Ideal weather drives record dairy growth. GE rule change puts our clean, green image at risk, and SIDE makes historic move to Timaru in 2025.

Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather!

 

Ideal weather drives record dairy growth

September saw an increase in milk returns amid ideal weather conditions, with recent data showing more than a five percent increase in milk totals. These gains extend across both islands, creating strong early season momentum.

Nationwide collections reached one hundred and seventy-four million kilograms, marking nearly five thousand more than September last year. Total season numbers now exceed three hundred million kilograms, showing more than six percent higher returns than  last season.

Northern regions recorded one hundred and four million kilograms, while southern areas added nearly seventy million to the total. These increases mainly relate to ideal weather creating plenty of grass growth across most areas..

Our international trade numbers also show encouraging trends, indicating a more than four percent increase in dairy item movement overseas. This includes additional cheese and infant formula heading to Asian markets, while butter products move toward Middle Eastern customers.

The data indicates New Zealand dairy remains well aligned with market needs, maintaining our leading role in international dairy trade.

 

GE rule change puts our clean, green image at risk

Alarm bells are sounding about how genetic engineering rule changes could harm New Zealand's market advantage, revealing our nation might leapfrog ahead of global standards into untested territory.

A rural delegation recently met with Ministers in Wellington and found that we will move from maintaining high levels of caution to having fewer safeguards than countries already making genetic modifications.

The delegation, which included Brendan Hoare, Managing Director of Buy Pure New Zealand, and spokesperson on GE for Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) learned no economic review exists around these changes. They encountered minimal coordination among ministries, limited understanding of technical matters, and concerning gaps in ministerial awareness about what these alterations mean.

The delegation also uncovered what amounts to a world-first level of deregulation around genetic engineering, a move our major trading allies haven't taken, meaning New Zealand will  act as a worldwide testing ground, even as we rely heavily on our clean, natural image.

These rules could eliminate tracking methods, making it harder to identify altered ingredients in our national growing chain.

 

Leadership change at national irrigation body

A change in leadership is ahead for New Zealand's main irrigation organisation, as their leader transitions to a government role after guiding the group through four years of development. Vanessa Winning will conclude her time at Irrigation New Zealand this month, marking her final event at the national awards evening in Wellington.

The organisation, which guides more than four thousand rural and recreational water users nationwide, has made notable advances during her leadership, including stronger industry connections and enhanced member relations across the rural community.

Winning is moving to the Ministry for Primary Industries where her new role aims to maintain momentum on water management achievements made during her time leading the national irrigation body.

Technical advisor Stephen McNally will guide the organisation through this transition, having spent fourteen years on the organisation's management team.

 

SIDE makes historic move to Timaru in 2025

The South Island Dairy Event known as SIDE is moving to Timaru and changing to autumn timing in 2025. The annual gathering moves away from its traditional winter schedule to run in mid-autumn, marking a new era for the event.

Running across three days in early autumn from April 7th-9th, the event will unite dairy leaders in Timaru - a move highlighting the region's crucial role in South Island dairy. The timing change to autumn aims to make attendance more manageable around rural work calendars.

BrightSIDE returns as well, targeting newcomers to dairy, emerging rural leaders, and students looking to advance their agricultural careers. The one-day meeting runs alongside the main event on Tuesday, encouraging more young rural talent to attend.

Last year's research-oriented event at Lincoln marked SIDE’s 25th anniversary. Next year's gathering aims to highlight achievements across South Island dairy communities.

The event maintains its tradition as New Zealand's leading dairy meeting, run entirely through rural community leadership. Since starting in 1998, it has grown into a crucial knowledge-sharing event, helping dairy leaders manage industry changes.

More information is available on their website side.org.nz

 

Nominations open for Rural Sports Awards

And the annual Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards has launched its call nationwide, highlighting excellence across our rural sports events.

Award judge leader Paul Allison says these honours recognize remarkable achievements in rural athletic traditions, including wood-chopping, tree-climbing, harness racing, rodeo, and highland athletics. The recognition also extends to those making notable contributions in organising and maintaining these traditional athletic events.

The awards include eight major award categories: The New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year, The New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year, The Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year, Rural Sportsperson with a Disability, the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rural Sports Award, the lifetime legacy award The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background, and the Supreme New Zealand Rural Sportsperson Award 

Nominations for all categories are open until January 24th next year, with the main award event taking centre stage at Awapuni during the Rural Games weekend next March.

Anyone interested in nominating outstanding achievers can now access nomination materials through the Rural Games website ruralsports.co.nz

 

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