First ‘farmers’ field day to be held at sea
Clearwater Mussels, joint winner of the coveted South Island Farmer of the Year competition, will be presenting most of
its winner’s field day on board touring boats in the Marlborough Sounds.
Reflecting the uniqueness of the winner, this will be the first Lincoln University Foundation field day to be held at
sea!
Foundation chair Ben Todhunter says that while a farmers’ field day at sea might sound incongruous, the Clearwater field
day on Friday 8 April has been designed to offer real value to land-based farm businesses.
“There is much for land-based farmers to learn from the marine mussel industry,” Todhunter says, “and Clearwater is an
inspirational example. The challenges, solutions, innovations and marketing principles employed at Clearwater Mussels
are very applicable to land-based enterprises.”
Speakers include:
• Donald Boote, Production manager, Talleys Group – producer to consumer connections
• Gary Rountree, Financial Manager Maclab – the nutraceutical market for green-lipped mussels and future prospects
• Dr Ken Grange, Nelson Regional Manager, NIWA – issues facing farming of mussels in the marine environment with comparisons to terrestrial farming.
• Chris Glasson, landscape architect – marine farming applications and renewals, visual/landscape impacts.
Todhunter adds that, traditionally, farmers are used to just turning up to field days, but he emphasises that
registration for the Clearwater event is essential because attendance is strictly limited to the capacity of the tour
boats being used for the event.
“With good numbers already signalling their intention to attend, I recommend anyone interested to promptly get onto the
Foundation website and book,” Todhunter says. Registration is available at http://www.lincolnuniversityfoundation.org.nz/farmer-of-the-year-field-days
ENDS