairy community.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
And it was a good dry run heading into what
is it next year's or the year after help me
out here. We're hosting it in Auckland.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yes, so yeah, New Zealand is hosting the International Dairy
Federation Summit in Auckland next year in November. The following
years in India, in the following years in Quebec. But
really there'll be a lot more information come out over
the coming months, but that'll be a great opportunity for
farmers in New Zealand, scientists and processes and all our

(04:16):
supporting industries to really connect globally with the global DA community.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
Tracy Brown, Chair of Dairy and Z, Thanks for some
of your time today. I know you're still a bit
jet lagged after getting back from South America and remember
farmers you need a helping hands. Sing out Dairy and
ZED is there to help. Thanks Tracy, Cheers, Jamie,