Apr 4, 2024
Noticeboard
- Announcement to all deer farmers: DINZ – NZDFA appointed board member
- NZDFA OSPRI representative
- A change to the size of dams impacted by the regulations
- Welcome to the new DFA Coordinator
- 2024/25 NZDFA subscriptions - invoices heading out soon
- 2024 Awards and Competitions
- Thank you to our 2024 conference sponsors
- Production feature: Wintering feed systems
- MetService Outlook April 2024
- Joke of the Month
Events
- 2024 Deer Industry Conference, 8-9 May, Hawke's Bay
- 2024 National Velvet and Hard Antler Competition, Awards night 14 December, Invercargill
Noticeboard
Announcement to all deer farmers:
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Expressions of Interest for Next Generation
Please contact Lindsay or Louise for enquiries relating to OSPRI and NAIT. His contact details are
Deer Research Project
Further information and resources:
2024/25 NZDFA subscriptions - invoices heading out soon
The next subscription year starts on 1 April 2024 and membership invoices will be heading out soon.
We will be sending out invoices by email again so get in touch if you need to update your email address with us. Also please add nzdfa.accounts@deernz.org in your address book to ensure you receive the invoice.
Payment will still need to pay via bank transfer (02-0506-0268055-000, please update your records) and a reminder that BNZ does not accept cheques.
If you are not currently a member and would like to be, please email nzdfa@deernz.org to be added to the list.
2024 Awards and Competitions
NZDFA Matuschka Award
The New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association “Matuschka Award” recognises the grass roots farmer and unsung contributor to local area activities, functions and core spirit of deer farming.
Deer Industry Award
The Deer Industry Award is an annual award presented each year to the person, persons jointly, or organisation who, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most outstanding contribution to the New Zealand deer industry, either in the previous year, or over a period of years.
2024 MSD Allflex Deer Industry Photo Competition
Last year's competition saw some spectacular entries from all over New Zealand making the job of judging a very difficult one. There are some great prizes on offer, including;
- $500 cash prize for the first-place winner
- Category winner cash prizes
- Premium gift pack for "People's choice" award
- Framed photos of winning photographs
Thank you to our 2024 conference sponsors
Platinum sponsor
Premium sponsors
Tier 2 sponsor
Tier 3 sponsor
Production feature: Wintering feed systems
Winter can be a critical time for soil erosion, stream pollution and animal welfare on livestock farms. Some wintering systems, especially brassica and fodder beet crops, pose particular risks to water quality with exposed soils becoming saturated, pugged and carried away during heavy or prolonged rain into waterways. As well as carrying soil particles, this runoff contains high levels of phosphorus, nitrogen and bacteria that are a risk to downstream water quality.
Head through to deernz.org.nz/deer-hub/farm-and-environment/wintering-feed-systems/ for more information on:
- Getting it right during winter
- Designing wintering feed systems
- Wintering deer indoors
- Winter storms
- Winter feed pads
- Sediment ponds
- Stock access to waterways
To download our handy Deer Fact sheets on winter grazing management and good environmental practice, click on the links below:
- Intensive winter feeding: minimising the environmental risk >>
- Planning for winter: best options for deer and their environment >>
- Protecting waterways from wallow and feed pad run-off >>
- Effective nutrient management on deer farms >>
- Farm Environment Plans: the whys and hows of preparing them >>
- Fence-pacing: costs and solutions >>
- Indoor wintering >>
MetService Outlook - April 2024
Changeable conditions on the horizon
Cooler conditions prevail during the first week of April as a weakening front brings a burst of heavy rain to parts of western South Island, while the remainder of New Zealand remains largely dry with gradually warming afternoon temperatures but chilly mornings. A more active weather pattern emerges next week, with a hybrid system approaching from both the Tasman Sea and Southern Ocean. This is likely to be the wettest week this month across many regions, with some heavy rain and potential for downpours. This could also be the warmest period of April across the North Island if a large-scale northerly wind stalls over the country.
The strong low pressure anomaly stalls southeast of New Zealand by mid-month, with a heightened risk of south-to-southeasterly winds delivering much colder conditions across the board. Frosts may become commonplace about inland areas during this time, and the odd hard frost cannot be ruled out about the South Island high country. Rainfall should trend close to normal under passing showers, though western South Island is at-risk of seeing below-normal precipitation.
The final week of April sees very little in the way of rainfall or temperature anomalies, with a likely mix of weakening fronts spreading across the country alongside passing highs.
| Bottom Line: A true autumnal mix of weather, with extended dry spells mixed with a wetter-than-average second week. Temperature fluctuations are also expected, with large swings expected mid-month. |
You can sign up for the MetService's Monthly Outlook right to your inbox - click here to subscribe.
Source: www.metservice.com/rural/monthly-outlook
Events
If you have an event that would be of interest to the deer farming industry, please email info@deernz.org with details.
Mark your calendars
2024 Deer Industry Conference, 8-9 May, Hawke's Bay
The 2024 industry conference makes a return taking place in Hawke's Bay.
The highlight of the conference will be the awards dinner which will feature presentations to the winners of the Matuschka and Deer Industry awards as well as announcing the winners of the MSD Photo Competition.
It will also include a field day the following day.
Registrations open NOW!
2024 National Velvet & Trophy Competition
The 2024 Awards Night has been confirmed for Saturday 14th of December. Contact southlanddeerbranch@gmail.com for any enquiries. Details will be updated here when available >>
