North Canterbury dairy farmer Stuart Neill, winner of the 2025 Canterbury Supreme Award at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, reflects on the long-term changes that have shaped his business. Farming 200 hectares near Culverden, he has built a resilient, pasture-focused system anchored in simplicity, environmental stewardship, and strong people management.

In this episode, Anne Lee speaks with Stuart about the journey behind the award, the evolution of irrigation on the farm, and the environmental gains from redesigning old tile drains and restoring waterways. They also discuss flexible milking, building a system that works for both cows and staff, and his message to other farmers: meaningful change happens when you’re willing to step back, rethink, and keep improving.

 

Host:
Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country

Guest:
Stuart Neill, 2025 Canterbury Supreme Award Winner

 

Stuart Neill reflects on his journey as a North Canterbury dairy farmer and celebrates winning the Supreme Award at the 2025 Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Farming on The Mound, he shares how managing 200 fully irrigated hectares with a focus on grass-based milk production, sustainable irrigation, and innovative pasture management has shaped his approach to farm leadership.

He talks about the environmental initiatives that have defined his career, from converting border-dyked paddocks to spray irrigation, improving water quality through open drains and strategic plantings, to adopting a 10 (milkings)-in-seven (days) flexible milking system that balances cow health, reproduction, and staff wellbeing. Stuart also reflects on the importance of people, from building the Amuri Employers Group to mentoring staff and fostering strong partnerships, and offers insight into creating a resilient, profitable, and environmentally responsible farm system.

North Canterbury dairy farmer Stuart Neill, winner of the 2025 Canterbury Supreme Award at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, reflects on the long-term changes that have shaped his business. Farming 200 hectares near Culverden, he has built a resilient, pasture-focused system anchored in simplicity, environmental stewardship, and strong people management.
In this episode, Anne Lee speaks with Stuart about the journey behind the award, the evolution of irrigation on the farm, and the environmental gains from redesigning old tile drains and restoring waterways. They also discuss flexible milking, building a system that works for both cows and staff, and his message to other farmers: meaningful change happens when you&rsquo;re willing to step back, rethink, and keep improving.
&nbsp;
Host:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country</li>
</ul>
Guest:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Stuart Neill, 2025 Canterbury Supreme Award Winner</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Stuart Neill reflects on his journey as a North Canterbury dairy farmer and celebrates winning the Supreme Award at the 2025 Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Farming on The Mound, he shares how managing 200 fully irrigated hectares with a focus on grass-based milk production, sustainable irrigation, and innovative pasture management has shaped his approach to farm leadership.
He talks about the environmental initiatives that have defined his career, from converting border-dyked paddocks to spray irrigation, improving water quality through open drains and strategic plantings, to adopting a 10 (milkings)-in-seven (days) flexible milking system that balances cow health, reproduction, and staff wellbeing. Stuart also reflects on the importance of people, from building the Amuri Employers Group to mentoring staff and fostering strong partnerships, and offers insight into creating a resilient, profitable, and environmentally responsible farm system.

DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee.

Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with our
thousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world.

Don’t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the subscribe button now and join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter to get the latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in the
business of dairy farming into the future.

DAIRY Country is your mainstay in dairy farming as your trusted source for adding value to your dairy farming business with seasonal on farm stories and exclusive technical advice weekly with your host, Anne Lee.
Formally the NZ Dairy Exporter since 1925, DAIRY Country is part of the CountryWide network based in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Get in touch with our Anne Lee - anne@countrywidemedia.co.nz if you have a great insight to share with our thousands of readers and listeners in New Zealand and around the world.
Don&rsquo;t miss our weekly episodes of the DAIRY Country Podcast by hitting the&nbsp;subscribe button now and <a href="https://dairyexporter.co.nz/sign-up/">join our DAIRY Country weekly email newsletter</a> to get the&nbsp;latest in-depth stories in your mailbox so you are always ahead of the game in the business of dairy farming into the future.