Knowledge and networks shared

New Zealand Grasslands Association vice-president Warwick Lissaman thanks the crowd on the final...
New Zealand Grasslands Association vice-president Warwick Lissaman thanks the crowd on the final day of the 2014 Grasslands conference in Alexandra. Photo by Nicole Sharp.
Farmers, agribusiness staff, scientists and researchers left Alexandra earlier this month with far larger networks and knowledge in grassland farming after participating in the 2014 New Zealand Grasslands Association conference.

Months of hard work had gone into this year's conference with the theme of ''farming in a land of extremes''.

Attendees visited some of Central Otago's most established farming properties, heading out to Ida Valley Station, and hearing about properties involved with Greenfield New Zealand Pastures Limited, at Hills Creek Station, near Oturehua, and Nine Mile Pastoral Limited at the Willowbank property, near Tarras.

Four-hundred people from throughout New Zealand took part in the conference over November 5-7 which featured about 50 speakers on a range of topics from effective timing of harvesting kale to whether nitrogen fertiliser could be an option in tussock hill country.

New Zealand Grassland Trust chairman Gavin Sheath said the conference had been a huge success, exceeding the expected turnout of about 250.

There was a wide range of people there and Mr Sheath said about 25% of people there were farmers.

''It has changed over the years - both husband and wife farmers come along, some even every year.''

The remaining 75% of people were split, with 50% of the people at the conference in agribusiness roles and the other 25% scientists and researchers.

Mr Sheath said more young people were also attending Grassland conferences annually and taking away valuable insight into the industry.

''A lot of the young ones come to the conference and meet one another and build up their networks.''

The benefit was not only to those who attending, as the Alexandra community also benefited.

Central Otago District Council economic development manager Warwick Hawker said the organisers were delighted with the turnout.

''In terms of delegates, the Alexandra event was up there with conferences held in the main centres.''

Mr Hawker added the team at the Alexandra i-SITE did a fantastic job working with the conference organises to help visitors find rooms.

Some volunteer groups from throughout the region had opportunities to fundraise during the conference, by providing catering during the field day trip components.

''There will be a more long term but difficult to quantify benefit resulting from the out of town delegates gaining a greater knowledge of Central Otago and what the district has to offer as a consequence of having spent some time here.''

''And we shouldn't overlook our farmers, as a consequence of having the scientists who attended the conference learn first-hand about the particular farming conditions, challenges and opportunities in Central Otago and factoring these into their research programmes the Central Otago pastoral sector is likely to benefit in the longer term.''

Mr Sheath said the conference had been a huge success and he looked forward to next year's conference in Masterton.

- by Nicole Sharp 

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