SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue
Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.
THE SOUTH ISLAND Dairy Event (SIDE) has launched a free smartphone app to enhance this year's conference experience.
SIDE, which takes place in Invercargill June 23-25, is the South Island's premier dairy conference run by farmers, for farmers.
SIDE event committee chair Paul Marshall says this year, the introduction of the free smartphone app will make the event more accessible to attendees.
"The app means farmers can quickly and easily access the conference schedule and view it by day, topic, speaker or activity," says Marshall.
"Attendees can also bookmark presentations they want to see and create a personal schedule for each day. And it's great for networking – attendees can see who is at the conference, share contact information and connect with one another.
"We're very excited about the introduction of the app, it'll really help farmers get more out of SIDE than they have in previous years. Being able to connect with other attendees, provide workshop feedback and share their experiences will enhance the conference experience, not to mention how much easier it will be having the schedule on a phone rather than a folded piece of paper."
The app's map feature also helps delegates find their way to the Stadium Southland venue. Speaker and exhibitor information, businesses at the event and the ability to take and share notes are also on the app.
This year SIDE features over 30 practical workshops and has a range of keynote speakers, including Rabobank director of dairy research Hayley Moynihan, 2013 Dairy Woman of the Year Justine Kidd, Landcorp's Steven Carden and New Zealand Olympic rower Rob Waddell.
The SIDE app is free to download in the iTunes and Google Play app stores. See www.side.org.nz for more details.
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.