Twice-launched hub gets going
Southland's new research and demonstration dairy farm, the Southern Dairy Hub, is decidedly up and running – twice!
Time is running out for southern dairy farmers to pledge their support for the proposed Southern Dairy Hub, say the promoters.
To date almost 300 farmers have pledged at least $710,000; the hub is hoping to raise $2 million.
Southern Dairy Development Trust (SDDT) chair Matthew Richards says the hub is an opportunity for southern dairy farmers to have an innovative research facility specifically to find solutions to regional issues.
Richards says pledges are coming in but if there is insufficient southern dairy farmer support received by the deadline of April 30, the opportunity will be lost.
“We’ve been asking farmers to pledge a financial contribution to the hub, as our industry partners are prepared to invest $10 million and want local farmers to demonstrate they back the hub by also taking a stake in it.
“The best way we can all do that is by putting our money where our mouth is, but it’s more important that we show our partners – DairyNZ and AgResearch – that overwhelming numbers of southern dairy farmers support the hub proposal and will get behind it. Ultimately that is what our partners want to see.”
Richards says the trust can work with individual farmers and develop different payment options to suit circumstances. “It’s a no-brainer to me as we need this Hub to secure the future of dairying in our region.”
The proposed Southern Dairy Hub will be a working farm of 300-380ha, centrally located for all farmers from the Taieri Plains south. It will farm four herds of about 200 cows to enable comparative research, and will have buildings for offices, meetings, learning and education.
Hub aims:
Tel. 0800 336 632
Third-year student Cady Burns has won the Waikato Regional Council Prize in Water Science for 2024.
The Rural Change programme, providing free private mental health professional sessions to the rural industry, is set to continue its next chapter within Rural Support Trust from 1 July 2024.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor will step down in July.
A new report shows farm employers across the dairy, sheep and beef, and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.