Tuesday, 21 March 2023 12:55

Forum celebrates farmer network

Written by  Jessica Marshall
Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) forum chair Melissa Slattery says this week’s event will be filled with good information and future thinking. Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) forum chair Melissa Slattery says this week’s event will be filled with good information and future thinking.

The Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) forum taking place in Wellington later this week is set to be an event filled with good information and future thinking, says DEL chair Melissa Slattery.

Slattery, a Te Aroha dairy farmer, says she joined the DEL forum after being invited to attend a gathering in Wellington a few years ago.

“I really enjoyed it, got a lot from it and increased my network of farmers and also met different stakeholders and speakers and got exposed to different information which is always cool,” she told Dairy News.

This year’s forum has a whole host of speakers with a range of insights, from former All Black Sir Buck Shelford who is set to discuss leadership and getting the most out of teams, to KPMG NZ global head of agribusiness Ian Proudfoot talking about the concept of the ‘conscious consumer’.

“We’ve got information on methane technology, all sorts of science and policy, and a political panel,” Slattery says.

She says there are multiple benefits to attending the forum, including “networking with like-minded farmers, learning more about markets and what’s happening worldwide”.

Slattery says that, with 300 dairy environment leaders throughout New Zealand, the network of farmers aim to influence farmers on-farm and in their community, but they also try to advocate for farmers at a policy level.

“We do that by showcasing leadership on-farm for environmental stewardship, helping make practical solutions from a regulatory side of things and supporting communities and other farmers on the journey,” she says.

She says that in 2023 the network is aiming to grow its group of farmers and the impact it can create in the community.

The DEL forum will take place 22-23 March 2023 in Wellington, with more than 60 leaders expected to attend.

More like this

DairyNZ: Waikato Farmers Need Certainty on PC1 Rules

DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.

Featured

Pāmu Opens Farm Gates for Summer Open Farm Days

State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.

DairyNZ: Waikato Farmers Need Certainty on PC1 Rules

DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Taking On Winnie

OPINION: No one messes around with Winston Peters, more so in a general election year.

Full of Surprises

OPINION: Staying on Federated Farmers, this week's annual general meeting in Auckland is shaping up to be an interesting one.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter