Hub proposal heads to the tape

To date almost 300 farmers have pledged at least $710,000; the hub is hoping to raise $2 million.

Southern Dairy Development Trust (SDDT) chair Matthew Richards says the hub is an opportunity for southern dairy farmers to have an innovative research facility specifically to find solutions to regional issues.

Richards says pledges are coming in but if there is insufficient southern dairy farmer support received by the deadline of April 30, the opportunity will be lost.

“We’ve been asking farmers to pledge a financial contribution to the hub, as our industry partners are prepared to invest $10 million and want local farmers to demonstrate they back the hub by also taking a stake in it.

“The best way we can all do that is by putting our money where our mouth is, but it’s more important that we show our partners – DairyNZ and AgResearch – that overwhelming numbers of southern dairy farmers support the hub proposal and will get behind it. Ultimately that is what our partners want to see.”

 Richards says the trust can work with individual farmers and develop different payment options to suit circumstances. “It’s a no-brainer to me as we need this Hub to secure the future of dairying in our region.”

The proposed Southern Dairy Hub will be a working farm of 300-380ha, centrally located for all farmers from the Taieri Plains south. It will farm four herds of about 200 cows to enable comparative research, and will have buildings for offices, meetings, learning and education.

Hub aims:

• Comparative research on topics relevant to southern farmers
• Demonstrate that research
• Provide education and learning facilities
• A meeting point for industry partners and groups
• A central meeting point for the local community.

Tel. 0800 336 632

www.southerndairyhub.co.nz