SMASH: Run by dairy farmers for dairy farmers

SMASH has been set up to help dairy farmers, particularly those with smaller operations, to run successful businesses. We mainly achieve this by running events throughout New Zealand. These give farmers the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills which will stand them in good stead back on their own farms.

We also want to foster a supportive farming community – we are all in it together! SMASH is run by a group of New Zealand dairy farmers with a passion for the industry and for helping to build a strong and sustainable future for dairy farming. Read more

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Our bloggers are emerging out of the other end of calving. Find out how Matthew Zonderop's spring is progressing in his latest post. Rain, and lots of it, is the theme! He is also integrating a couple of new ideas, one of which he has developed himself. Have a read when you get a moment! www.smallerherds.co.nz/wet-wet-wet-matthew-zonderop/ ... See MoreSee Less
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If you happen to be around Cambridge, something to keep in mind! We will let you know if they run these events elsewhere. Thanks to our friends at FMG. ... See MoreSee Less
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2 months ago

SMASH Dairy Farming NZ
Emma Cuttance, from Epivets, always does an awesome job speaking at our calf rearing days about gold colostrum and how you can avoid failure of passive transfer. If you want to build the best immunity in your calves, and you haven't managed to make it along to one of our days to hear her, here she is speaking about it, have a watch! ... See MoreSee Less
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2 months ago

SMASH Dairy Farming NZ
If you are in the thick of calving you may be interested in picking up some tips from the livestream we ran some time ago on our YouTube channel with expert calf rearer Jo Leigh. Jo and her husband Jonathan own a dairy farm and ran a large-scale calf rearing business, Top-Notch Calves, for many years. Jo chatted with Susie Woodward, Waikato farmer, about how they produce consistently good results from their operation through: well-designed and researched nutrition and animal health strategies, setting up their calf rearing facility to provide the right environment for calves to survive and thrive, and effectively dealing with sick calves.youtu.be/LeiRjlnP1L8By the way, we have lots of other informative videos on YouTube, check them out when you get a moment! www.youtube.com/channel/UCde0vWRdbtNUiWC1x3wprYA ... See MoreSee Less
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Testimonials / See what people say about us

Our Farmers

Keith and Tracey

Smaller herd works for couple

“You are never too old to learn, attending SMASH events, industry and bank days keeps you well-informed and up-to-date. It is great to get off farm to see how other people run their farms.”

Cam

Always learning something new

“I think some people are shy to walk into an event on their own. The way I think about it is if you go to an event and learn one thing, quite often that thing will make you a lot better farmer. There are a lot of practical ideas you can pick up.”

Paul and Abby

Winning shift to the West Coast

“I love the fact that it is much more family-orientated, that is much more sustainable from a people perspective. My kids will grow up like I did, getting out on the farm, helping Dad in the shed. Ultimately, that is where the next generation of farmers comes from. I think we have done well to attract people from the urban setting, but I don’t think that is sustainable. You have to have environments where you can bring up families and that is one of the big benefits of small herds.”

Peter

SMASH supporter from the start

“SMASH events are more relevant for smaller herds farmers, you don’t feel out of place as you are not among the big corporates. It’s good to have small events like SMASH. I would encourage anyone to go to a SMASH event if they get a chance. I enjoy the interaction with the people afterwards as much as the topics.”

Nathan and Rosie

Career switch to smaller herd pays off

“We like the SMASH events so much because they are at a good level, they are deep enough to be worthy of going, and practical enough that we can use them in everyday life. Getting off the farm to go to an event is like a holiday! We feel so refreshed afterwards, it’s like we have been away for ever!”

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