“It is hellishingly frustrating to be a producer of one of the world’s most healthy and delicious proteins and to lose nearly all your top-end customers overnight. It’s never happened before. Not for New Zealand food producers anyway.”

With these words, DINZ chair Ian Walker (pictured), in his state-of-the-nation address to the 2021 Deer Industry Conference in Invercargill, echoed the feelings of all venison producers about the impact of Covid on venison markets.

But the Covid-crisis has not sapped his confidence. 

• Award winner breaks the mould
• Matuschka Award goes to Fallow champions
• Great conference in the south
• STOP PRESS: South Canterbury deer farmers hit by storm
• Registered for VelTrak yet?
• Know your GHG number; it matters
• How good are the GHG tools?
• Need help with your winter grazing plan or GHG numbers?
• Deer Select winning support from velvet producers
• Deer Select Mark II on the way
• Good news from Ospri
• Surfing for farmer mental health raffle tickets
• Message from European market, “Young consumers care”
• Damien O’Connor on hot topics

It’s farming, but not as our grandparents might have known it. Nor is it just a New Zealand trend. 

Global food brands, consumers and investors are looking for the proof that food producers are acting in an ethical and environmentally sustainable manner. New Zealand farmers agree that one of the best way to do this is for each farmer to have a robust farm environmental plan.  

The winners of the 2021 Elworthy Award, the premier environmental accolade for deer farmers, are Grant and Sally Charteris, Forest Road Farm, Central Hawkes Bay. The award was presented at the Deer Industry Conference in Invercargill earlier this month.

A rapid economic recovery in the United States may result in the revival in demand for venison that deer farmers have been waiting for. Pre-Covid inventory is moving through the pipeline and venison sales are already trending upward.

The Deer Industry Conference in Invercargill is to be followed by a National Technical Workshop on Thursday 20 May. It has been designed to give farmers ideas they can potentially take home and apply on their farms.

• Farmer VelTrak regos rolling in
• Field test developed for deadly deer disease
• Velvetting now included in the Animal Welfare Regulations
• We’re on notice to get wintering right
• Stags back in their own paddocks by now
• Attend the NI Deer Expo in person or by Zoom
• Don’t forget those Yersiniavax boosters

The South Korean market for branded health food products based on deer antler velvet and other traditional ingredients is continuing to grow, says Deer Industry New Zealand. Last year, it identified the launch of scores of new health food products based on velvet, most of it sourced from New Zealand.

Farm registration with VelTrak begins on 3 May, when the primary contacts on deer farms will be emailed an invitation to register. Farmers are encouraged to register promptly, so they become familiar with VelTrak and have any questions answered well before the start of the new season.