Tech-Driven Farm Aims to Attract Next Generation of Farmers
Tech savvy Huntly farmer Rhys Darby believes technology could help solve one of the dairy industry's pressing problems - how to attract more young people into farming.
A new recruitment campaign called ‘Find Your Fit in Forestry’ has been launched with the aim of drawing attention to the varied career opportunities available in the forestry industry.
Designed to demonstrate the range of roles and opportunities available in forestry, the mostly digital ‘Find Your Fit In Forestry’ campaign is primarily targeted at school leavers and young people.
A range of videos, featuring real people working in forestry, have been created as well as a digital platform that prompts people to answer a quick-fire survey about their interests, before suggesting the areas of forestry that might fit them best.
Find Your Fit In Forestry is funded by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and Forest Owners Association (FOA) and actioned by the Forest and Wood Processing Workforce Council.
FICA chief executive and project lead Prue Younger says the aim is to showcase the forestry industry and to attract more people into the roles that are available.
“This campaign is unique in that it is a collaboration within the wider forestry industry. We’ve made it broad enough that we hope people will see that no matter what your skills or passion are there’s a place for everyone within the industry,” she says.
“There is an ongoing shortage of skilled workers across the sector, so we’re hoping by targeting young people we can capture hearts and minds from the get-go and place people in roles that fit their interests.”
While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.
Irish Minister of State of Agriculture, Noel Grealish was in New Zealand recently for an official visit.
While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in Palmerston North certainly did, when reigning World Champion Jack Jordan was denied the opportunity of defending his world title in Europe later this year, after being beaten by his big brother’s superior axle blows, at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.
AgriZeroNZ has invested $5.1 million in Australian company Rumin8 to accelerate development of its methane-reducing products for cattle and bring them to New Zealand.
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
A bull on a freight plane sounds like the start of a joke, but for Ian Bryant, it is a fond memory of days gone by.

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