Donald's Farm NZYF

22/04/2025

Well… that wasn’t quite where we planned on putting it! 🌬
Last week’s wild wind gave us a bit of a challenge, relocating our nursery tunnel house straight onto the roof of the pump shed. Not exactly the spot we had in mind!

Thankfully, we managed to rescue it with only a few battle scars — a couple of rips in the plastic to tell the tale.
Big thanks to the team for jumping in and getting it sorted. Farm life sure keeps us on our toes!

19/04/2025

Hoppy Easter from Donald’s Farm!

As you enjoy your Easter treats this weekend, don’t forget the humble heroes behind every delicious chocolate egg — our dairy cows!

Milk and cream are essential ingredients in making all those smooth, creamy Easter chocolates we love. From the farm to the factory, it all starts with fresh, high-quality dairy straight from hardworking farms like ours.

Wishing you all a safe, happy Easter filled with family, fun, and just the right amount of chocolate!

17/04/2025

Green growth is on the way!
After a bit of rain last week, we’re finally seeing some fresh green shoots popping up around the farm. The grass is starting to grow again, giving our paddocks (and our cows!) a much-needed boost.

It’s always a good reminder of how closely we work with nature — a little rain goes a long way out here!

13/04/2025

Morning magic at Donald's Farm🌅
There’s nothing quite like the birdsong up at our main native bush block in the early hours. This beautiful 2.8ha area is rich in biodiversity and home to a wide variety of native species—possibly even acting as a feeding ground for the elusive native NZ bat!

It's the stunning backdrop to our nursery and also where Nature’s Den runs their inspiring forest and farm school sessions. This thriving bush will also be a fantastic seed source for the nursery as we continue to grow and restore.

Nature in action, right on our doorstep. Conservation Volunteers Auckland

11/04/2025

What a day! We had an awesome time hosting the Auckland Clash of the Colleges event yesterday, run by AgriFutures.

With 108 teenagers taking on 15 challenging modules, they were put to the test across a wide range of primary industry skills — and they absolutely smashed it!

The sun was shining, the energy was high, and it was fantastic to see so many young people getting stuck in and giving it their all.

A huge thanks to everyone who helped make the day such a success — we loved being part of it!
Agri Futures Ahuwhenua ki te Anamata | Farm 4 Life

09/04/2025

Final Herd Test for the 2024/25 Season! We have just completed our 4th and final herd test for the season—one of the most important tests for tracking our cows’ full-season production data. This test also provides valuable insights into somatic cell count (SCC), a key indicator of udder health.

Why does this matter?
✅ It helps us plan for dry-off when we stop milking at the end of the season.
✅ Cows with an SCC above 150,000 will receive Dry Cow Therapy, an antibiotic treatment to tackle potential mastitis infections.
✅ Treating mastitis at dry-off is crucial to prevent seriousl infections before calving in late winter/spring.

Herd testing is an essential tool for better herd health, milk quality, and animal welfare—helping us make informed decisions to care for our cows and improve production.

08/04/2025

Technology in Action at Donald's Farm!

Last week, we had our effluent pond telemetry device from CropX upgraded! As part of the process, staff from were also trained on this innovative technology.

This device monitors our effluent pond levels and integrates them with real-time soil moisture data from our sensors. It then provides daily recommendations on whether conditions are suitable for irrigation. By irrigating only when soil moisture levels allow, we can:
✅ Reduce the risk of effluent runoff, leaching, or ponding
✅ Minimise the chance of effluent entering waterways
✅ Optimise the use of nutrients in effluent for better pasture growth

This is a great example of how smart technology is helping us farm more efficiently—meeting both environmental and economic goals.

06/04/2025

🏡🐄 Making the Most of Our Herd Home 🌿We are fortunate to have a herd home on the farm – a covered feed pad that plays a big role in looking after both our cows and our pasture. In wet weather, it helps protect our paddocks from damage, and in dry conditions, it prevents overgrazing when grass growth slows down.

Feeding out baleage in the herd home also means better feed utilisation, as it stops the cows from treading on it like they would in the paddock. A win-win for both the cows and the farm!

04/04/2025

Clash of the Colleges – Coming to Donald’s Farm! We aree excited to be hosting the Auckland Clash of the Colleges event this year! On Thursday, April 10th, over 100 secondary school students will take on a series of hands-on challenges in teams of four, putting their skills to the test in an action-packed day on the farm.

The event will be hosted by the incredible Tangaroa Walker from Farm 4 Life, bringing his energy and expertise to inspire the next generation of agri-leaders!

A huge shoutout to Agrifutures for running this fantastic initiative. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the big day!

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Motivating, supporting and empowering rangatahi to pursue careers in Food and Fibre.

03/04/2025

They say running an event brings the rain—and today proved it! But that hasn’t dampened spirits at Donald’s Farm as we hosted the Jersey NZ Conference Field Day, focused on The Right Balance.

It’s been fantastic to welcome such a great turnout, providing an opportunity for our farm supporters to connect, share knowledge, and engage with fellow farmers. It was great to hear interesting presentations from Fonterra's Malcolm Ellis and DairyNZ's mark Williams. A big thank you to everyone who joined us!

31/03/2025

🌅 Morning Magic at Donald’s Farm 🌿 One of the perks of early mornings on the farm is witnessing some truly breathtaking sunrises. As autumn settles in, the valleys often fill with a blanket of low-lying fog, creating a stunning and peaceful view.

Nature sure knows how to put on a show! 🍂✨Do you enjoy beautiful mornings? We would love to see below ⬇️

30/03/2025

With their naturally efficient feed conversion, Jerseys thrive on a variety of farming systems. Their smaller size means less strain on pastures and their easy calving reduces health risks - helping them lead longer, healthier lives.

Join the movement towards a more sustainable dairy industry with Jerseys! Learn more at 👉 https://www.jersey.org.nz/the-right-balance/

Or come and see us at our upcoming Fielday - register here 👉 https://forms.gle/xJ61uGbbrAcN5LRz9

30/03/2025

Keeping Our Cows Well-Fed Through the Dry Spell

As the dry weather continues, we are staying proactive by bringing in extra feed to supplement our cows. With this season’s strong payout, we have made the strategic decision to invest in additional feed to keep our herd in top condition and milking well.

Although we have had a little bit of rain recently, which has helped keep the grass green, we’ll need a good soaking to really get things growing again. In the meantime, we’re doing everything we can to ensure our cows are well-fed and thriving.

26/03/2025

Join Us for the Jersey NZ National Conference Field Day!

We are excited to be hosting a Field Day on April 3rd as part of the Jersey NZ National Conference—and you’re invited!

Come along to learn more about our predominantly Jersey herd, hear from a range of expert speakers, and connect with some of the amazing supporters who help make our farm what it is. It’s a great opportunity to see firsthand what we do and be part of an informative and engaging day on the farm.

Register now to secure your spot: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMRHx0h9NUSIWZbOBAcFtxJqHVSn52EkAn5jPe6bUgP8N6fg/viewform

We look forward to seeing you there!

24/03/2025

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting a group of Year 6 students from Kristin Primary School for our Grass to Glass farm tour!

The students had a fantastic time learning all about where milk comes from and what it takes to produce it. From the paddock to the milking shed, they asked plenty of great questions and were eager to soak up the experience of life on the farm.

It’s always a joy to share what we do with the next generation—thanks for visiting, Kristin Primary! We hope to see you again.

19/03/2025

Exciting progress on our stock yard rebuild! We have completely removed the old yards and are now laying a solid metal base to create a strong foundation.

Looking forward to working with a blank canvas as we start the next phase of construction!
Stay tuned for more updates.

18/03/2025

Exciting Delivery at Donald’s Farm!

We are thrilled to have our new Hynds Rural water troughs arrive! Some will replace older, worn-out troughs, while others will be installed in new locations to improve water access for our stock.

With better water distribution, we have more flexibility in placing our break fences, helping us maximise pasture utilisation and support healthier grazing.

A big thanks to Hynds for supplying these quality troughs—keeping our farm running efficiently!

17/03/2025

Bringing Town to the Country – Another Amazing Open Farms Day!

Since 2021, we have loved being part of the Open Farms initiative, each year building on what we offer to educate people about where their food comes from and what farming is all about. This year was no exception!

We welcomed 320 visitors for our “Grass to Glass” farm tour, giving them a hands-on experience of dairy farming. From meeting farm animals and painting baleage bales to testing their skills in a gumboot throw and climbing aboard farm machinery, there was something for everyone. A huge highlight was getting up close with not one but TWO milk tankers, thanks to Fonterra.

A massive thank you to everyone who joined us – what an awesome way to connect town and country! We cannot wait to do it all again next year.