First ‘farmers’ field day to be held at sea

First ‘farmers’ field day to be held at sea

Clearwater Mussels, joint winner of the coveted South Island Farmer of the Year competition, will be presenting most of its winner’s field day on board touring boats in the Marlborough Sounds.

Reflecting the uniqueness of the winner, this will be the first Lincoln University Foundation field day to be held at sea!

Foundation chair Ben Todhunter says that while a farmers’ field day at sea might sound incongruous, the Clearwater field day on Friday 8 April has been designed to offer real value to land-based farm businesses.

“There is much for land-based farmers to learn from the marine mussel industry,” Todhunter says, “and Clearwater is an inspirational example. The challenges, solutions, innovations and marketing principles employed at Clearwater Mussels are very applicable to land-based enterprises.”

Speakers include:

• Donald Boote, Production manager, Talleys Group – producer to consumer connections
• Gary Rountree, Financial Manager Maclab – the nutraceutical market for green-lipped mussels and future prospects
• Dr Ken Grange, Nelson Regional Manager, NIWA – issues facing farming of mussels in the marine environment with comparisons to terrestrial farming.
• Chris Glasson, landscape architect – marine farming applications and renewals, visual/landscape impacts.

Todhunter adds that, traditionally, farmers are used to just turning up to field days, but he emphasises that registration for the Clearwater event is essential because attendance is strictly limited to the capacity of the tour boats being used for the event.

“With good numbers already signalling their intention to attend, I recommend anyone interested to promptly get onto the Foundation website and book,” Todhunter says. Registration is available at http://www.lincolnuniversityfoundation.org.nz/farmer-of-the-year-field-days

ENDS

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