Events
Browse through our previous events below, or sign up to our mailing list to get notified of all upcoming events.
Southern Dairy Hub Walk Through
Thursday 2 October, from 11am to 1pm
SDH Cow Shed, 611 Ryal Bush Wallacetown Rd
Come along for a wander around the Hub with the SDH team and guest speakers, chat about pasture management, and enjoy some kai.
Dr Charlotte Westwood (PGG Wrightson Seeds) will cover managing pasture quality for the second round, how to test pasture quality, and what milk urea tells us at this time of year.
She’ll be joined by Leo Pekar (FarmWise), who will highlight the importance of plate meter recording and how it can support better management decisions.
This is a free event – all farmers welcome!
Guest speakers
Charlotte Westwood is a veterinarian and nutritionist with a special interest in the links between forage nutrition, ruminant reproduction and animal health. After graduating from Massey University, she worked in large animal practice in Te Awamutu before completing a PhD in dairy cow nutrition and reproduction at the University of Sydney. She then spent seven years in farm consultancy, based in both New Zealand and southern NSW, before returning to NZ in 2009 to join PGG Wrightson Seeds.
Leo Pekar is a farm consultant supporting dairy farmers across Southland and South Otago. With strong farming experience and knowledge, he focuses on getting the basics right in pasture-first systems to lift production and profitability while keeping things simple and sustainable. He works alongside farmers to turn challenges into opportunities, from fine-tuning feed plans and improving financial performance to building resilient businesses. Leo is passionate about people on farm and delivering practical solutions that work in the paddock.
PAST EVENTS
Winter Farm Tour
Southern Dairy Hub Wintering Walk
Date: Wednesday 18 June
Time: 1pm
Location: SDH Cow Shed, 611 Ryal Bush Wallacetown Rd
We’d love to welcome you for a Hub farm tour to check out our paddock set up, the grass, baleage and swedes, and learn about our wintering techniques.
We’ll end the tour with something warm to eat and an opportunity to catch up with other local farmers.
Please wear gumboots and warm clothes
PERFECT FOR THE WHOLE FARM TEAM!
Winter Farm Tour
Southern Dairy Hub Wintering Walk
Date: Wednesday 18 June
Time: 1pm
Location: SDH Cow Shed, 611 Ryal Bush Wallacetown Rd
We’d love to welcome you for a Hub farm tour to check out our paddock set up, the grass, baleage and swedes, and learn about our wintering techniques.
We’ll end the tour with something warm to eat and an opportunity to catch up with other local farmers.
Please wear gumboots and warm clothes
PERFECT FOR THE WHOLE FARM TEAM!
Southern Dairy Hub Field Day
Date: Tuesday 15 April
Time: 10.30am – 1pm
Location: SDH Cow Shed, 611 Ryal Bush Wallacetown Rd
Are you making money from milk or milk from money?
Join us for a deep dive into profitable supplement use and effective grass management.
What’s in store:
Insights from the Northland Dairy Development Trust (NDDT) marginal milk trial – what makes supplements profitable?
Analysis from Conal Harkin on milk response rates & concentrate feed
Practical grass management tips from a local farmer
Update on the Future Farm Systems Demonstration Trial
Help shape future research priorities
This is a free event – all farmers welcome!
Considering off-paddock infrastructure?
Explore viable alternatives to on-paddock wintering and hear firsthand from farmers who have successfully implemented off-paddock infrastructure. Plus, get insights from industry experts and check out the trade stands on-site to answer all your questions.
Date: Thursday 10 April
Time: 10am registrations | Event: 10:30am - 2:30pm
Location: Gore RSA, 12 Bowler Avenue, Gore
Hear the latest from the Off Paddock Wintering Infrastructure Project (in partnership with MPI, supported by Southern Dairy Hub)
Learn about practical solutions for your farm
Connect with experts and other farmers
Register by 3 April for catering purposes.
Click here to sign up
Stay tuned for more upcoming events
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611 Ryal Bush Wallacetown Road
RD4, Southland 9874
Fonterra Supply Number 31445
