From the GM
Autumn has brought another busy and productive period at Southern Dairy Hub, with plenty happening both on-farm and behind the scenes. In this edition, you’ll find updates from the farm team on autumn management, herd performance, young stock, feed planning, and recent lane upgrades, along with highlights from recent visits, events, and research engagement. We also share a look behind the scenes at the people who help make the Hub’s work possible through our recent video series featuring members of the farm and science teams.
You’ll also read an update from Chair Simon Flood on the strategic review currently underway, including the strong level of engagement from farmers, researchers, and shareholders as discussions continue around the future direction of the Hub. And don’t forget to make a note of our upcoming field day on 3 July – registration details coming soon.
For me personally, this will be my final newsletter as General Manager of Southern Dairy Hub. After nearly three years in the role, I’ll be stepping down at the end of May to begin a new chapter.
It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated team and to be part of an organisation focused on delivering practical, science-based outcomes for southern farmers. I’ve especially appreciated the support, engagement, and encouragement shown by the wider dairy community throughout my time at the Hub. Further on in this newsletter, I’ve shared some reflections on my time at SDH, including some of the highlights and progress made over the past three years.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support Southern Dairy Hub and the important work taking place here.
Andrea Dixon, SDH General Manager
Update from the Chair
The strategic review is progressing well and the Board is currently engaged with AgFirst on reviewing the first draft of the report. I am pleased to report there has been strong engagement with local farmers, supported by SDDT, and with contributors representing all aspects of the Hub's work.
We are grateful to AgFirst and the team led by James Allen for the considerable effort they have invested in this process. Once agreed, the final report will be provided to shareholders, along with a set of recommendations for the Hub's future direction.
After six years of operation in its current form, I am encouraged by where we stand. The farm and the farm team are in a good place, and there is overwhelming support for a return to research at the Hub. The role of the Board now is to achieve an alignment of interests between our shareholders and the local dairy community — and to chart a course that will enable this proposition to be appropriately defined and delivered.
On the research front, the workshops, conducted and led by SDDT, in conjunction with a number of Southland's leading dairy farmers, have been engaging with the science teams from DairyNZ and Bioeconomy Science Institute (formally AgResearch). Together, they have been working to identify a list of potential research projects to be undertaken at the Hub. Further work is underway to define these projects and present them to the Board of SDH and our shareholders. We look forward to sharing more as this work progresses.
After three years of dedicated service, our General Manager Andrea Dixon will be leaving the Hub on 22 May to begin a new chapter in her career. On behalf of the Board and shareholders, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Andrea for her outstanding contribution. Andrea has built stability within the farm team and, under her leadership, the Hub has delivered solid production results — producing more milk in the current season than has been achieved at any other point in the Hub's history.
Andrea leaves the business in the capable hands of Farm Manager Michael Berkers, Administrator, Anngelique van Miltenburg, and the talented farm team she has built during her time here.
Andrea, thank you. You have left the Hub in a much better place than you found it, and that is a testament to your hard work, dedication and professionalism. Go well.
As the strategic review progresses, the Board will be seeking to appoint an Acting General Manager to provide leadership continuity while the implications of the review's recommendations are assessed. Once the Hub's direction has been established, the permanent GM position will be reassessed and appropriate steps taken to ensure the Hub is well placed to deliver for all stakeholders.
For anyone interested in applying for the Acting General Manager role, please click here for further details.
Simon Flood, Chair
On the Ground at the Hub
It’s been a busy couple of months on-farm, with plenty happening across feed management, pasture performance, herd condition, and preparation for winter and next season.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening at the Hub.
Pasture growth remained strong well into autumn, helping both herds track towards dry-off cover targets of 1900 to 1950kg DM/ha. Surplus paddocks were cut for baleage, supplements were adjusted where needed, and autumn feed budgets were closely managed to balance covers, residuals, and cow demand. However, recent cooling soil temperatures have coincided with a noticeable slowdown in growth rates. Rotation length has been quicker than usual at times, but has recently tightened for the Standard herd, largely due to springer paddocks being removed from the rotation as the farm moves into next season’s preparations.
The Future herd continued to perform strongly on low or no imported feed at times, which is an excellent result that highlights the value of pasture-based systems and genetics. Across the season, comparisons between the Future and Standard herds continued to provide valuable insights into production, efficiency, and profitability. Recent management changes have included reintroducing some in-shed feed to help maintain daily area allocation and keep the autumn feed budget on track.
Body Condition Score (BCS) was a major focus as dry-off approached, with cows identified early to help ensure calving targets are met. The first groups have now been dried off, while others moved to once-a-day milking or managed separately to support condition gain. The remaining cows have now exited the farm as herd allocation between milking groups was recently finalised.
Young stock performance has also been positive, with 2025-born animals tracking ahead of target weights heading into winter. Recent weights show the group sitting an average of 7kg ahead of target, with animals in great condition.
Crop monitoring showed solid yields from both swedes and kale, with crop performance tracking well above expectations to date. Current estimates suggest yields will comfortably exceed the 16T budgeted for winter.
Other autumn activity included aeration work, effluent management ahead of wetter months, brassica pest control, lane and infrastructure planning, and ongoing culling and herd health management.
As always, HubWatch continues to provide a real-time look at the practical decisions and performance drivers shaping the season at Southern Dairy Hub. Keep an eye on our facebook feed and on our HubWatch page for our insights every week.
Note: HubWatch will take a seasonal winter pause after the end of May, with updates set to resume in August.
Winter field day coming up
There’s plenty happening at Southern Dairy Hub, and we’re looking forward to sharing some of it at our upcoming winter field day on Friday 3 July.
Running from 11am to 1pm, the event will include a mix of seasonal reflections, research insights, and practical on-farm discussion, before wrapping up with lunch.
It’ll be a great chance to hear directly from the team, ask questions, and catch up with others across the sector over lunch.
Keep an eye out for more details and registration information coming soon.
Three Years In: Reflections from GM Andrea Dixon
When I joined the Southern Dairy Hub in July 2023, I came in knowing the southern farming community well — a decade at LIC across the Lower South Island had seen to that. But stepping into the General Manager role at SDH was something different. Here was an organisation with a 349-hectare commercial-scale research farm, a passionate group of stakeholders, and enormous potential to serve farmers in a way few organisations can – genuine research purpose. Three years on, reflecting on what we've built and where we're heading feels both rewarding and energising.
Lane upgrades
Southern Dairy Hub’s farm lanes have recently had a refresh, with maintenance and resurfacing work completed to improve cow movement and help protect hoof health.
Near the cowshed entrance, rotten rock has been applied along the first 50 metres of lane to build up the race, prevent further degradation, and create a more durable surface. Once fully compacted, the upgraded section is expected to reduce the number of loose stones reaching the yard area, helping lower the risk of lameness.
Further along the lane network, maintenance work has also been carried out by clearing edges and spreading material back onto paddocks.
A big thank you to Southern Trenching & Excavating Ltd for their support with the project.
Future dairy leaders at the Hub
We really enjoyed hosting the Gardiner Foundation Future Leaders group from Australia on 19 March, marking the third year in a row the Hub has welcomed the programme.
The visit was an opportunity to share research insights and showcase the role Southern Dairy Hub plays in supporting practical, science-based outcomes for the dairy sector. As always, the group brought plenty of energy, passion, and thoughtful questions.
Guests also enjoyed a farm tour, with some taking the opportunity to try winter swedes, a well-known Southland crop.
DairyNZ Senior Scientist Dawn Dalley joined the visit to help present research findings generated at the Hub over the years by both DairyNZ and the Bioeconomy Science Institute.
Learning at the Dairy Environment Leaders Forum
Attending the Dairy Environment Leaders Forum in late March was one of the highlights of the year so far. Farmers from across the country came together to connect, share ideas, learn, and lead.
This year’s theme was Maramatanga – learning and enlightenment, the clarity that comes from understanding, the insight that comes from experience, and the wisdom that grows when we open ourselves to new perspectives. It set the tone for insightful discussions and shared learning.
It was inspiring to see the range of initiatives different regions have established to champion environmental stewardship and sustainable dairy farming.
Attendees also spent time at Parliament meeting with ministers. What a great opportunity for some of our local Southern DEL members to catch up with local National Party MP and Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds
Andrea Dixon, Hon Penny Simmonds, Peter Hammond,
Clare Officer and Emma Hammond
Meet the team behind the Hub
Research outcomes often make the headlines, but it’s the people behind the scenes who make that work possible. From farm operations and data collection to scientific analysis and long-term trials, Southern Dairy Hub relies on a skilled team working every day to deliver research that is practical, credible, and relevant to southern farmers.
To showcase those people and the roles they play, Southern Dairy Hub recently completed a Facebook video series featuring key members of our awesome team.
The series featured General Manager Andrea Dixon, Farm Manager Michael Berkers, DairyNZ senior scientist Dawn Dalley, greenhouse gas researcher Dr Cecile de Klein, soil scientist Ross Monaghan, and research technician Nicole Hammond. Together, they shared insights into what it takes to operate a research farm at scale, how robust farm-level data supports better decisions, and how Southern Dairy Hub research is helping address key challenges facing southern farmers.
Topics covered included productivity, emissions reduction, nitrogen management, soil health, water quality, and the value of testing ideas thoroughly before ideas are adopted on-farm. The videos also highlighted the depth of expertise and practical experience required to turn research into meaningful outcomes for the sector.
The response to our Facebook campaign has been strong, with more than 20,000 video plays on Facebook, over 70,000 impressions, and more than 35,000 people reached. It’s a fantastic result and reflects the community’s genuine interest in the people, science, and practical value behind the Hub’s work.
If you haven’t seen the videos yet, head to the Southern Dairy Hub Facebook page to watch them and meet some of the people behind the research.
HubWatch
Want to know what’s really happening at the Southern Dairy Hub each week? HubWatch is your glimpse into research and demonstration in action. Visit www.southerndairyhub.co.nz/hubwatch to find out the difference between the standard and future herds, and how our data can help your own decision-making on farm.
Sign up to get HubWatch straight to your inbox at and keep an eye on our Facebook page for regular video updates from the farm.
As always, HubWatch will take a seasonal winter pause after the end of May, with updates expected to resume in August as the new season gets underway.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for updates or visit www.southerndairyhub.co.nz to find out more.
Warm regards,
Andrea Dixon, SDH General Manager
