Finding the sweet spot | Meet and Greet: Glen Whyte | Industry News: Modest Malcolm honoured, Changing of the guard, Wild deer out of control, Going for gold, Pāmu confidence in deer industry, More inside knowledge | Venison: Game plan pays off, Q2 in the books for NARA project | NZDFA: The rap from the regions, Weaning recap-plus at Canterbury field day | On Farm: Rolling in the Wild West, Rangitikei family affair ticks the box | Animal Health: Weaning strategies for better hind and fawn performance | Science 4 Success: Deer Select 2 - new and improved, “Deer-livering” us from the evils of ageing? | Recipe: Grilled venison flat iron steak with summer salsa

Production and productivity will be a sharpened focus for Pāmu Farms of New Zealand in 2025, according to Pāmu General Manager (Lower South Island) Grant McNaughton, speaking at a tour of three Pāmu deer farms in the Te Anau Basin. The tour was put on by Pāmu as they look to expand their deer numbers.

A good mix of attendees congregated in Sheffield, Canterbury, on 30 January, for a field day on weaning at Stu Stokes’ deer farm. With over 80 in attendance, it was a good showing for a branch looking to revitalise itself ahead of the upcoming annual general meeting in April.

"I would not have been able to complete the plan without the assistance of these workshops." That was one piece of feedback from a farmer at a recent Farm Environment Plan workshop held in Wairarapa in February.

Deer farmers are “cautiously optimistic,” according to results from a recent DINZ survey. "Sentiment in the deer industry is mixed but leans towards cautious optimism,” DINZ Policy and Research Manager Emil Murphy says.

The North America Retail Accelerator (NARA) programme, supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, continues to gain momentum, with promising signs that our shared industry goals are well on track.