DairyNZ’s Farmers’ Forums are being held in Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Southland. This is your opportunity to:

• understand what is driving change in the dairy sector and how to respond
• get updated on regional and national policy development and how to have an influence
• hear about the latest science happening in your region and what solutions you can use on your farm
• get an overview on how DairyNZ is prioritizing its efforts to best protect your future.

Farmers Forum 2020 events

Northland	18 February	Whangarei (Jointly run with Northland Dairy Development Trust)	Register here
Waikato	19 February	Lye Farm, Hamilton	Register here
Southland	3 March	Southern Dairy Hub, Invercargill	Register here
Taranaki	11 March	Dairy Trust Taranaki’s Gibson Farm, Hawera	Register here
Canterbury	12 March	Ashley Dene Research and Development Station, Lincoln University	Register here

All events run from 9.30am (tea and coffee from 9.30am with event starting at 10am) until 3.30pm (with the exception of the Northland event which runs until 2.00pm) and are free for DairyNZ levy payers and their staff.

Guest speakers

Cameron Bagrie - Economist

Understanding opportunity, managing risk

Learn what is driving change in global markets. Hear the latest on the commodity market and the power of the consumer in influencing our future. Also, a look at environmental constraints that are happening world-wide and how population growth and new technologies will influence our food.  

• About Cameron

  Cameron, an independent expert on financial markets, has more than 20 years' experience working as an economist in New Zealand, including 18 at the ANZ and National Bank, and almost four at the New Zealand Treasury. He now runs Bagrie Economics.

Nadia Lim - MasterChef NZ winner

Fit for the future (Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury, Southland events)

Hear where Nadia thinks the future of food is heading and why agriculture will continue to play an important role. She’ll also share some of her business experiences and how she learned to adapt to change.

• About Nadia

  'Nude Food' advocate Nadia Lim is all about everyday simple, healthy, delicious food. Nadia is an Otago University qualified dietitian and former MasterChef New Zealand winner. She also has ten best-selling cookbooks, is one of the founders of My Food Bag and has her own lifestyle magazine. Nadia and her family have also recently moved out of the city onto the farm – having taken over the reins of the family’s large scale sheep station in Central Otago.

DairyNZ speakers

• DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle – responding to farmers’ feedback and what DairyNZ’s focus will be in the next five years.
• DairyNZ strategy and investment leader, Bruce Thorrold – providing clarity on where we are currently as a sector and how we can meet demands – there are some exciting opportunities in the future.
• Scientists, and others who are driving regional science projects.

Topics

Telling the dairy story – learn how to engage with the wider public to build trust and prevent misconceptions.

Policy and advocacy – what’s happening behind the scenes in regional and national policy development? Find out what you can do in this space to influence the outcomes and how you can prepare for what’s coming.

Practical steps to reduce our footprint – hear tips from local farmers about how they have reduced their environmental footprint. What results have they achieved? What’s worked and what hasn’t?

Science in action – learn what science is happening in your region and what solutions are available to you now.

• Northland - NARF trials on supplement use

  NARF trials on supplement use in a variable climate and the nitrogen, sulphur and potassium spring fertiliser comparison. The supplement trial is looking at the effects on production, environmental outcomes and profitability when using different management strategies for producing milk within a variable climate and the constraints of the Fat Evaluation Index (FEI). The study at the Northland Agricultural Research Farm (NARF) is in its second year, with data comparing three 28ha pasture-based systems, differing in stocking rate and the nature of feed supplied.

• Waikato - Farming in the future

  Have we got N leaching and greenhouse gas emissions covered? What solutions help farmers meet environmental obligations? This workshop will update farmers on the latest research into reducing nitrogen (N) leaching and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). It will also look at the key drivers for reducing N leaching and GHGs on farm, what farmers can do next season and how it will fit into their system.

• Southland - Wintering practices

  What are the Winter Grazing Taskforce recommendations and how are farmers able to adapt to the proposed changes? This session will showcase the trial work behind fodder beet and kale crops, as well as infrastructure options for wintering cows in Southland.

• Taranaki - Transition to autumn calving

  Results from the trial to date at Dairy Trust Taranaki's Kavanagh Farm will be shared. This trial is investigating what happens when the whole herd is transitioned at once from spring to autumn calving. Effects on milk production, days-in-milk, 6-week in-calf rate, liveweight, body condition score, pasture growth and supplementary feed will be discussed.

• Canterbury - Variable milking intervals

  Want to spend less time in the shed but once-a-day doesn’t suit your system? Hear the initial trial results on the use of variable milking intervals across different times of the year and how it might suit your farm system.