2025 SIDE Workshops & Field Trip

Monday 7 April 2025
Optional Field Trip 

  

Field Trip

Where & Description

Speakers   
12.00pm - 5.00pm  Visits to the PrimePort of Timaru, and Opuha Water Limited (Dam)

 

Ophua Water Ltd

Opuha Water Ltd (OWL) is a co-operative company that owns and operates the Opuha Dam and downstream irrigation infrastructure.  The Opuha Dam is situated at the confluence of the North and South Opuha Rivers approx. 17km north-east of Fairlie. The earth dam is 50 metre high, with a single 7MW hydro turbine and a lake covering up to 710 ha and storing 74 million cubic metres of water. Water is released from the dam into the Opuha River which converges with the Opihi River, to maintain environmental flows in the downstream catchment and for irrigation as well as urban (domestic) and industrial supplies via the Timaru District Council’s community water take. The water supplied by the Scheme presently facilities the irrigation of approximately 16,000 hectares of land within the Mackenzie and Timaru Districts, and the power generated by the hydro station supplies, on average, 3800 households per year.

Matt Ross (Infrastructure Planning & Delivery Manager of OWL), and Julia Crossman (Environmental and Regulatory Manager) will provide an overview of OWL and the Opuha Dam including its history, key workstreams and opportunities and challenges ahead. 

Julia Crossman
Environmental & Regulatory Manager
Ophua Water Ltd

 

Matt Ross
Infrastructure Planning and Delivery Manager
Opuha Water Ltd

 

PrimePort Timaru

Discover the evolution of PrimePort Timaru, a vital hub in New Zealand’s trade network. Learn about its transformation from a historic anchorage to a modern port, its ongoing infrastructure upgrades, and its role in handling key imports and exports like dairy products, palm kernel, and fertilisers.

🔹 History & Evolution – How PrimePort became a strategic trade gateway.
🔹 Infrastructure Developments – Wharf reinforcements & smart navigation tech.
🔹 Trade Insights – The movement of essential goods through the port.

Phil Melhopt - Chief Executive, Primeport Timaru
   

 

Tuesday 8 April 2025
Day 1 - Workshops repeat in the morning and afternoon so you can go to both

Workshop Title

Workshop Topic & Description

Workshop Sponsor

Speakers 

Unlocking Dairy Gains: Harnessing Tech & Expertise for On-Farm Success

 

Discover the latest research and advancements driving incremental improvements in dairy farming.

Ryan Luckman will share insights from his extensive experience with various collar technologies, offering actionable strategies for achieving real on-farm gains— whether you use collars or not.

This workshop features concise presentations from experts and farmers, followed by an extended interactive session where farmers can engage directly with specialists.

Tailor the insights to your unique system and uncover the 1% gains that can make a big difference on your farm.

       

 

Ryan Luckman

Advancing Dairy Beef: DNA Insights, Bull Selection & Future Opportunities

This workshop will explore innovative advancements and practical insights for the dairy industry as we delve into bull selection, addressing the common knowledge gaps among dairy farmers regarding which EBV figures are classified as safe.

The session will also cover how studs across New Zealand are improving data accuracy to better support the dairy industry through AI and natural mating systems. Additionally, we’ll explore the Genez traceability program, which connects dairy farmers with finishers to produce high-quality dairy beef, offering opportunities to achieve premiums while ensuring ease of calving and saleable calves. 

 

 


Ben Watson, dairy farmer and founder of Genez - Dairy Beef Traceability programme

 

Jason Archer - Beef + Lamb NZ 

 

Tom Hargreaves - Kakahu Angus & Charolais Stud (and dairy farmers)

 

Rebecca Furzeland – Homelands Farming

 

Wednesday 9 April 2025
Day 2 - Workshops repeat in the morning and afternoon so you can go to both

Mastering Mastitis: A Farmer-Driven Approach to Dairy Health & Performance

Join farmer and industry experts as they delve into a farmer-driven, holistic, and pathogen-specific approach to managing mastitis in dairy farming. This session will explore the intricate relationship between somatic cell counts (SCC) and a cow's overall performance, encompassing production, fertility, longevity, and calf rearing.

Key topics include:

  • Understanding Mastitis: Causes, implications, and the "why" behind this critical challenge.
  • Prevention Strategies: How proactive, informed farming can safeguard animal health.
  • Diagnostics in Action: Practical tools and hands-on opportunities to enhance diagnostic skills.
  • Looking Ahead: The role of dairy farmers in combating microbial resistance and reducing antibiotic reliance.

This insightful and interactive session is a must for farmers seeking to elevate animal health, productivity, and sustainability on their farms.

 

 

Aaron & Holly Jackson - Sharemilkers

Natasha Maguire - Chief Scientific Officer - Farm Medix

Elevate Your Financial Performance

Join a panel of successful farmers, representing different business structures and tenure within the industry, as they share their strategies for achieving top-tier financial results. Gain insights into how they analyse and optimise the finer details of their business performance to drive success. This session offers practical advice and proven methods to help you take your farm’s financial performance to the next level.

 

Terry Kilday

Leighton Parker

Eldon & Roseanne Megaw
       

Another exciting session for all to attend!

Dairy Advancement through Science and Technology

As part of SIDE 2025, we will be exploring cutting-edge science and technology shaping the future of our dairy industry. This fast-paced session features seven dynamic presentations, each offering insights into new science, technology and innovations designed to boost efficiency, enhance sustainability, and achieve those critical 1% gains on your farm. These rapid-fire sessions are your gateway to staying ahead of our continually evolving industry.
Don't miss this opportunity to ignite ideas, spark conversations, and explore the science driving smarter, more sustainable dairying.

There will be time to network with the presenters after this session to find out more information.

 

The presentations:

AgResearch – Ajmal Khan - colostrum management, passive immunity and performance of heifer replacements. 

Lincoln University - Racheal Bryant – the pros and cons of leaving calves with their dams, results from research into extended suckling. 

Eco Pond – Keith Cameron – a farm dairy effluent system that reduces GHG emissions, E. coli levels in treated effluent and cuts phosphate loss to water of effluent areas.

DairyNZ – Roshean Woods – developing a bulk milk urea indicator tool to help manage herd dietary nitrogen (N) surplus and urinary N loss risk. It works alongside other information to support tactical and strategic decisions around optimising N use efficiency.

Aimer Farming – Jeremy Bryant – AIMER, AI powered smartphone pasture measurement and digital assistant to optimise pasture management

Please Note: The views presented at SIDE are the opinions of the individual speakers and are not necessarily shared by the SIDE organising committee or supporting organisations. Given the general nature of some of the views and information presented at SIDE, and the fact that every participant’s individual circumstances are different, SIDE participants should not act solely on the basis of the material presented at the event, but should obtain specific advice according to their own circumstances.

SIDE 2025 Sponsors & Exhibitors