Nov 14, 2024
What’s been happening around the country?
It seems that our spring is a real mixed bag this year, more so than normal with places experiencing hot and cold, snow and drying winds. Nothing seems to be consistent (but I guess that is spring!). By and large most places around the country seem to have come through winter although it does look like the North Island east coast will join North Canterbury in facing another dry spring/summer.
As I write this everyone is flat tack with velveting although some are just about on to regrowth while others are in the middle of the first cut. And while there is now a clear path to the China market we have still to see what will happen with prices and when the chequebooks come out.
NVSB appointment
Recently the Executive Committee interviewed seven candidates for the National Velvetting Standards Body (NVSB) vacancy created by Paddy Boyd stepping down. The NZDFA and the NZ Veterinary Association appoints two representatives each (John Somerville is the other NZDFA rep). David Morgan was the appointed based on his strong connections throughout the industry, his commercial interests in venison, velvet and trophy and his familiarity with the industry functions and operations.
David Morgan
The Executive Committee were very impressed by all seven candidates and are greatly encouraged that any of them would have been good choices for the position. There was a consistent mix of farmer pragmatism, innovation and solutions focus, understanding of risks and opportunities, and long-term thinking. We do hope that the other applicants do consider other roles in the industry as they arise. As an industry we can be much stronger when we have motivated and positive people active in NZDFA roles.
A month ago I attended the Taihape-Ruapehu branch’s AGM in Ohakune along with Luka Jansen (DINZ Environmental Stewardship Manager). As with the October Branch Chair’s meeting the week before, farmer sentiment was one of guarded optimism (having come through winter in reasonable shape and good levels of feed), but still with concerns about the upcoming velvet season. Venison prices are improving and the hind numbers seem to have stabilised compared to the previous year. As always environment issues were never far away and this year there is a focus on what position the industry will have on greenhouse gas emissions for deer.
Further south and on the following day South Canterbury North Otago branch held the first ever “Young Deer Farmer Competition” at Peel Forest Estate. This has been covered in the last DINZ eNews issue here: https://deernz.org/home/our-stories/young-deer-farmer-competition-a-world-first/ and was a great day out by all accounts with five finalists selected to go on to the next round to be held at the SCNO Velvet Competition on 29 November (https://deernz.org/home/events/south-canterbury-north-otago-velvet-awards-and-christmas-dinner/). Congratulations to the branch for running such an enjoyable and educational event designed to help young and new entrants into the industry connect with the more experienced and knowledgeable “silverbacks”.
The future of deer farming (Photo: Mark Tapley).
Keeping with the future of deer farming, the Bay of Plenty branch once again sponsored the Senior Student Agricultural and Horticultural Science prize for Tauranga Boys’ College. This is the second year of sponsorship from the branch and I attended the prize giving ceremony on its behalf as it was a busy time of year for our farmers. Luke Toohey was the deserved winner and as with the previous year, the unique trophy (a set of antlers) was quite a talking point of the night.
From left to right: Lindsay Fung, Luke Toohey, Ivan Davie (Photo: Tauranga Boys’ College).
Luke writes: “Earlier this year, we completed an internal assessment on the profitability of deer velvet. I found the introduction to deer farming quite interesting, especially as it was my first time learning about this industry. Through the assessment, I learned about the production of deer velvet and how the industry has evolved over many years. With a foundational understanding, we then had to analyse some of the challenges that deer farmers face and how these impact profitability.”
Thanks go to Liz Love (branch Chair) and Ivan Davie (Tauranga Boys’ College teacher) for coordinating school visits to deer farms.
Other branch activity has included field days by Southland (covering nutrition around button drop, embryo transfer work and genetics) and Taihape-Ruapehu hosting a visit from members of the Central North Island advance party. It’s really encouraging to see branches organising activities that allow farmers to connect with other farmers and engage with the wider community.
Out on-farm in Taihape, with the residents checking out the guests.
A view from the office.
Velvet competitions are not too far away as well as stag sales. I hope the rest of the velvet season and fawning/calving goes smoothly. Next year will be another busy year as we gear up for the Queenstown industry conference (and 50 years of NZDFA) which also includes the Environment, Deer Industry and Matuschka awards. Please consider entering or nominating people for these awards.
