Tell us about NZ Dairy Exporter. For someone who has never read the magazine, what should they expect?
NZ Dairy Exporter is a monthly subscription management magazine for dairy farmers. It contains everything farmers need to know about the industry inside the farm gate, with the latest research, science and best management practices often told through the stories of other farmers because farmers learn well from peer-to-peer learning. 

The magazine has on-farm case studies from around the country, expert advice and an overseas Global Dairy snapshot. It also features news on the issues farmers are facing and four columns each month from farmers around New Zealand, discussing what is happening on their farms and in their part of the industry. 

The magazine is divided into sections; Upfront (news and views), Business (around the farming business), Systems (showcasing the latest in farm systems), Environment (showing best practice on New Zealand farms), and Stock (keeping farmers up to date on animal science research and farming practices). There is also a Young Country section, showing young people building businesses and careers in the sector, and a monthly special report, which is a deep dive into a burning seasonal or industry issue. We also have a Wellness section, a Dairy 101 educational piece and a Solutions section for new products / services.

Trade magazines can be a crucial source of information for industry. What kind of audience does NZ Dairy Exporter have and what do you hope they get out of reading it?
NZ Dairy Exporter has been New Zealand dairy farmers' source of truth and on-farm information for almost 100 years. Its subscribers are mainly New Zealand-based dairy farmers but it also has a loyal following among other overseas pasture-based dairy farmers - especially in Ireland, the United Kingdom, South America, South Africa, and Australia. The print version is popular, but we also have a growing number of farmers who read the digital editions. We hope every issue provides farmers with ideas of practices that could be applied to their own farming operation for an improved bottom line, better production or higher efficiency. 

As a long-time Editor of NZ Dairy Exporter, how have you seen the title evolve during your time at the helm?
Farmers have had more and more complex regulations coming at them and have become more time-poor, so we have tried to keep them abreast of changes and provide information that adds to the business but not to overwhelm them.

Are there any key issues or coverage areas in the industry you are keeping an eye on for the remainder of the year?
There are lots of important issues coming at farmers at the moment; farming inclusion or not in the ETS, reducing GHG emissions, climate change impacting on the normal weather patterns, fast-rising inflation on-farm, review of animal welfare regulations, new freshwater regulations, proposed biodiversity regulations, and maintaining their social licence to farm.

Farmers are always busy people meeting the seasonal demands of their businesses so we need to keep them served with good information to make sound decisions about their farms.

What should PRs keep in mind when pitching to you for NZ Dairy Exporter?
It is important to serve farmers with peer-reviewed and proven science whilst still being open-minded about what is coming at them and the issues that will impact on them on-farm.

Answers submitted by Jackie Harrigan, Editor of NZ Dairy Exporter.