Oct 11, 2024
What’s been happening around the country?
I hope everyone has come out of winter in good shape as we make our way through what seems to be a very wet spring (hopefully that’s good for those places with drier than normal soils). By all accounts the deer are in good condition (apart from the low pregnancy rates in those drought-hit areas last summer) and velvet growth is well underway although possibly a bit late in some places.
This issue of DFA Stagline follows hard on the heels of the October Branch Chairs meeting last week. Which, by all the feedback, seems to have been valuable for all the attendees (in particular the Chairs and the New Faces). Certainly it was remarked upon that the mood was more upbeat and dialogue was more evident compared with the May meeting just before conference. And notably there was good communication with DINZ, including listening on both sides. This has to be a core strength of our industry and when done well it sets us apart from our counterparts (examples being the NVSB, implementing the RCS and more recently the smooth review of the deer code of welfare).
The regional roundup at the start of the meeting showed just how active many branches were. Examples were:
- Hosting Next Generation – Central Regions
- Young Deer Farmers competition – SCNO
- Deer 2 Succeed – Hawkes Bay
- Online discussion group and SCI measuring course – Elk Wapiti Society
- Hosting school visits – Marlborough
- Field days – Kaipara (supporting a new entrant), Bay of Plenty (visit to Gallaghers), Southland (embryo transfer, genome work, velvet production)
- Rising Stars – Waipa
Topics covered were: Environment regulations, OSPRI, Noth American Retail Accelerator programme, science funding structure, Integrated Farm Planning project, Landify (farm ownership options), NVSB, deer veterinarians, DINZ Strategy and Board Q&A, wild der, nProve (deer genetics), NZDFA history and NZDFA roles/function. Please talk to your Branch Chair for more detail on the range of topics at the meeting. An introduction to the DINZ Strategy (refresh) link is here: https://deernz.org/assets/DINZ/strategy-doc-3-pager.pdf
A more fulsome account will be provided later in this issue, but I’ll note one more encouraging sign from the meeting: The number of new Branch Chairs and this year there were six New Faces. So, there was certainly an air of revitalization and rejuvenation.
Please contact your Branch Chair if you want to find out more about the meeting and topics covered.
Over September DINZ consulted with NZDFA Branch Chairs on the draft 2024/25 budget. As with the mood of the October meeting, it was heartening to see that NZDFA comments and suggestions were incorporated into the final budget that was approved by the DINZ Board; so I think that is a big step towards a good working relationship between the two organisations.
Another activity at the request of the NZDFA was a workshop to review the Velvet Judging Guidelines – last done in 2005. Nine judges or competition organisers from Waikato to Southland met in Christchurch and went through the guidelines document, with particular attention on the scoring system and the weighting for heavy antlers versus style and configuration. Pleasingly there was widespread agreement on what needed to be updated and the “Southland formula” will be shared with other branches. This will be in place for next season’s competitions, and we hope to run judging workshops or videos over the year.
In September DINZ held a farmer evening in Feilding which attracted about 60 farmers from afar as Taihape, Hawkes Bay and South Canterbury(!). Although this was a DINZ event, three of the NZDFA Executive Committee were also present as well as Branch Chairs from Taihape-Ruapehu, Hawkes Bay and Central Regions. Similar to the Nelson farmer meeting in July, issues foremost in farmers’ minds were China market access for frozen velvet, venison prices and the North American market and hind numbers.
This month is shaping up to be busy for NZDFA activities – by the time this issue comes out Southland will have held its field day, Taihape-Ruapehu will have had its AGM and SCNO Young Deer Farmer competition will be about to kick off. Plus the usual committee meetings. Soon we will be into November and the start of the velvet competitions.
As always, please let us know of any upcoming activities. We are happy to offer support where we can.
