Personal attributes
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Able to influence at all levels of business. Conflict resolution, difficult conversations. Inquisitive by nature.
Responsibilities
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On-farm
Milking
- Sets milking policy, with the aim of driving efficient work routine, and production
- Develops and communicates the milk harvesting policy for the farm
- Monitors and analyses milk production results and milk quality, and takes appropriate actions
Animals
- Sets health, calving and mating plan, evaluates outcomes and takes appropriate action.
- Develops, communicates and monitors the animal handling, health and welfare policies for the farm
- Develops and communicates the calving and calf rearing plan, and analyses results with appropriate actions.
- Develops and communicates the mating/breeding plan, and analyses results with appropriate actions
Feed
- Sets feed budgets strategically Sources supplement.......and directs efficiency use of supplement.
- Sets and communicates the cropping policy on-farm
- Develops and communicates the feed policy for the farm. Keeps up to date with the latest feed research/technology, and maximises opportunities to improve performance
- Sets and communicates the pasture management policy
- Sets and communicates the supplement policy
Environment
- Sets effluent, water, nutrient, environmental plan.
- Sets all on-farm policies regarding effluent, in line with regional council requirements and consent conditions
- Develops a sustainable environmental management plan for the farm in line with compliance requirements and consent conditions
- Monitors and manages land cultivation, and ensures maintenance is carried out
- Sets all on-farm policies regarding the nutrient management plan, and the link to fertiliser policy
- Sets all on-farm policies regarding compliance resource consents, for example, water, buildings, irrigation
People
- Encourages team culture and supports farm values and goals Models strong Health, safety & wellbeing culture.
- Has a clear plan to achieve the goals of their own career development, and develops systems to ensure the farm team understands and supports skill development and career growth
- Understands and abides by employment obligations, and resolves any staff issues around remuneration to ensure best practice
- Builds a team culture to support the farm's values and goals, and monitors and manages staff to ensure productive working relationships, build people capability, and avoid conflict in the workplace
- Communicates with the farm manager to ensure work times and workloads for the farm team meet best practice and comply with legal obligations, and seeks to resolve any issues
Machine, vehicles & technology
- Sets policy with Farm manager, Researches technology to increase efficiency on farm.
- Uses data and technology software to analyse and improve farm performance
- Ensures the farm team follows best practice around vehicles and machinery safety and hygiene, and complies with regulatory requirements
Health, safety & wellbeing
- Sets models and promotes a Health, Safety & Wellbeing culture.
- Demonstrates to others they clearly value health, by allowing adequate budget and FTE
- Demonstrates to others they clearly value safety by allowing adequate budget and FTE, and reports and records all accidents and near misses according to Worksafe legislation
- Demonstrates to others they clearly value wellbeing, by allowing adequate budget and FTE
- Develops health, safety and wellbeing policies, and ensures monitoring and updating occurs
- Sets milking policy, with the aim of driving efficient work routine, and production
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Business
Financial
- Sets budgets with farm owners. Monitors the financial systems, processes and plans used within the farm business.
- Analyses benchmarking results to improve farm performance
- Gathers and analyses business information to develop farm budgets, and communicates these to the farm team
- Monitors the financial systems, processes and plans used within the farm business, and communicates this to the farm owner
Strategic Planning
- Analyses benchmarking results to improve farm performance Manages key risks for the business. Sets performance targets and goals with farm owners.
- Develops and effectively implements a business plan, and understands industry (or agri-organisation) marketing methods, and on-farm marketing methods for an agribusiness product
- Develops and effectively implements a business plan, and understands industry (or agri-organisation) marketing methods, and on-farm marketing methods for an agribusiness product
- Sets budgets with farm owners. Monitors the financial systems, processes and plans used within the farm business.
Training options
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Formal
Polytechnics: Wintec, Ara, EIT, SIT, Toi Ohomai
- Diploma in Agribusiness Management – HR Module
- Resource Management & Planning Module
- Business Financial Planning and Management Module
- Mastitis Management
- Effluent Management Planning
- Farmers as Trainers
University
- BAgSci, B Ag, BVetSci, BCom
- AgriOne Short Courses
- Tactical Risk Management
- Farming Systems
- Precision Dairying
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Non-formal
DairyNZ
- Milksmart
- Farm Gauge
- Mark and Measure
- BizGrow
- Cashflow budgeting workshops
- DairyBase
- HR Toolkit
- QuickPlan- Budget templates and guides (personal and business)
- Sharemilker and Variable Order calculators
- Farm discussion group
Dairy Women's Network
- Online Discussion Group
- Regional Groups
- Annual Conference
- Financial Capability
- Water Efficiency on farm
- Building your Team Webinar
- Dairy Days DVDs