Rural News
Southland farmers are being encouraged to get ahead of the winter grazing season by attending a practical field day in Pukerau next week. Hosted by Environment Southland , the event will focus on planning, compliance, and soil management ahead of the winter grazing season, which runs from May 1 to September 30. Focus on Soil and Strategic Grazing Environment Southland land sustainability manager Simon Stokes says the field day, held on 30 April, will feature informative and thought provoking speakers and a quick run through of a winter grazing checklist. The theme for the event is 'Soil and Strategic Grazing' and speakers include Beef + Lamb NZ's Tom Orchiston. Orchiston will cover soil structure, nutrient movement, and how grazing decisions impact land health. Planning Key to Reducing Risk The best way to mitigate risks is to have a winter grazing plan for the season as required under the Southland Water and Land Plan. Making sure people get it right around buffer zones and protecting critical source areas was crucial, he said. Stokes says good planning is crucial. " Help your team and contractors understand what they need to be doing. If you haven’t already, take the team out on a farm/paddock trip and have a look at the location, go through a few scenarios, including what to do when the weather cuts up rough, or the soils get saturated early in the season.” Event Details The field day will include a winter grazing checklist, expert presentations, and opportunities for discussion. Location: Pukerau Hall, 71 Middle Street, Pukerau Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026 Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm Lunch provided Farmers can register or find more information via the Environment Southland website or by contacting their team directly. #Environment_Southland #WINTER_GRAZING #winter
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