For the first time in more than 30 years, farmers, scientists, policy makers and agribusiness leaders are being invited to help shape the future of New Zealand’s iconic hill country.

A joint effort by the NZ Grassland Association, the NZ Society of Animal Production and the NZ Grassland Trust, the two-day event is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on hill country research and direction since the early 1980s.

Those involved say it’s well past time for the engine powering NZ’s $8 billion red meat sector to receive some serious attention.

As well as providing a forum in which to review current research and celebrate industry achievers, they’re determined the symposium will result in a collective vision that will help set hill country farming on track for profitable and resilient future.

“At present 75 per cent of NZ lambs are born on hill country,” points out symposium convenor Graham Kerr, of the NZ Grassland Association.

“This number is only going to increase as flat land is lost to other enterprises, as will the need to finish more stock on hills.”

Profit squeeze
Yet at the same time, says Graham, hill country profitability is being squeezed; the drive for greater efficiency means fewer people on farms; soil and vegetation is deteriorating in some areas; climate change means more extreme weather is likely; and tighter environmental restraints are becoming a reality.

“There’s a lot of good news, too, however.

“Productivity has steadily increased, we are producing a lot more per stock unit, and many innovative hill country farmers and practitioners are using novel technologies in pasture, animals and monitoring.”

Embrace change
NZ Grassland Trust chairman Gavin Sheath says the symposium presents an opportunity for all stakeholders in the red meat industry to embrace change, improve profitability and care for the resources with which they farm.

“This is not only about physical resources such as land and water, but also staff and the rural communities that provide essential services.”

For more detail, visit www.grassland.org.nz