The Southern Dairy Hub at Makarewa, near Invercargill, will be officially opened on Friday.
The hub, which includes a working dairy farm and centre for science and research, will allow farmer-led and local issues to be researched on southern soils, in southern conditions.
DairyNZ and AgResearch are the principal shareholders,investing $5 million each, while local farmers and businesses contributed a further $1.25 million through the Southern Dairy Development Trust.
It was four and a-half years ago when local farmers, with the support of DairyNZ, brought together like-minded people to build a business case, find the money needed and buy suitable land.
The 349ha farm will be self-contained for wintering and young stock, allowing for research to be carried out across the whole system.
Opening day on Friday will give people the opportunity to view the farm and hear how the hub will support the dairy industry in Southland and Otago.
Annual milk solids production of about 324 million kg in Otago-Southland now accounts for 17% of national milk production, making it the third-largest dairying region behind Waikato and Canterbury.
