Dairy conversion units are as individual as the persons operating them. The need for flexibility in planning is easily demonstrable. Less than 6 months after purchasing a second-year conversion property near Edgecumbe the owners discovered a need to review fully the goals and objectives encompassed in their management plan. Such a move had been "forced" upon them for several reasons, primarily: (i) an announcement that milk solid (fat and protein) returns could be up to 25-30% lower than initially anticipated and (ii) the prompt recognition that pasture performance reflected much greater variation than earlier thought. Short- and medium-term goals were reviewed, resulting ina shift in priority from pasture renovation and increased stocking rate to additional drainage and fertiliser. The confidence to make such changes was provided through a decision-making process classed as "whole-farm technology transfer". Decisions that affect one component of the dairy production system are not made in isolation from the effects on another. Decision-making on this property is a stepwise, consultative process based on objective rather than subjective means and focuses on the 'wider vision' of the property owners. Keywords decision-making. goals and objectives, dairy conversion, whole farm technology transfer, management support
