Feb 13, 2025
Noticeboard
- 2025 Deer Industry Enviromental Awards - Entries Open!
- 2025 MSD/Afflex Deer Industry Photo Competition - Entries Open!
- Industry Positions 2025 - Nominations Open!
- Intergrated Farm Planning Sessions
- Environmental Stewardship Manager Update
- Vocational Education Training Consultation
- MetService outlook February 2025
- Joke of the month
- Deer Industry News - Advertise with us
Events
- Hard Antler Scoring Course - 7 march - Te Awamutu
- 2025 CK Import Export National Rising Stars Hard Antler and Velvet Competition - 8 March, Te Awamutu
- 2025 Deer Industry conference 2025 - 14 May, Queenstown
Enter your farm into the 2025 Deer Industry Environmental Awards, registrations open now!
Entries close Friday 28th February
Primary Goals:
To recognise innovative deer farmers for implementing and practicing sustainable and profitable deer farming practices in land and deer systems management.
To promote the adoption of sustainable deer farming practices on all deer farms.
To encourage sharing of experiences and proven best management practices and innovation through the resource of the NZ Deer Farmer's Landcare Manual.
There are several awards to be won including The Elworthy Environmental Award which involves a cash prize of $2,500 to the premier winner, as well as a commemorative plaque and native tree. Premier winners also receive complimentary awards dinner tickets at the 2025 DINZ conference (i.e. a total prize value of ~$3,000).
Thanks to our sponsors: Ministry for Primary Industries, Gallagher, NZDFA, Duncan NZ, NZ Landcare Trust and Streamlands Export NZ
Register now: https://deernz.org/home/events/2025-deer-industry-environmental-awards/
2025 MSD/Afflex Deer Industry Photo Competition - Entries Open!
It's time to get snapping again! Gather up those great shots you have buried, or head out on the farm with your camera and enter the MSD Animal Health/Allflex Deer Industry Photo Competition kindly sponsored by MSD Animal Health/Allflex.
The "Elk/Wapiti" award category is back, kindly sponsored by the Elk/Wapiti Society.
The 2024 competition had a fantastic turnout with 84 entries. With a $500 cash prize and several secondary prizes, you won't want to miss out!
Competition closes 5pm, Friday 25 April 2025.
Click here for more information >> (link to https://deernz.org/home/events/msd-deer-industry-photo-competition/)
Industry Positions 2025 - Nominations Open
New Zealand Deer Farmers Assocation
The following NZDFA members are up for re-election or retirement from the Selection and Appointments Panel (SAP) and Executive Committee:
- Andrew Peters (SAP, appointed 2023)
- Donald Whyte (SAP, appointed, 2023)
- Mark McCoard (EC, elected unopposed 2023)
- Justin Stevens (EC, elected unopposed 2023)
Deer Industry New Zealand
The following Producer Rep members are up for re-election or retirement from the DINZ Board:
- Hamish Fraser (DINZ Board Producer Rep, elected 2022)
- Jacqueline Rowarth (DINZ Board Producer Rep, elected 2022)
Interviews for the DINZ board position will be held week commencing 9th June (this will be confirmed as soon as possible).
Nominations close 5pm Friday 4 AprilForms and further information can be found on the website here: deernz.org/nzdfa/about/nzdfa-nomination-forms-and-constitutional-information If you would like to indicate your interest, or talk to someone in confidence about these positions, please get in touch with NZDFA Returning Officer Lindsay Fung on lindsay.fung@deernz.org or 027 668 0141. |
Intergrated Farm Planning Sessions
These workshops are facilitated by the Ballance Farm Sustainability team to aid you in building a farm plan which covers all your requirements (Integrated farm plan).
Gore: 19th February and 5th March (11:30am-4:30pm)- Waimumu field days site
Te Anau: 18TH February and 4th March (11:30am-4:30pm)- Fiordland community centre
Masterton: 20th February – whole day (still confirming venue)
Kapiti: 19th February- whole day (still confirming venue).
For more information please click on the following link - Events - Deer NZ
For registrations please click on the following link - Farm Planning Workshop Registration
You can email ifp@deernz.org for any further questions.
Environmental Stewardship Manager Update
Luka Jansen, DINZ Environmental Stewardship Manager, advises farmers that while the government has backed off some regulations, there is still a lot of activity nationally and regionally that can impact deer farming. She is actively engaging with regional councils and government agencies to influence freshwater farm plans, biodiversity management, water quality regulations, and climate change policy. Luka asks that if farmers have issues in their region, they should talk to her.
Work-based learning consultation underway
The Government is currently consulting on vocational education reforms. These changes will have a significant impact on training and career pathways for sheep, beef and deer farmers. You can read more about the proposals on the Ministry of Education’s website. The consultation period is open until 21 February 2025.
Key proposed changes include:
- Dissolving Te Pūkenga – This means the current structure, including Primary ITO, will no longer exist.
- New Industry Skills Boards – These boards will take over many of the functions of Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), including setting standards and supporting work-based learning.
- Work-based learning models under review – The Government is considering different approaches for delivering training, including partnerships between industry and independent providers.
DINZ, along with B+LNZ, has some concerns about the current proposals and wants to hear from farmers on how work-based learning enhances their business and sector. Your feedback will strengthen the submission that DINZ and B+LNZ will make to government.
Share your thoughts by completing this short survey.
MetService Outlook - February 2025
A mix of highs and lows, with the tropics heating up mid-month
The month commences with a very conventional summer-time weather pattern, with slow-moving high pressure bringing largely dry conditions across the country, particularly across the western South Island. While periodic fronts will attempt to sweep across the country, high pressure is likely to minimise impacts, leading to increasing soil moisture deficits across most regions. Temperatures occasionally on the chilly side across some eastern areas in a lingering southerly flow.
Next week sees potential for this dry pattern to persist, though it may come under threat from any systems exiting the tropics. While it only takes one boom-or-bust rain deluge to push weekly rainfall totals notably wetter, any system could just as easily pass peacefully to the northeast with minimal concerns.
The start of week three sees a continued risk for tropical influence, but the weather is expected to trend more seasonal by the end, with a mix of dry highs and quick-moving lows. Temperatures are likely to fluctuate with these features, but overall trend close to normal.
The final week of February sees quite seasonable weather, with the usual sequence of high pressure interrupted by brief weathermakers, and the month may end on a rather average note.
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Bottom Line: A dry start to February, but be watchful of any northerly lows as we approach mid-month, with the month ending on a more seasonal flavour. |
You can sign up for the MetService's Monthly Outlook right to your inbox - click here to subscribe.
Source: https://www.metservice.com/rural#monthly-outlook
Joke of the month
| Two rednecks are out hunting, and as they're walking along they come upon a huge hole in the ground. They approach it and are amazed by the size of it.
The first hunter says, "Wow, that's some hole. I can't even see the bottom. I wonder how deep it is?" The second hunter says," I don't know, let's throw something down and listen and see how long it takes to hit bottom." The first hunter says, "There's an old gearbox over there, give me a hand and we'll throw it in and see". So they pick it up and carry it over, and count one, and two and three, and throw it in the hole. They are standing there listening and looking over the edge and they hear a rustling in the brush behind them. As they turn around they see a goat come crashing through the brush, run up to the hole with no hesitation, and jump in headfirst. While they are standing there looking at each other, then gazing into the hole, and trying to figure out what that was all about, an old farmer walks up. "Say there", says the farmer, "You fellers didn't happen to see my goat around here anywhere, did you?" The first hunter says "Funny you should ask, but we were just standing here a minute ago and a goat came running out of the bushes doin' about a hunert miles an hour and jumped headfirst into this hole here!" And the old farmer said... "Why that's impossible, I had him chained to an old gearbox!" |
Deer Industry News - Advertise with us
Events
If you have an event that would be of interest to the deer farming industry, please email info@deernz.org with details.
Hard Antler Scoring Course
Join the team of CK Import Exports for this hard antler scoring course using DFA rules.
Friday 7th March 2025 at 9am to be held at Waipa Racecourse, Te Awamutu. The cost is $50 per person. Final date for notification of attendance is 1st March.
LIMITED NUMBERS so please advise campbell.clarke@xtra.co.nz or Helen Clarke via text to 027 271 5051.
Payment: - Rising Stars 02-0506-0268055 01 with name and SC as reference.
2025 CK Import Export 2025 National Rising Stars Hard Antler and Velvet Competition
Saturday 8th March 2025 will see the return of the National Rising Stars to be held at Waipa Racecourse, Te Awamutu. Please contact Helen Clarke for further information - campbell.clarke@xtra.co.nz
2025 Deer Industry Conference
REGISTRATIONS OPEN
2025 will see the 50th anniversary of the Deer Industry conference which will be hosted in Queenstown on the 14th May.
Rooms have been reserved and are now available to book at The Millennium hotel. Rooms are $295 per night.
When booking, reference the DINZ 2025 Conference to receive the room rate above.
To help plan your travel and attendance below is an outline of days/timings.
13th May
12:00pm Branch Chairs Meeting
6:45pm TSS Earnslaw and Dinner
14th May
NZDFA AGM
Full day conference
Awards dinner
15th May
Field day location tbc, finish up around 3pm
Watch this space here for further details - 2025 conference
Thanks to all our conference sponsors
Silver Fern Farms, FMG, Alliance, Gallagher, First Light, Datamars, Geraldine ITM, Bayonet, Duncan NZ, Happy Pet
