November 14 – Dairy Women's Network (DWN) continues its new professional development modules with the first entitled 'Eyes wide open – negotiating a fair contract’. The programme has been developed by DWN, DairyNZ and Federated Farmers to help contract milkers, sharemilkers and owners to negotiate a fair contract. The new Herd Owning Sharemilking Agreement and Variable Order Sharemilking Agreement will be addressed along with other contractual and budgeting issues. The second module, run by DWN and DairyNZ, covers goal setting. The sessions are offered in two two-hour blocks and women can opt for just the first session or both. For more information and registration visit www.dwn.co.nz.
Dates and locations: Rotorua, November 14November 21November 25November 26.
November 14 – Nominations close for Dairy Woman of the Year Award. The award includes a scholarship for the Women in Leadership programme, delivered by Global Women, to the value of $25,000. For nomination forms visit www.dwn.co.nz.
November 19-21 –Waikato hosts the 6th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, which showcases the depth and breadth of dairy research. Workshops include resilient dairy systems for the future, environmental sustainability, forages, young stock, precision farming, and nutrition and animal health. For further details visit www.adssymposium.com.au.
November 21 – Southland is the last region for entries in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards 2015. For entry forms and information on the awards visit www.nzfeatrust.org.nz.
November 22 – Dairy Women's Network annual general meeting will be held in Hamilton. Email zellara.holden@dwn.co.nz for more details.
November 25 – Entries close for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Pasture Renewal Persistence competitions. Categories are for the best first-year pasture and best pasture sown more than three years ago. The two winners receive $1500 of pasture renewal. Winners' field days will be held in early February. For more details and entry form visit www.dairynz.co.nz.
November 30 – Entries close for the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards including the Sharemilker-Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the year. Entrants first compete in one of 11 regional competitions held around the country, with regional winners progressing to a national final on May 2 in Auckland. For further information and entry forms visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
January 28-30 – The New Zealand Dairy Event in Feilding showcases the finest in dairy genetics with some of the best cattle in the country. Entries for cattle close November 16. Trade displays include some of the newest technologies and genetics available to the dairy industry. Admission is free for the event at Manfeild Park. More details about the event at www.nzdairyevent.com.
February 7 – The first regional final in the 2015 ANZ Yong Farmer Contest is in Queenstown for the Otago-Southland region. Winners from the seven regional finals go on to the grand final in Taupo on July 2-4. For more information on the event visit www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz.
Dates for regional finals: Otago-Southland, February 7February 21March 14March 21March 28April 11April 18.
February 9-19 – The Food Matters Aotearoa Conference looks at how sustainable farming methods, as well as what we grow and eat, can protect the environment. National and international scientists will discuss traditional agro-ecology, modern farming methods, the use of pesticides and genetically-engineered plants and the effects of these methods on the nutritional value and safety of food produced. For more information visit www.foodconference.co.nz.
February 10-12 – The Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre annual workshop at Massey University focuses on moving farm systems to improved nutrient attenuation. More details and registration form available at www.massey.ac.nz/~flrc/workshops/15/workshop2015.html.
February 26-28 – Northland Field Days has the most recent farm innovations and technology as well as demonstrations of skill and expertise. The three-day event attracts more than 25,000 visitors and 550 exhibitors. For more details visit www.northlandfielddays.co.nz.
March 24-27 – The Queenstown Agribusiness Symposium 2015 is a three-day development programme for executives to provide them with the tools, network and mindset to expand globally. The AbacusBio-hosted symposium uses a case-study approach with real agribusiness scenarios. Early bird prices apply before December 15. For further information and registration visit www.queenstownagribusiness.co.nz.
