Priority 1: Attracting a skilled workforce
What does good look like?
- The Work Place Action Plan sets out the definition of good and great employment practice. The attractiveness of the sector as a workplace is built on its reputation as an employer. Steady progress will be seen in achievement of key indicators from the WAP over time.
- The WAP does not deal with competitiveness. Labour market data needs to be freely accessible so that employers can gauge their competitiveness within the wider labour market rather than just within the dairy community. Access to this will lead to a realisation that conditions need to change faster.
- Farm businesses are active learners with staff qualified at appropriate levels for their roles. A range of learning platforms are available that make it easy for learners to access content in a way that most effectively adds value to their roles and the business.
- A good reputation as an employer and competitive conditions enable the sector to present a good case to MBIE for access to migrant labour to fill skills gaps as needed.
- It is acknowledged that the dairy industry is strongly influenced by commodity cycles and with Southland being a relatively new dairying area, this is likely to be a 20 year vision.
Outcome areas
Priority 2: Dairy farming fits with community values for healthy environment and well cared for animals
What does good look like?
- In the short term the focus for farmers should be on implementing good farming practice so that the sector can demonstrate progress, generate good will with the community, and maintain the social license to farm. In particular this will apply to wintering systems and riparian management.
- While farmers continue on this journey the sector through local le3adership must agree with communities the farming practices that should be used and realistic outcomes that can be expected.
- Farm businesses are profitable and resilient and the highest value land use in the region
- High level of community support for farming in Southern regions
- Dairy farmers can demonstrate they are farming sustainably to justify that the sector can expand where environmental risks can be well managed
- Southern Dairy Hub leading co-development with farmers and the community around farm performance and better ways of farming in the future (including environment, people, biosecurity and animal care)
- Dairy farmers will be demonstrating world leading animal care in their farm businesses.
Outcome areas
Priority 3: Existing farmers are resilient and have access to diverse and supportive networks to help grow their business
What does good look like?
- Farms operate profitably at an average milk price (not payout), have systems in place and sufficient equity to enable them to survive a prolonged downturn.
- Farmers understand risks to their business, including biosecurity, and have plans and or systems in place to manage or mitigate risk.
- RPs are dairy farm systems certified and are taking a whole of business approach with their clients.
- Southern Dairy Hub leading co-development with farmers around farm performance.
