Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy

Model chapter

This chapter contains model results and commentary from the 2009 dairy monitoring programme as a printable PDF. The chapter provides information on the production and financial status of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model farm. Model chapters will no longer be published in the pastoral monitoring report.

Download the model chapter in PDF format [367K PDF]

To request a printed copy of this document please contact policy.publications@maf.govt.nz

Data release

This release provides key points and Excel tables from the 2009 dairy monitoring programme for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model. Final results from the 2009 monitoring round, with commentary on the model, are due for release in late July 2009. This budget was compiled in June 2009 and is based on farmer and industry expectations at the time.

Key points

The carryover effects of the 2008 drought, combined with variable weather including a very dry autumn in 2009, saw production only recover partially (up 7 percent compared with 2007/08) to 97 500 kilograms of milksolids.
The reduced payout, down to $5.20 per kilogram of milksolids, saw the model's net cash income drop 28 percent compared with 2007/08 to $519 500.
The expected $7.00 payout at the start of the season, coupled with carryover effects of the drought, saw farmers spend freely at the start of the season. Farm working expenses were hard to pare back later in the season and farm working expenditure increased in 2008/09 by 16 percent to $3.96 per kilogram of milksolids.
The higher costs and lower payout resulted in a significant cash loss of $53 800 for the model in 2008/09.
As a result of the combination of losses in 2008/09 and the lower than expected $4.55 per kilogram of milksolids payout in 2009/10, farmer morale is subdued.

Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model tables and graph

Table 1: Key parameters, financial results and budget for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model
Table 2: Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model budget
Table 3: Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model expenditure
Figure 1: Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model profitability trends

Download Excel format [132KB XLS]

To request this information in CSV format please contact stats_info@maf.govt.nz

Information about the model

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty dairy model represents approximately 5060 dairy farms in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. The model is a seasonal supply farm based on an average property of 110 hectares, milking 310 cows, and producing around 102 000 kilograms of milksolids in a normal season. Heifers are grazed off the farm for 12 months.

The model is created from information drawn from 50 dairy farms and a wide cross section of agribusiness representatives. The aim of the model is to typify an average dairy farm for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region. Budget figures are averaged from the contributing properties and adjusted to represent a real dairy farm. Income figures include off-farm income, new borrowing, and other cash income.

For more information on this model contact: Phil.Journeaux@maf.govt.nz

Contact for Enquiries

Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
Contact this person