New pasture guide launched to support farmers in a changing climate
A new publication has been launched that offers a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on commercially available grazing pasture species in New Zealand.
Investing in the relationship with farm workers can boost productivity and improve farm performance according to a visiting academic.
Associate Professor Ruth Nettle, University of Melbourne's Rural Innovation Research Group, is visiting Massey and Lincoln universities as a guest of OneFarm: the Centre of Excellence in Farm Business Management.
She is here to discuss mutual research opportunities with New Zealand agriculture academics.
Nettle says her research shows as the rural workforce evolves to include increasing numbers of farm staff on larger farms and migrant workers, people management skills become more important.
"Good employment relationships contribute to business success," Nettle says. "People need to focus on the psychological contract – which looks past the 'work for money' transaction to the shared expectations, obligations and promises. Providing opportunities for training and discussing career development is a big part of it. Excelling at this type of management leads to increased employee engagement, lower turnover, and employers say – better employee performance."
The research suggests the role of training and helping employees in their career path is important, both informally on the farm but also formal training. "It helps the skill side but also helps engage employees in work – it has a double-pronged impact. We are looking at doing more research with New Zealand on this issue."
Nettle says the dairy industry in New Zealand shares many of the same issues faced in Australia. "They are on different trajectories but there are common issues around workforce, succession, increased expectations in the community around the environment, and the future of the sector."
Massey Professor of Farm and Agribusiness Management, and Director of OneFarm, Nicola Shadbolt, says Nettle's visit has provided "some excellent opportunities for New Zealand academics to connect with and learn from the research that Ruth and her team have carried out".
"Both the methods they have used to carry out in-depth analyses and the way they have connected with the industry through rural professionals and farmers provide great examples of best practice in research. The OneFarm team looks forward to an on-going involvement with her team as research into people management continues to evolve both in New Zealand and across the ditch." Nettle will complete her five-week New Zealand trip this week.
The Centre of Excellence in Farm Business Management is a joint venture by Lincoln and Massey universities, with the support of DairyNZ and the Government through the Primary Growth Partnership. It combines capability from both universities and co-ordinates the supply of research, education and professional development to meet the agriculture industry's needs.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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