Regional approach is changing the face of DairyNZ

DairyNZ adopts fresh approach

A new regional approach is changing the face of DairyNZ.

The industry good body has set down a key challenge for the next three years – an adoption strategy designed to bring positive change on-farm and within the dairy industry.

Central to the new strategy is increasing DairyNZ’s focus on regional issues, which has seen the organisation’s New Zealand-wide regions expand from four to nine.

DairyNZ GM development & extension Dr David McCall says the new approach will see farmers working more closely with specialist DairyNZ staff on local issues and activities.

“The regional plans will contain both national and local priorities, all of which contribute to the five outcomes in the Strategy for New Zealand Dairy Farming, launched earlier this year,” he says.

“Each regional plan will be informed by farmers in that region and will detail priority activities for that area.”

Along with a change to the consulting officer structure, each area will have a senior leader working in the regions. These regional leaders will be responsible for delivering the regional plan, through working alongside farmers, partners, stakeholders and DairyNZ staff.

“The idea is to give farmers more contact with senior people. It also recognises that while a majority of dairy farming issues are common nationally, there are also distinct local regional differences.”

The nine new regions are: Southland/South Otago; Canterbury/North Otago; Top and West of South Island; Lower North Island; Taranaki; Southern Waikato; Northern Waikato; Bay of Plenty/Coromandel and Northland.

DairyNZ CEO Dr Tim Mackle says one of DairyNZ’s challenges is conveying the results of research and other information to its levy payers.

“To meet the challenges facing our dairy farmers, we need to make them aware of new possibilities as well as current best practice and to assist them with taking up new ideas.

“It is only by dairy farmers adopting new and better practices on-farm that individual farm businesses and the industry will progress.”

Existing discussion groups will increasingly centre on helping the host farmer make positive changes to their farm or business, in a way that benefits all attendees.

The groups will also progress the careers of like-minded individuals, such as those wanting to move into sharemilking, farm ownership or into multiple farm ownership. Links with AgITO will be strengthened to provide skills training, such as PasturePlus for farm staff.

Campaigns will also tackle large regional or national issues. The first of these will be in Southland, where DairyNZ is rolling out a campaign to tackle issues associated with winter management.

ENDS

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