International Day of Rural Women: Two DairyNZ Farmers’ Stories
Today, 15 October, is the International Day of Rural Women, which recognises rural women’s contribution to farming, communities and the environment.
The strategy was launched in November last year.
The two-day Farmers Forum in Hamilton theme is “Dairy Tomorrow Today’.
DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel says the forum has a focus on how the industry will collectively achieve the new dairy sector strategy’s vision.
The Dairy Tomorrow strategy has six key goals to be achieved over the coming decade. These are:
- to protect and nurture the environment for future generations
- to build the world’s most competitive and resilient dairy farm businesses
- to produce the highest quality and most valued dairy nutrition
- to be world leading in on-farm animal care
- to build great workplaces for New Zealand’s most talented workforce
- and to help grow vibrant, prosperous communities.
Van der Poel says these commitments are crucial for dairy’s future.
“And as we begin to phase in the Strategy’s goals, we will be looking closely at how we will achieve them. But it will take collaboration by everyone in the sector – from dairy farmers through to the wider primary sector, dairy leaders and government.
“The Dairy Tomorrow strategy and its goals continues the good work being done on farms by a lot of dairy farmers who’ve already been doing great things to build competitive businesses, produce quality product and be leaders in sustainability, animal care, employment and in the community.
“I believe that this strategy will help transition farmers into the future farming systems.”
