(from The Migrant Times; the original story is here https://themigranttimes.org.nz/stories/2016/11/30/open-day-lu-dairy-farm-aims-to-reduce-environmental-footprint?rq=open%20day)

(caption for the above picture: The LUDT focus for 2015/16 season is low Nitrogen loss, low input, and nil infrastructure investment, while maximising profit)

- this came out at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm Open Day held on November 19; the 186 hectare irrigated property, of which 160 hectares is the milking platform, is a former University sheep farm

South Island dairying

All the above statistics are courtesy SIDDC. For more information, please visit siddc.org.nz.

• Dairy farming - NZ’s largest single industry

• 96% of New Zealand’s milk production is exported

• New Zealand’s 12,000 dairy farmers work with or employ another 30,000 people on farm

• Thousands more are employed in associated businesses and in dairy factories

• Production – Over 1.83 billion kilograms of milk solids processed from 20.7 billion litres milk

• Population– NZ Average herd size 413; 11,927 herds; 4.9 m cows (2013/14 season)

• SI average herd size 630 cows; 3,068 herds; 1,932,556 cows

• South Island dairy production – fastest growing, now represents approximately 39% of total NZ milk solids production, from 23.8% of NZ’s herds and 35.8% of NZ’s cows

• Overall the South Island has larger farms, larger herds, higher production per cow and per hectare