Northland Dairy Development Trust
 LIC strives to make New Zealand farmers more profitable, through:
- Providing semen that will result in genetically superior cows, so more milk fat and protein is produced at less expense.
- Providing information on a timely basis – for example, through MINDA and Herd Testing reports – which enable farmers to make smarter, more efficient decisions.
- Meeting the needs of customers by providing systems that will make farm management easier.
The above objectives dictate that we invest heavily in science-based research and development. We also invest heavily in field trials, ensuring our products meet the needs of a market that is constantly responding to international conditions and demands.
Because of this, LIC has built a global reputation for being at the cutting edge of research and development in the rural sector. This is important, because dairying today is just as much a part of the ‘knowledge economy’ as any other sector.
Research and technology is therefore extremely important to us because it’s extremely important to our shareholding customers. New Zealand farmers have a considerable bank of ‘knowledge capital’ – and LIC strives to nurture and protect our country’s competitive edge in dairying.
Collectively, this means New Zealand farmers must remain ‘ahead of the game’. Industry-good initiatives, such as the Northland Dairy Development Trust (NDDT), benefit farmers through continuous process improvement. The two farms NDDT administer provide valuable information, research, and direction to the dairy sector throughout Northland, and beyond.
Specifically, the trust is a joint initiative between the Northland Agricultural Research Farm and a commercial Fonterra-owned farm at Hikurangi. Although the farms run as separate entities, LIC endorses the common outcomes they seek to achieve:
- Raising the profile of Northland as an innovative and progressive dairying region.
- Promoting the dairy industry in a positive light, to both existing suppliers and the general public.
- Better utilisation of resources for the common good through sharing personnel and the technology involved in research and extension.
- To showcase leading-edge technology with a particular emphasis on managing current and emerging regulatory, environmental, and animal welfare issues.
Traceability and product safety is an example of the sorts of regulatory issues dairying must grapple with on a global scale. LIC believes it is crucial to remain at the forefront of developments in areas such as this.
Our sponsorship of the trust gives LIC critical industry-based insights, and we feel privileged to have access to research and development taking place on the two farms.
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