Outlook for dairy strong – ag trade envoy
New Zealand’s special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr believes the outlook for the dairy sector remains strong.
A focus on people to create a positive, productive workplace culture will benefit everyone, says the Dairy Women’s Network, promoting human resources training it will offer next month.
It comprises free workshops titled ‘The drive behind your team’, to be presented by DWN project manager Lynda Clark, Whangarei regional co-convenor Cara Pinny, North Island convenor Alison Ferris, South Island convenor Rebecca Miller and Veronica Briggs of DairyNZ.
“Working in the field of farm-focused human resources, I can say most farmers appreciate that people are their greatest asset,” says Clark.
“We have a young workforce, with 44% of farm assistants aged 24 years or younger. Young people have different influences in their lives. They want a positive, productive workplace culture and a good work environment today – not in 20 years.
“The workshops will [help] attendees to review their farm team culture and look at ways to get the best for them and their team. A positive team culture and good morale make a big difference to productivity.”
The workshops will also cover what “decent” employers and employees look like and how they behave, and creating a win-win situation for employer and employee. And they will explore various roster options and hear from someone using a five-two. There will be plenty of take-home tools and tips.”
Time and place
For more information visit www.dwn.co.nz
When Northland leather worker Vernon Suckling started making horse saddles 50 years ago, quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles were unheard of.
Alliance Group has confirmed that eligible farmer-shareholders who supply and continue to back the business will receive up to $20 million later this year, following the strategic investment partnership with Dawn Meats.
With a general election under five weeks away, Rural News is asking major political parties about their policies and positions on key issues facing the primary sector. We will run their responses to each question over the next four weeks. The ACT Party and the Greens didn't respond in time.
The red meat sector is in great heart.
Dr Scott Champion, Foundation for Arable Research chief executive, says that everyone in the supply chain had a role to play in driving the sector's long-term success.
Entries opened on Monday, 5 October 2026 for the 2027 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA), which organisers describe as the nation's biggest celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.
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