Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
The dairy sector wants the new Government to lead a strategy supporting the growth of a skilled workforce for the dairy sector.
DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says young people deserve the opportunity to do well within the agricultural industry.
“We need a strong long-term plan that aligns training through the school curriculum with practical experience on the farm,” says Mackle.
The dairy sector should no longer be a “no options left” career, he says.
“We know how rewarding it can be working in the dairy sector – our farmers are custodians of the land and water, passionate animal lovers, and excellent business people.
“We have initiatives like the Primary Industries Capability Alliance and ‘GrowingNZ’, which promote careers in the primary sector and reach more than 60% of secondary schools and 38,000 students. But we want more of these students to choose the primary sector.
“Farming requires a positive attitude, determination, and tenacity. A young person with these qualities and a strong desire to learn on the job will find farming a satisfying career.”
Mackle also noted that the major parties all had policies to attract young New Zealanders into work, and NZFirst in particular has a focus on providing jobs for New Zealanders before migrants.
“We definitely want to see more kiwi candidates in the regions where the jobs are,” says Mackle.
“But until we have the Kiwi’s with the right training and passion for farming, who are attracted to rural regions, we will continue to fill a genuine need with migrant workers. Migrant workers also add diversity which is particularly important for a globally focussed sector.
“By targeting the right people early on, those that want to be in farming or work in the agricultural sector, we can ensure we are feeding the future employment needs of our country’s primary sector.”
“We believe that a long-term strategy needs to be developed and supported by the future Government to make this a reality.”
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
OPINION: Scientists claim to have found a new way to make a substitute for cow's milk that could have a…
OPINION: The Irish have come up with a novel way to measure cow belching, which is said to account for…