Workshops

Sponsored by GEA

This workshop will review and discuss the results of flexible milking research (OAD vs 3 &2 vs TAD), using on-farm case studies.

Paul Edwards, DairyNZ, Jeremy Savage (LUDF) and Farmer case study

This workshop will review and discuss the key learnings from the flexible milking project (experimental results and work with farmers), including a case study of 10-in-7 at LUDF

Learn more about:

• LUDF will walk you through the systems they have changed on farm using flexible milking, the effect it has had on production, labour, and other aspects of the farm business.
• Implications for production, practical implementation of flexible milking approaches
• How flexible milking options can help with staffing.

Sponsored by Compass Agribusiness

Whether you are wanting to progress through the dairy industry or transition out of it, clear planning is key, and no two businesses are the same.

Hayden Craw, Compass Agribusiness Management with Paul Edwards and Ollie Knowles

Management and financial planning

• Learn financial tips to help you grow your business.
• Learn how to navigate business models and succession planning.
• Planning advice to help reach your business goals in the next five, ten or twenty years, with options to ease back from working on farm to support this.
• Tips on creating goals that will help you progress in the industry.
• Q and A session on operational and ownership models and options for your farm.>

Is this workshop right for me?

This workshop is suited to farm owners, decision-makers, equity partners, share milkers and contract milkers.

Sponsored by Brown Glassford and Co Ltd

Is compliance mounting and you’re finding information is not at your fingertips? Do you have too much paper and are lacking efficiency in your office? Are you wondering how to keep multiple people in your business in the loop?

Travis Gordon and Terry Kilday, Camden Group

Anna Wakelin, Kohika Downs

Learn more about a simple and effective system to keep everyone on farm connected, with all the right data at their fingertips – fostering a culture of information sharing and transparency at all levels of your business

Is this workshop right for me?

This workshop is suited to a farm office manager or employee.

Sponsored by Catalyst Performance Agronomy

Understand what winter grazing good management practices looks like on farm and how to meet the regulations at this offsite workshop.

Justin Kitto, Environment and water quality specialist – DairyNZ

We’ll be travelling to two local properties from North Otago to the Waitaki Plains to see how different topography, soil types and farm systems influence our winter grazing plans, and how to apply these practically.

Hear from farmers and environment and water quality specialist Justin Kitto, on challenges and opportunities.

• Understand national regulations and how to meet the standards.
• Do’s and don’ts of wintering.
• Implementing good management practice.

Is this workshop right for me?

Key decisions makers – any one in charge of managing stock grazing.

Sponsored by LIC

Ryan Luckman- Veterinary centre Waimate

• Veterinarian Ryan Luckman will show you the latest findings in mating including data from 45 farms with cow collars. And local farmer Ben Smith  will share his experiences implementing Ryans advice.
• Techniques and advice that were used to lift reproduction with or without collars
• Findings  from this season’s matings to use on farm.
• What this might mean for matings in the future.

Is this workshop right for me?

This workshop is suited to farm owners or sharemilkers.

Sponsored by ASB

Do you want to get a better understanding of how the milk market works and how dairy companies set their milk price? Would you like to manage milk price highs and lows? Get the knowledge and tools to make the right decisions for your business.

Brent Love – KPMG, Charles Fergusson – Fonterra and  Will Hurst from ASB

In this workshop learn:

• What influences your pay out and who reports on this.
• The correlation between GDT and pay out.
• Managing a high payout.
• Impacts of inflation on payout.

Sponsonred by Rural Tenancy Ltd

Regular house inspections and property maintenance are sometimes put to the bottom of the priority pile when things get busy. This can lead to dire consequences.

What if outsourcing this role to an expert gave you reassurance your properties were being looked after and your employees happy with regular maintenance?

Rebecca Smith – Rural Tenancy Limited

Rebecca has spent the last 16 years dairy farming with her husband Heath which is where the idea to start a tenancy inspection company originated from as they saw a real need for help and clarity on their own farm. 

In this workshop hear about what is involved in property management and how it works on farm. Learn more about:

• Landlord obligations under new laws and what this means
• Benefits of outsourcing house inspections and property management and maintenance.

Is this workshop right for me?

This workshop is suited to farm owners and sharemilkers.

Farmer panel session for those who currently have collars or ear tags, with a chance to have your questions answered.

Learn more about:

• The benefits of cow collars and tags
• Their suitability for NZ systems.
• What is available, cost, and how long they should last.

Come along and hear farmers talk about their experience with an opportunity for you to ask questions.

We will be hearing from:

• Halter
• Aficollar
• Cow Manager
• Allflex

Is this workshop right for me?

This workshop is suited to herd owners.

Sponsored by Jarden

Learn more about how futures work and how they fit into your business from farmers who have used them.

Stuart Davidson and Julia Jones – NZX

Discover NZX Dairy Insights, a dive into milk price futures, and how they help build business resilience. Hear stories and experiences from current farmer users and learn more about:

• How this market works: the physical and financial running in tandem.
• How using milk futures can build resilience for your business.
• How strategy and policy are intertwined into using these tools.

Sponsored by Agricom

Jeremy Savage – SIDDC , Fraser Harrison – Agricom Peter Hancox – LUDF farm manager.

Hear about the science behind plantain and the positive environmental impacts of using it in your pasture sward. Est Learn about the establishment and grazing management of Plantain for positive environmental outcomes, with feedback from agronomist Fraser Harrison.

 LUDF farm manager Peter Hancox will take you through their operation with a look from the farmers perspective of planting and feeding plantain

Grow your understanding around how we can best protect significant features on our farms through collaboration with other stakeholders.

This workshop is hosted in the heart of North Otago Limestone country where you will travel to by bus to visit examples of local native plantings in various stages of development.

Learn more about:

• Enhancing and protecting geographical, cultural, or historic features on our farms.
• Tips and tricks from local experts to get best results from native plantings, including funding, sourcing and ongoing maintenance and care.

Sponsored by Fonterra

Ina Pinxterhuis – DairyNZ

Come along to this workshop and find out more about:

• What happens currently once surplus calves leave the farm?
• What are the global trends for dairy?
• Are there market opportunities for dairy-beef?
• What can a farmer do to deliver a calf wanted by a calf rearer and beef finisher? Hear from farmers.

We also want to hear from you, so akd you questiosn in the panel discussion and discuss you ideas?

Is this workshop right for me?

This workshop is suited for those in a decision maker role.

Sponsored by Ravensdown

Dr Ants Roberts – Ravensdown Chief Scientific Officer

• Learn why you should be concerned about the GHGs your farm produces
• Knowing the GHG numbers for your farm, what can you do to lower them
• Practical on farm solutions to implement and how these impact your number
• Let’s discuss how you might implement some of these ideas on your farm
• Will research and development help us with solutions in the future?

Is this workshop right for me?

This workshop is suited for those in a decision maker role.

Sponsored by ASB

Building the workforce we want – how do we find and keep great people

Jane Muir – Lead advisor for people at DairyNZ

David Browne – Director of legal and human resource services at Business South

Come along to this workshop and learn:

• What will be the biggest impacts in getting the workforce we want
• Why we might need to change our jobs
• Why Workplace 360 is important and how it can work for you
• How to develop robust working relationships

 This workshop is for owner operators, sharemilkers, contract milkers or anyone who employs staff.

Katie Saunders BVSc  MANZCVS (Animal Welfare)

Lead Advisor – Animal Care DairyNZ

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) has reviewed the code of welfare for dairy cattle and has released a draft code for public consultation.  It has been 14 years since the code was last reviewed.  Our understanding of animal welfare has developed since then and needs to be considered and incorporated into a revised code in way that that is clear, practical to implement on-farm, and meets the needs of animals.

We know caring for cows and ensuring they have a good quality of life is a core part of being a dairy farmer, so we need your input.  Come along to learn about the key proposed changes and share your ideas about getting the balance right.

The deadline for submissions is 30 June so now is the time to have your say.

Suitable for farm staff, owners and rural professionals