13 November 2013 Farm Open Day showcases transformation of sunshine into food

One of Canterbury’s most productive and most visited farms will open its gates to the public of Christchurch on Saturday 23 November 2013, with its inaugural Farm Open Day.

The Farm Open Day to be held at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) from 1.30pm to 4.30pm will enable visitors to find out how grass becomes milk, milk gets to the supermarket and all the bits in between.

“Farming is the amazing transformation of sunshine, nutrients and water into food (and fibre)” says Dr Andrew West, Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University and Chairman of SIDDC (South Island Dairy Development Centre). “The Farm Open Day will showcase that transformation from sunshine, nutrients and water through plants, into animals and into our kitchens, dining rooms and cafés.”

Dr West says the University and SIDDC want to invite the Christchurch community on to its showcase demonstration farm to deepen the connection between our daily consumption of products like milk, cheese and yoghurt, and the creation of that food on local farms.

“LUDF hosts 2,500 to 3,000 farmers and related industry visitors per year” says SIDDC’s Executive Director Ron Pellow. “We want to give visitors from Christchurch an opportunity to visit LUDF and observe the production of milk, taste and see some of the products made from milk, and engage with farmers and technical experts about the production of their milk and related food products.

“Food production is the core of dairy farming in New Zealand” continues Ron Pellow “and something important to all of us on a daily basis. This Open Day creates an opportunity for people to connect with the source of some of their food through visiting a full scale commercial dairy farm; to bring their questions and observe milking.”

The Farm Open Day will run from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, with milking occurring from 2.30pm. As a fully operational commercial farm visitors will need to be mindful of the livestock and machinery operating on farm, and children will need to be supervised at all times.

LUDF is approximately 2 km from Lincoln, at the southern end of Shands Road and just before the intersection of Shands Road and Ellesmere Junction Road. Entrance is free, courtesy of support from a number of organisations including Lincoln University, SIDDC, Rabobank and the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE). 

More information, including a location map is available at www.farm-openday.co.nz.