increase font size
THE RED meat and wool sector faces a challenge in training and retaining people with market and product-oriented skills as well as cultural and language capabilities, a new employment report says.
This is because over 90% of the sheepmeat and beef produced in New Zealand is exported.
The skills requirements were outlined in the 'Future capability needs for primary industries in New Zealand' report just released.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand says it's important to have an understanding of the sector's workforce requirements
Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive officer, Dr Scott Champion, says the report confirms the need for skilled and innovative farm managers who have willingness to adopt new technologies.
Champions says the marketing and cultural skills were identified in the Red Meat Sector Strategy. "Support in this area features strongly in B+LNZ's national programme of extension events and is a key reason for our investment alongside key processors and banks through the Red Meat Profit Partnership.
"The report notes we'll also need to access better business management skills for the supply chain, including skilled people with food safety knowledge and the ability to innovate.
"We know that maintaining our excellent food safety record is going to be critical to operating successfully in valuable export markets."
The report acknowledges for the red meat and wool sector, on-farm employment has declined as the dairy sector has expanded.
"Export volumes have changed little though as we have seen productivity increases from higher lambing percentages and heavier lambs offsetting declining ewe numbers."
Dr Champion says Beef + Lamb New Zealand realises young people need to see a sector that they want to be part of – one that is positive, forward thinking, and has exciting career prospects.
To support this, Beef + Lamb New Zealand has teamed up with Young Farmers and DairyNZ to create a one-stop career hub to showcase opportunities in the agricultural sector.
"This is the 'Get Ahead' programme which promotes a diverse range of rewarding jobs across the farming sector."
Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.
A digital campaign urging New Zealanders to show their support for fruit and vegetable growers has been launched.
OPINION: Comparative Tastings are an expensive but potentially effective strategy for a wine producer to raise the image of their wine or wines.
Australia-based French chef Manu Feildel has teamed up with Ingham’s NZ to launch the poultry producer’s Dinner Done campaign.
Moves to promote the natural and sustainable features of wool versus synthetic fibres and its fossil fuel connections appears to be growing momentum around the world.
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.
OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…
