25 years in Dairy Industry Governance | Former DairyNZ Chairman | Former Fonterra Board Member
Few people embody New Zealand's dairy values and forward-thinking spirit quite like Jim van der Poel. Born into farming, Jim has spent his life striving to do things better — not just for his own business, but for the industry as a whole. His philosophy is simple: if you do the same as everyone else, you'll get the same results.
That mindset has driven both his governance leadership and his approach on-farm. When facing high somatic cell counts on his Frontier Road property, Jim turned to Farm Medix to get clear answers. Using Snapshot, he identified yeast contamination linked to drying-off hygiene — then worked with the Farm Medix team to build a management plan, test cows individually, and restore performance without unnecessary culling or antibiotic use.
Today, Jim continues to use Fresh Cow Dry Cow testing to identify mastitis-causing bacteria and make fast, targeted treatment decisions. The result is greater herd health, stronger milk quality, and less reliance on antibiotics — all supported by a partnership built on trust and science.
"Through Farm Medix, we've built a relationship based on doing things better — for the right reasons."
Jim's story is a testament to leadership in action — showing how curiosity, innovation, and collaboration can drive a more resilient, sustainable future for New Zealand dairy.