Unsung heroes under the soil
Much of the scientific work being carried out at the Massey University led regenerative agriculture project, Whenua Haumanu, is below the ground.
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.
