Conference 2012
Field Visits
Being held in the Knowledge City of NZ, Palmerston North, the 2012 event will make the most of its surroundings with the Fonterra Research Centre making a rare decision to open its doors to conference delegates. The centre is the largest dairy research facility in the world, and employs over one hundred world class scientists, who help them remain on the cutting edge of dairy innovation, manufacture and application.
Sessions are also planned onsite at Massey University, and AgResearch. Massey is home to the NZ Life Cycle Management Centre , a collaboration between AgResearch, Landcare Research, Plant and Food Research and SCION.
The centre is working to build capacity in the field and to help in the development of more sustainable export products.
Fonterra Research Centre
The centre is the largest dairy research facility in the world, employing over one hundred world class scientists and housing one of the largest registered dairy pilot plants in the world. Delegates will be exposed to the cutting edge of dairy innovation and research, and hear about the processes and the people behind them, which combined help New Zealand lead the way in dairy innovation.
AgResearch
AgResearch's science activities are critical in ensuring the prosperity, security and sustainability of New Zealand's pastoral and agri-food sectors. This visit will look at how scientific and technological opportunities are identified, and then turned into tangible benefits for the dairy sector.
Topics to be covered:
Endophyte technology and genetic gain in forages - Dr David Hume
Improving genetic merit of the feed base - Brent Barrett
Everything you didn't want to know about drenches - Dr Dave Leathwick
Overseer, how it can help your business - Dr Mark Shepherd
Landcorp Farm Tour
In February 2004 much of the Manawatu was devastated by a one in one hudnred year flood. The Motua basin, where Landcorp has a significant dairy operation was particularly hard hit. While in the short term operation was devastated it has also provided many opportunities in terms of systems, management and production changes.
There are currently five dairy units totalling around 3700 cows, producing just under 1.5 million milk solids. This operation is considered the jewel in the crown of the Landcorp dairy portfolio. Landcorp have done significant work in gathering and collating on farm data, which is analysed and used to guide strategic and tactical on farm decisions. Particular areas of focus have been in pasture productivity, supplementary feeding, and on farm management.
Delegates on the farm tour will be able to see and hear about the changes to the farm systems and the positive impacts these have had on the operations.
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