Dec 13, 2024
What's been unfolding across the nation?
I hope you are all keeping well in what is an extremely busy time of year for deer farmers (and then some if you also happen to have some sheep). This is our last issue for 2024 – a very eventful year for the NZDFA with grass roots activities and governance changes all against a backdrop of market uncertainty and climate challenges. But while some conditions are still of real concern (e.g. this season’s velvet prices, ongoing dry/drought in North Canterbury and the North Island east coast) I do believe that the industry will be going into 2025 with good prospects – our long-term China market access for velvet is more secure and there does seem to be a new cohort of young farmers getting into deer farming.
With that in mind here are some other things that should help make 2025 a good year:
NZDFA is 50 years young – see you in Queenstown
Following on from a meeting of 29 deer farmers in Christchurch, April 1975, the first meeting of the NZDFA was held in Wellington on 26 June1975 (for reference the Game Industry Board was formed in 1984 and was replaced by Deer Industry New Zealand in 2002). The programme and speakers are still being finalised, but highlights will be a commemoration of the NZDFA and key figures, an evening cruise on the TSSS Earnslaw and dinner, the showcase Awards dinner the following night and a field trip the next day. Book your place in what promises to be a great occasion.
And for those of you who want to bone up on the NZDFA and the industry’s history, in this Stagline we have more articles from old issues of “The Deer Farmer” magazine, while another great source is Lynda Gray’s book “In Hindsight: 50 Years of Deer Farming in New Zealand” (https://deernz.org.nz/nzdfa/nzdfa-news/noticeboard-issue-173/)
Branch Field Days – come for a BBQ and beer, catch up with mates, look at a deer shed ... and learn a thing or two.
2024 has seen a resurgence of NZDFA Branch activities, mostly centered around field days. One of the first was in Hawkes Bay in February covering weaning (“Deer 2 $ucceed” - https://www.deernz.org/nzdfa/nzdfa-news/deer-2-succeed-hbdfa-branch-issue-197/), but other branches have been active too (e.g. Kaipara, Bay of Plenty, Taihape-Ruapehu, Southland). 2025 will kick off with Canterbury-West Coast planning a weaning field day (tentative date is 30 January 2025 and Hawkes Bay has Deer 2 Succeed version 2 scheduled for 12 February 2025).
Deer 2 Succeed Field Day, Hawkes Bay February 2024. Look out for version 2 in 2025.
Look out for events in your branch on the NZDFA events page (https://www.deernz.org/home/events/). DINZ can also help branches run field days through funding or securing coordinators and facilitators (email lindsay.fung@deernz.org).
Velvet Competitions – come for a feed and drinks, catch up, look at some velvet and learn a th...yeah, nah.
Another year and one of the social highlights is the velvet competitions put on by most of the branches. Have a look at the article later about the North Island and SCNO competitions. Results for these competitions are posted here: https://deernz.org.nz/home/deer-industry-new-zealand/industry-awards/velvet-and-hard-antler-competition/. Congratulations to all the winners and there is still the big one to sign off 2024 – the Nationals in Invercargill. However 2025 still has more to offer with some branches running 2 year old antler competitions, the Elk Wapiti Society’s competition (8 February) in Cromwell and the Rising Stars (8 March) in Te Awamutu.
Industry celebrities at the 2024 Rising Stars
SCNO Young Deer Farmer Competition
Last issue we mentioned the hugely successful South Canterbury North Otago branch “Young Deer Farmer Competition” held at Peel Forest Estate. Four finalists went on to the final rounds held at the SCNO Velvet Competition where they graded velvet and had a “beat the buzzer” question round in front of the dinner guests. Congratulations to Eddie Millichamp who took out the top spot from Quinten Rowe, Henry Wilson and Charlie Westgarth.
The final round of the SCNO Young Deer Farmer competition, fingers on the buzzers!
From left to right: Danette McKeown (coordinator), Eddie Millichamp (a young person who knows a lot about deer), Mark Tapley (quiz master)
This competition has generated a lot of interest across the country and Mark Tapley is keen to see other branches run these and ultimately have a national finals competition perhaps held at the industry conference. He suggests that smaller branches could combine to run a competition.
The SCNO Velvet Competition also heard from another bright young person, Jade Luxton from www.sterineedle.com, who has developed a prototype holster that sterilises needles between use and is aimed at velvetting where chemical sedation or analgesia is used. Jade is looking to observe a velvetting operation and refine her product to make it easier and safer for farmers to use.
Jade Luxton (left) from sterineedle.com
Your Industry, Your Voice – get involved (please)
It’s very heartening to see branches become more active over the year and for some the upswing in young people and new entrants is particularly encouraging. The NZDFA branch network is an ideal setup to support and retain this group who make up the future of our industry.
The current situation does provide challenges to our farmers and the industry: Velvet prices this season are not helpful (although we hope that this will recover next season), costs of production in general remain high, government regulation is still in the background, and we need to establish positions on greenhouse gas emissions, freshwater management and biodiversity before these become real threats to the viability our farming businesses.
Now more than ever your voices are important to ensure farmer interests are properly represented at the industry level as well as with government and other primary industry organisations. With this in mind please consider the following industry “leadership” positions that will be available in 2025:
- DINZ Board Observer (nominations close on 20 December 2024)
- Two positions on the NZDFA Executive Committee
- Two positions on the NZDFA Selection and Appointment Panel
- Two positions on the DINZ Board (to be appointed by the NZDFA Selection and Appointment Panel)
Having seen the calibre of candidates for other industry positions in 2024 I know there are some very capable farmers who could make a real and positive difference to the industry over these next few years.
Best wishes for the festive season and I hope that 2025 is a good and profitable year for you all!
Lindsay Fung -NZDFA Producer Manager
