The sound of 150 mooing Friesians broke the Momona air yesterday morning, signalling the start of Gypsy Day for one local sharemilker.
Gypsy Day, traditionally marked on June 1, is the start of the new dairy season when farm purchases and sales are settled, sharemilking and grazing contracts are signed off and cows are moved to winter grazing.
The 12km trek across Momona roads and farmland included a special detour to keep the Poplar Farm cows off the Dunedin airport tarmac.
Momona sharemilker Matt Luke said the ‘‘girls'' were used to the noise of planes overhead.
"They might even like it.''
Gypsy Day was an event most people in the area looked forward to, he said.
"It is quite enjoyable.
"Especially on a nice day.
"Everyone comes out and says hello and watches them go by.''
The stock would spend two months at the winter grazing spot before being transported back to Poplar Farm by truck when they were about to calve, he said.
He hoped the new dairy season would bring better times for the industry.
Last month, Fonterra announced a forecast milk price of $4.25 kg/ms, $1 less than the same time last year.
"It was a challenging season that we have been through. Both financially and environmentally things have been difficult, but you box on and look forward to things improving.
"Hopefully, things are better off in a year's time.
"But the reality is things are tough and you can't change them.''
