I recently returned from a study trip to Ireland energised by what I had seen and enthusiastic about how some of those ideas could be adapted within the New Zealand context. Sadly, the welcoming committee included some media headlines opining that farming was no longer the backbone of the country’s economy despite further increases in GDP from the primary sector.
It’s a frustrating familiar attack that harks back to at least the mid-eighties when agriculture was labelled a “sunset industry.” To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of agriculture’s death are greatly exaggerated.
Our latest available figures show New Zealand's dairy export revenue is forecast to reach a record $28.6 billion for the year to June 30, 2026, driven by a 5% increase in earnings and accounting for nearly half (47%) of all primary exports.
That means dairy generates more than one in every four dollars of New Zealand’s foreign exchange receipts from goods and services exports and employs over 55,000 people on farm, and in manufacturing.
MPI predicts dairy export earnings will top $31 billion by 2030. That’s just dairy. Not bad for a portion of a “sunset industry”.
This all begs the question – if farming isn’t the economic backbone of economy, then what is? And more importantly, does it really matter?
Rather than wasting effort cutting down tall poppies, New Zealand would be better served if we collaborated across multiple disciplines for example energy, technology, data and people development, growing together, celebrating each other’s wins and sharing information. That was something the Irish are doing well that really stuck with me.
There’s a real sense of togetherness. A commonality of purpose – to support and deliver well for their primary sector. It felt as if the whole country was in-behind the relentless pursuit of farming excellence. An absolute focus on pasture utilization and genetic gain really stood out, one system for each and large connected-up data sets, minimising duplication.
Their approach to catchment groups is another good example. Everyone is included and supporting the farmers. Rural professionals, banks, fertiliser companies, teachers, students and community members – great data and great focus in the areas where changes need to be made. Everyone is onboard delivering improved outcomes.
Tracy Brown, DairyNZ chair with Lawrene Shalloo, Head of the Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation programme.
We need more of that kind of thinking here in New Zealand. We’re a small trading nation at the bottom of the world. We’re facing into a new phase of what New Zealand’s Chief Trade Negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis describes as “a new world (dis)order.” One where trade protectionism is on the rise and geo-political tensions are frayed.
To be successful in the future we need to back our winners, not cut them down.
The Government’s $143 million Land Use Flexibility announcement at Fieldays was a solid step in the right direction.
Responsible Dairy, which DairyNZ is proud to be leading, is one of the 6 initiatives within the package announced by Government. In total the programme co-funding between Government and industry is $45.85m over 7 years.
Responsible Dairy includes partnerships with leading farmers and dairy and technology companies to enable testing and demonstrating of next-generation low footprint farm systems, transformative dairy conversion options, and stacked technologies on commercial farms.
It is expected to speed up the rate at which the sector adopts transformative technologies, getting them into active use years earlier than what might otherwise be the case.
This is government and sector co-investment to scale-up adoption, and farmers sharing information to lift everyone up to new levels of productivity, efficiency and sustainability within their individual farming businesses.
Sounds like a blueprint for the rest of the economy – and a reminder that the sun isn’t about to set on agriculture anytime soon.
Tracy Brown, DairyNZ Chair.
Media contact
Jacob Quinn
Corporate Communications and Media Manager
p: 027 716 4197
e: jacob.quinn@dairynz.co.nz
