Wednesday, 10 July 2024 08:55

'A roaring success'

Written by  Staff Reporters
Jonathon and Stacey Hoets with their two children. Jonathon and Stacey Hoets with their two children.

Organisers of the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) 2024 say it was a ‘roaring success’, with over 400 attendees.

SIDE held its 25th event at Lincoln University in Canterbury last month.

Event committee chair of SIDE 2024, Jonathon Hoets says the event is not just about sharing knowledge; it’s about fostering innovation and pushing boundaries.

“The dairy industry is constantly evolving and events like this are crucial in helping farmers adapt to change.”

One of the highlights of SIDE 2024 was the participation of BrightSIDE attendees. Abby Rawcliffe, the BrightSIDE coordinator, emphasised that young attendees play a vital role in shaping the future of the dairy sector.

“Empowering our youth to take on roles within the industry is essential for its longevity,” says Rawcliffe.

“BrightSIDE provides a platform for students and young farmers to ignite curiosity and ambition among young individuals in the industry, connect with experienced professionals, and learn some hands-on skills.”

The conference featured a lineup of keynote speakers, including former Australian SAS medic Dan Pronk, Jeremy Hill, Fonterra, farmer Siobhan O’Malley, and economist Cameron Bagrie. Attendees also enjoyed a field trip to Ashley Dene and Lincoln University Research Farms, and informative sessions with workshops and panels covering a wide range of topics.

More like this

Keynote speakers lined up

SIDE 2024 organisers have secured some key speakers for the event. Here are four of the keynote speakers:

Featured

Ready to walk the talk

DairyNZ's Kirsty Verhoek ‘walks the talk’, balancing her interests in animal welfare, agricultural science and innovative dairy farming.

Dairy earnings bounce back

"We at Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and you at Dairy News said over six months ago that the dairy industry would bounce back, and it has done so with interest.”

$10 milk price still on

Whole milk powder prices on Global Dairy Trade (GDT) remains above long run averages and a $10/kgMS milk price for the season remains on the card, says ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

National

Machinery & Products

A JAC for all trades

While the New Zealand ute market is dominated by three main players, “disruptors” are never too far away.

Pushing the boundaries

Can-Am is pushing the boundaries of performance with its Outlander line-up of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) with the launch of the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

'Bee wear' Simeon

OPINION: A keen pair of eyes wandering down the main street of the hub of the Horowhenua, Levin recently came…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter