Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
There is a need to re-orientate New Zealanders into working in the primary sector, according to the director general of the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Ray Smith’s comments come as widespread concern is expressed, right across the agricultural sector – especially in horticulture, about the lack of people to harvest crops and work in various jobs.
He believes part of the problem is that the benefits of working in the primary sector haven’t been marketed as effectively as they could have been. Smith says while there are some tough-end jobs that don’t pay well, there are actually a huge number of highly-paid jobs in the sector and that will grow.
“I think that some people in the ag sector could improve their employment practices but, having said that, a hell of a lot are doing really well,” he told Rural News.
“That said, I think some of the models we have operated on in the past will have to change in a world where travel is not so easy. We have relied heavily on migrant labour and now we are going to have to turn more to ourselves and look at how we get Kiwis into these jobs.”
Smith acknowledges that wage rates and the seasonal nature of some of the work is an issue. He says wages have to be attractive for potential employees.
However, he points out that in terms of seasonal work there is the opportunity for people to follow the harvests around – with the likes of apples and kiwifruit. Smith says the kiwifruit industry, in particular, is well organised and does a very good job at attracting New Zealanders to work in their sector.
Smith claims growers have got to take a long term view if they are going to change their workforces.
He says they need to take stock of where they are and improve the situation and that it’s important to treat people with decency and respect; and pay them reasonably well.
“A lot will come from word of mouth. People know who the great employers are and actually most of the great employers aren’t struggling to get staff. You can’t just keep on growing and not have a mechanism for providing labour.”
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.