Dairy farmers meet in Christchurch
Released 07 Feb 2008
Dairy farmer leaders from throughout New Zealand and Australia converge in the South Island next week for the annual Federated Farmers Dairy Section National Council Meeting.
The leaders are meeting initially for a tour of farms on the West Coast and Canterbury before attending the Federated Farmers Dairy council meeting in Christchurch. Representatives from Australian Dairy Farmers will attend both the tour and council meeting.
The two-day council meeting in Christchurch will be held at the Sudima Hotel on the corner of Memorial Ave and Orchard Rd on Friday February 15 and Saturday February 16, 2008.
Several important guest speakers from the dairy industry will address the council. The major theme for the meeting is caring for the environment, climate change and carbon emissions. Speakers on this topic include Dr Caroline Saunders from Lincoln University, Julie Collins from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Kimberly Crewther from Fonterra.
Australian Dairy Farmer representatives have been invited to the joint meeting to compare government policy and sector responses heralding a way forward in trans-Tasman dairy relations.
Federated Farmers Dairy is an industry group of Federated Farmers of New Zealand. The council, which comprises representatives from 24 provinces and the executive committee, meets twice a year.
The pre-meeting tour starts on Tuesday February 12 at Landcorp's Cape Foulwind complex in Westport. Participants will also visit Landcorp's Weka complex in Grey Valley on Wednesday 13 February.
On Thursday February 14 observers will be in Canterbury visiting one of nine operating dairy farms of Synlait and the site of the Synlait milk powder plant. The tour concludes with a visit to Federated Farmers Dairy vice-chair Willy Leferink's Raikaia dairy farm where he will showcase best practise in high-intensive dairy farming.
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright and representatives from several government departments will join the tour at various stages.
Media are welcome to attend both the tour and council meeting. Please note the council meeting may go into committee from time to time.
Federated Farmers Dairy Section is proudly supported by PGG Wrightson.
For more information:
Frank Brenmuhl, Federated Farmers Dairy chair, 027 224 4009
