Taupo hosts annual Grassland conference

The New Zealand Grassland Association’s 69th annual conference will be held in the Waikato region next month.



This year’s theme is Future Proofing – Profitable Farming.



The NZGA provides networking and idea-sharing opportunities for people involved in the pastoral farming sector. It will be held at Bayview Wairakei Resort in Taupo from November 13-15.



The conference will feature topics of local and national interest, farmer, scientist and industry speakers and a field trip focusing on practical issues.



“This is a great opportunity for farmers, consultants, researchers and commercial representatives to get up to speed on cutting edge issues facing the pastoral farming sector,” said Environment Waikato sustainable agriculture coordinator Bala Tikkisetty.



Mr Tikkisetty, one of the local delegates on this year’s organising committee, expects the conference to attract more than 300 attendees.



Papers on a variety of topics will be presented at the conference including:



· land and water sustainability

· forestry to pasture conversions

· feed supply and management

· topical issues in sustainable land management

· high ME grasses

· breeding cultivars and endophytes

· managing nitrogen for water quality.



There will also be field trips to Wairakei Estate, which is being converted from forestry to pasture, Rangitaiki Station, examining the management of a large scale sheep, beef and deer farm, and Lochinver Station, looking at developing pastures on a large scale sheep and beef farm.



All NZGA members and anyone interested in grassland farming are welcome to attend the conference. Those who don’t wish to attend the whole conference can register for single days and/or the field trips.



The conference is organised in association with the Agronomy Society of New Zealand.



For more information please contact Bala Tikkisetty at Environment Waikato on (07) 859 0543 or Mark Cunningham on (07) 378 6281, or visit www.grassland.org.nz.