Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
We all know how hard it can be to attract quality staff, and how great it is when you find someone that works hard, knows their stuff and has the right attitude.
The dairy sector faces a staffing shortage and over the next few months many of you will be vying for the same talented people to fill your roles for the coming season. To put it in perspective, in the last two years 10,680 dairy farm vacancies were posted on Farm Source alone.
To get the best person possible, have you thought about how to make yourself stand out as an employer?
I recommend you think about what makes you and your farm truly unique. For an impartial opinion, ask your current and past employees what they like about working for you? Make a note of what sets you and your farm apart and incorporate this into your job adverts.
I’ve seen a number of job adverts with a long-list of benefits such as competitive salary/hourly rate, accommodation and flexible working hours, to entice applicants. This is great, but we need to live up to these so that we retain these people in the sector.
How much we pay is important to a job applicant. I recommend an employer refers to pay as a ‘total package value’ (TPV) and carefully explain how it is made up to avoid confusion. Otherwise, if the salary for a role is listed as $50,000, for example, but doesn’t mention that includes an accommodation allowance, it may deter some people from applying.
TPV is the total value of the remuneration package including cash and non-cash benefits. To calculate TPV, assign a monetary amount to each item/benefit and then add them up. Wages are obvious, but for non-cash items, such as food and accommodation, you may want to investigate what is fair.
In regard to work hours, use your timesheet data to have an honest conversation about hours with prospective employees.
If you don’t currently use timesheets, useful templates are available on the DairyNZ website. We hear all the time that good hours of work and a good roster are crucial for employees and ultimately will help you attract and retain quality employees.
As always, clearly articulating what you can offer in a job advertisement and being up front about what you are looking for, will enable you to find candidates who are interested in the job you are offering and more likely to stay long-term.
For more information see dairynz.co.nz/people/employer
• Veronica Briggs is a DairyNZ people management specialist
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.