Executive Report - Richard Greer | The Next Next Generation | Meanwhile down at the farm | Deer 2 $ucceed | Party Time in Southland | Innovation in action at Next Generation 2026 | Farming with ticks

Greetings from the deep south as we down here are still in the winter mode, we are still in ground hog day. It’s been a winter that has not been too bad but was made easier by a very good autumn, which gave most farmers good covers and plenty of supplements. But now being mid-August stags are being looked at be put on grass, as too are fawns and then it all starts over again.

On 30 July and a gloriously sunny Hawkes Bay winter day, over 40 people gathered at the Ongaonga Golf Club for the second Hawkes Bay Deer 2 $ucceed field day.

Innovation and the role it plays in the farmed deer and wider agribusiness sector was a recurring theme at this year’s Next Generation event, jointly hosted by the Waikato and Bay of Plenty branches of the NZDFA.

Growing up on a South Kaipara dairy farm during the 1960s and 1970s was where my first memory of ticks on animals comes from, in this case on the udders of dairy cows during milking. Little did I realise the damage they were inflicting at the time, or the enormous problem future deer farmers would face with regards to tick-borne animal welfare issues and associated costs.

Waikato continues its reinvigoration efforts and held its first farm walk on 16 July at Raroa.

On 16 and 24 June, the Marlborough Branch of the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association hosted two groups of Year 11 students from Marlborough Boys’ College as part of the community engagement program.

It hasn’t been all about the North Island. On 30 July all the Southland Advance Parties and the Southland DFA branch had a combined day with a wide range of guest speakers.

NZDFA Subscriptions for 2026/27 | Preparing for dry conditions as El Niño risk grows | DINZ Foot and Mouth Disease Podcast | Industry Advisory to Livestock Farmers, Meat Processors, Stock Agents and Livestock Transport Operators | Looking for work | Jokes