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Fed Farmers immigration spokesman Chris Lewis says there are 1290 vacancies for farm workers on the Farm Source website alone.
Farmers will continue to apply pressure on the Government and hope for a change of heart on the need for skilled overseas workers.
Earlier this month, the Government declined an application by the dairy sector for 500 skilled workers from overseas.
Federated Farmers immigration spokesman Chris Lewis says the Government is set to deliver its budget this week, aiming to grow the pie and reduce debt.
“For that they would need the economy to grow, but how can you with your biggest export sector facing a worker shortage,” Lewis told Rural News.
He says farmers will continue to advocate on the issue, hoping the Government realises how worrying the situation is.
Federated Farmers and DairyNZ applied in March for 500 overseas workers after an industry-wide survey to gauge the level of worker shortage.
The industry had agreed on the number of hours of work per week, to pay workers a minimum wage of $25/hour and pay managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) costs.
Lewis says while there is anecdotal evidence of more workers needed in the industry, the sector settled for a bare minimum 500. He points out that on the Farm Source website, there are 1,290 vacancies for farm workers, with more vacancies posted on Facebook where young people hang out.
Lewis says the sector will continue to have robust discussions with Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and the Government on the issue.
DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says having the Government application declined is disappointing and essentially lets farmers down, just as the sector heads into its peak period.
“We have real concerns for this season, including animal welfare, farmers working longer hours, increased stress and mental wellbeing issues,” says Mackle.
“DairyNZ continues to work hard to resolve long-term workforce issues. However, we have an immediate workforce crisis this season, due to Covid border closures. This decision is a blow to the sector.”
DairyNZ is pushing the Government to process the residency applications of those farm workers already in the country.
A recent joint DairyNZ-Federated Farmers labour survey emphasised that farmers are short staffed, with 49% of respondents stating they are currently short staffed and 58% of them experiencing increased stress levels.
National’s agriculture spokesman David Bennett has accused the Government of setting up the dairy sector to fail.
“The dairy sector has provided evidence of large scale skill deficiencies and the need for migrant labour,” says Bennett. “However, the Minister of Agriculture ignores this advice and instead focuses on tightening the Government’s grip on the dairy industry workforce.”
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
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.
