increase font size
Measuring and recording performance is critical to driving performance on sheep and beef farms
High-performing farmers are front-footing challenges facing the sheep and beef sector and adapting their businesses, according to new research by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP).
According to the study, consistency of execution, attention to detail and measuring and recording performance were all critical to driving performance on sheep and beef farms.
RMPP commissioned the study to ask a group of New Zealand’s highest performing sheep and beef farmers to identify the main drivers of their performance. This year’s research, which followed a similar study in 2015, identified the critical characteristics that enabled them to consistently achieve good results.
It also focused on what had changed for these farmers, particularly the challenges they were facing and how they were responding to the issues compared to five years ago.
The research found there was a stronger focus among high performing farmers on addressing environmental challenges through quality assurance programmes.
However, these farmers noted feeling that additional regulations had led to an increasingly negative public perception towards farming.
Many high performing farmers want to take ownership of this issue with some wishing to help show the public how they farm with integrity, especially regarding animal welfare and the environment.
Facing droughts, dealing with climate change, and the need to map pathways towards becoming carbon neutral were also more prominent issues compared to 2015.
Meanwhile, the farmers recognised the changing consumer preferences and what this meant for the long-term viability of their businesses. Covid-19 also presented a range of challenges and opportunities.
The research shows most high-performing farmers are continuing to do what they have already been successfully focusing on for many years.
“These farmers do not blindly follow trends, rather when they introduce new practices, they tweak them to suit both their style of farming and the environment they operate in.”
The research found that high-performing farmers, through a strong sense of self-awareness, are particularly good at translating their values or what’s important to them into a ‘style of farming’ that is profitable and sustainable for the environment they occupy.
It also suggests that a way to support other farmers to improve their performance is to first help them to understand what they value most in farming and then translate this into a plan that suits their circumstances.
“This may take some time and require facilitation and peer support. While each plan may be slightly different, measuring and recording performance should be universal and small steps adopted.”
Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Action Group member Charlie Riddell says while there have been good lessons from the subject matter experts, he has learned just as much from other members of the group.
Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Action Group facilitator John Stantiall was unsure, at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown, how meetings could work.
Farmer Jane Smith was “blown away” by the group dynamic and drive when she and husband Blair hosted the North Otago-based Growth and Development in Farming Action Group at Newhaven Farms in Oamaru.
Firing up effective farm health and safety plans is helping King Country farmers who joined a Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Action Group based around Ongarue.
At least 50% of New Zealand farmers identify succession planning as an issue for them, their family and their farm business.
The government has announced that 2,000 experienced seasonal workers from the Pacific will be allowed into New Zealand in the new year.
Three agribusiness leaders, with over 70 years’ combined service to co-operatives, were recognised at last night’s Cooperative Business NZ awards.
The New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association (NZAGA) announced their new chair will be Linda Flegg.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Sustainable Food & Fibres Futures Fund will invest in a project to assess the viability of larger scale production of spirulina in New Zealand.
On many farms the level of mating success achieved is very much based on the quality of the feed.
The winner of the inaugural Ahuwhenua Trophy Excellence in Māori Horticulture Award 2020 is Te Kaha 15B Hineora Orchard.
OPINION: This old mutt has a fair amount of sympathy for Ag Minister Damien O’Connor with the two associate ministers…
OPINION: The Hound was not surprised to hear well-known end-of-the-world doom-merchant ‘Dr’ Mike Joy is still as joyless as ever…
