increase font size
It is hoped a report showing good pay for dairy sector workers will help attract more New Zealanders to farming jobs.
A report confirming a sharp rise in pay for dairy sector workers will help attract more New Zealanders to farming jobs, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Chris Lewis.
He says the 2020 Federated Farmers Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report has come at a perfect time.
“At a time when we are trying to attract more Kiwis into dairy farming, the report confirms the dairy sector has quite competitive pay and benefits for potential workers,” he told Rural News.
The report, released last week, shows that between 2017-18 and 2019-20, the mean total remuneration package (salary plus benefits such as accommodation, meat, firewood, Kiwisaver, etc) has increased significantly for farm employees across all sectors groups.
Based on survey responses relating to nearly 3,000 on-farm positions, the report shows the mean farm employee remuneration package for dairy farm workers rose by 9.7% to $57,125. Across sheep/beef farm roles it was up by 7.6% to $55,568, across grain farms it was up by 3.1% to $58,800 and in ‘other’ specialist farm roles outside standard position descriptions, it was up by 16% to $61,288.
Federated Farmers president Katie Milne says during the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture has been an essential service and one of the nation’s economic pillars.
“Not only does a career in our sector offer very good job security and the satisfaction of working outdoors to produce quality food for families, here and around the globe, it also offers competitive pay packages,” Milne says.
“Those who have the right attitude and show leadership potential can find a satisfying career pathway in front of them.”
In the last two years, the mean total remuneration package for a dairy assistant manager has jumped $10,643 (20.6%) to $62,317, while the mean package for a dairy operations manager is now up by $1,658 (1.96%) to $85,986.
The mean total remuneration for a head shepherd is now $60,091 (up by 8.37%) and for a senior tractor/machinery driver on a grains farm, $65,269 (up by 4.67%).
The report provides a range of information relevant to farmers who employ or who are looking to employ workers.
Milne says the report aims to provide a ‘one stop shop’ for farmers employing staff.
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.
A 'tsunami' of milk from key exporting countries is winding down and this may be good news for New Zealand dairy farmers.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chair, Bevan Lill, said Beef + Lamb NZ data indicated that for the last six years, the average arable return on investment was about 0.8% while inflation ran about 4% - so the average arable farm was going backwards at about 3% a year.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
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.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
