Herd Management: Evolving Skills for Modern Dairy Farming

This week on the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Christine Parry, product innovation expert at AB Agri and vice-chair of the Global Feed Lifecycle Analysis Institute (GFLI), alongside dairy market analyst Chris Walkland and producer Becki Reay. The discussion explores Dairy UK’s new guidance on sourcing deforestation-free soya and other feed ingredients, how it relates to forthcoming EU and UK regulations and what the AIC’s standards mean for feed suppliers and dairy farmers. Christine explains how feed traceability and environmental data can help the industry reduce its carbon footprint, while the team considers the practical challenges of securing compliant soya and soya hulls, potential price pressures, and the transition needed across the supply chain. Chris also shares a latest milk market update, including falling cream and butter prices and the outlook for dairy commodities Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

In Episode 314 of The Kite Podcast, Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by senior consultant Kathryn Rowland, dairy market analyst Chris Walkland and podcast producer Becki Reay to unpack the latest cost of production data and what it means for farm profitability. The discussion explores how rising feed, fuel and fertiliser costs are expected to push average break-even milk prices from 39.9ppl to around 41.5ppl, why these increases may not yet be fully reflected in farm accounts, and how drought conditions could increase reliance on purchased feed this winter. The team also examines how strong milk yields, high constituents and additional income from cull cows and calves have supported margins in recent years, while highlighting the significant variation in costs between individual businesses. The episode concludes with an analysis of Freshways' recent 7ppl milk price cut and the challenging economics facing liquid milk processors. We also have a detailed milk market report from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

This week on the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Asterra Procurement Manager Chris Pickles, dairy market analyst Chris Walkland and producer Becki Reay to explore the key factors currently driving feed markets. Chris Walkland provides his usual milk market update before the conversation turns to the impact of global events, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and tensions in the Middle East, on grain supply, pricing and market volatility. The episode also examines how El Niño and South American weather patterns could influence global crop production in the months ahead, and what this means for UK dairy farmers. With discussion around protein feeds, cereals, maize markets, forage stocks and feed-buying strategies, the episode provides insight into the feed market outlook, future pricing trends and the key factors influencing markets, helping farmers make informed decisions around the timing of feed purchases. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

This week on the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Milica Kocic, Lead in Product Development at IFCN, and Kite Podcast producer Becki Reay to look back on the recent IFCN Conference in Parma, which brought together more than 200 dairy professionals from around the world. They discuss the conference theme of embracing volatility and share some of their key takeaways, from global dairy supply and demand trends to the economic outlook for major dairy-producing countries and the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. The conversation also explores the current UK and global milk market outlook, what these wider trends could mean for dairy businesses at home, and the importance of learning from different dairy systems around the world. Usual Milk Market Update from Chris Walkland, he explains what this could mean for milk prices in the months ahead. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

In this episode of the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by farmers Fliss Cobb and Conor Dunne, who recently completed Kite's Herd Manager Training Programme, to explore how the role of the modern herd manager continues to evolve. They're joined by Kite consultant Marcus Doig, who led the recent course, and Dane De Boorder, who will be taking the reins from January 2027, along with podcast producer Becki Reay. Together, they discuss the skills needed to succeed in today's dairy industry, from people management and communication to data analysis and technology. Fliss and Conor share their experiences of the programme, the lessons they've taken back to their farms, and how it has broadened their understanding of different dairy systems. Plus, the team discuss what makes a successful herd manager today and how the training programme is helping to develop the next generation of dairy leaders. As always, Chris Walkland returns with his latest milk market report. You can sign up to the Herd Manager Training Course starting in January 2027 by emailing [email protected] or contacting Dane on [email protected] or 07802 468194. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

In this week's Kite Podcast, Ben Eagle is joined by Wallace Currie, ADOPT Coordinator and Knowledge Exchange Manager at the UK AgriTech Centre, farmer and current ADOPT funding beneficiary Will Tuer, and podcast producer Becki Reay to discuss how ADOPT funding is helping farmers tackle real on-farm challenges through innovation and collaboration. With the latest funding round open until 7 October, Wallace explains how the scheme works, who can apply and the support available to farmers looking to develop and trial new ideas. Will shares his experience of securing ADOPT funding through his CLEAN DAIRY project, which focuses on improving energy monitoring and efficiency on dairy farms, and discusses the opportunities the programme creates for farmers to test practical solutions within their own businesses. The conversation explores the benefits of collaborative, farmer-led innovation and offers advice for anyone considering an application. As always, Chris Walkland joins the team with his latest milk market update, including a warning that farmers may need to temper their expectations on milk prices in the coming months. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

We kick off Episode 309 of the Kite Podcast with Chris Walkland's milk market report before hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Steve Cope of Cope Farming near Market Drayton, winner of the High Feed Efficiency Award at this year's Cream Awards, along with Kate Matthews, Senior Consultant at Kite Consulting and Steve's nutritionist, and podcast producer Becki Reay. Steve shares how he has improved feed efficiency within his business, the role it plays in overall farm performance, and the management decisions that have helped drive success on farm. Kate explains what feed efficiency really means, how it is measured, and why it has become such an important KPI for dairy businesses. Together, they explore the many factors that influence feed efficiency, from genetics and forage quality to cow health, housing and feed management, highlighting how a whole-farm approach is essential for long-term success. The team also reflects on the recent Cream Awards, celebrating excellence across the dairy industry and recognising the businesses driving performance and innovation. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

In Episode 308 of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans is joined by George Dunn, Chief Executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, and podcast producer Becki Reay to discuss the challenges facing tenant farmers and the growing need to review and renegotiate rental agreements. George shares how the TFA is supporting and encouraging tenant farmers to engage with landlords as many businesses come under increasing financial pressure. The discussion goes on to explore how many tenant farmers are operating under highly insecure agreements, making it difficult to plan for the future. With the average length of farm business tenancies now just over three years, the stability needed to build resilient agricultural businesses is becoming increasingly elusive. This precarious situation is further compounded by restrictive tenancy agreements, which can limit opportunities for diversification and business growth. Chris Walkland is away this week but still managed to send us his usual milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

In this week's Kite Podcast, Will Evans is joined by Paul Dover, UK Agricultural Director at Arla Foods, dairy farmer Tim Dale and podcast producer Becki Reay to discuss one of agriculture's biggest challenges: attracting the next generation of talent. Drawing on findings from Arla's recent farmer survey, which found that 65% of farmers believe better education and training is the key to attracting more people into the industry, the team explore the causes of ongoing skills shortages and what can be done to address them. The conversation explores the role of education in creating clear career pathways, with Paul calling on industry and government to take action in highlighting the diverse opportunities available across modern agriculture. Paul and Tim share their thoughts on inspiring young people, improving perceptions of farming and building a skilled workforce for the future. As always, Chris Walkland joins the team with his latest milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.

In Episode 306 of the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle tackle the pressing issue of feed and forage management amidst the ongoing dry conditions affecting the UK. With the hottest day of August upon us, they are joined by technical consultant Becky Hewlett from Kite and Dorset farmer Jake Symms to discuss strategies for adapting to these challenging circumstances. The conversation delves into the implications of the current drought on long-term feed strategies, the potential for an autumn cut and the prospects for maize harvests. With maize harvest already underway in some areas Becky gives practical advice on assessing when to harvest droughted & dying maize crops to maximize nutritional value, which are not the same as in a normal harvest year. Becky also provides insights into the urgent need for farmers to assess their forage stocks and devise feeding strategies that prioritise the highest quality feed for milking cows. The panel discusses the impact of insufficient rainfall on grass growth and maize crops, sharing practical advice on how to navigate these unprecedented conditions. Jake shares his firsthand experience of the drought's effects on his farm, highlighting the importance of flexibility in managing forage supplies. Additionally, Chris Walkland delivers his market report offering a global perspective on dairy prices and market dynamics. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of AB Agri Limited or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of AB Agri Limited . The contents of this podcast are the copyright of AB Agri Limited.