Rural Leaders Reports
Miller Jason, A
While the New Zealand sheep meat industry has been able to maintain relative profitability through continued production improvements and a reduction of costs, the increasing level of competition from cheaper sources of protein makes it difficult to see a sustainable future based on a production focussed model. As agricultural markets continue to become more competitive, … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Davey, Stuart
What is it that requires fish to be farmed? Is it the need for food? Is it the need to protect the wild fish stocks? Or is it because it makes economic sense? This report gives an insight into how where and why fish are farmed. Most of the earth is being farmed to potential … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Goodman, Steve
The rural service industry comprises of five distinct areas of service that are specifically focused on the primary sector. These areas include suppliers, professionals, brokers, contractors and some farm businesses. The level of competition ranges within and between these areas is generally determined by the demand for the service. As such, there tends to be … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Southgate Paula, A
The project has three related parts: 1. A global perspective: an overview, based on current global literature, of the importance of cities and the land around them in preserving and enhancing biodiversity worldwide. 2. The New Zealand situation: an investigation of some of the current thinking, research and practice to enhance biodiversity in urban areas … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Wood, Andrew
During the early 1990’s the horticultural industry transitioned through to a new phase regarding its labour employment practices. As a result of increased governmental employment compliance issues and a decrease in the financial returns to orchards, employers who prior to this were predominantly growers or post harvest facilities, retracted from the employment of orchard workers. … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Kyte Richard, J
I believe the New Zealand dairy industry is being compromised by understaffing on farms, especially larger units of 600 cows or more. This has become a significantly greater problem in the last 10 years and specifically in the South Island with larger farm sizes and cow numbers rapidly increasing. As the dairy industry grows to … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Lee Ruth, DM
With the growing global demand for organic produce boosting organic premiums and a low-input farm management history, plus our desire to reduce our negative impact on the environment, we have decided to convert our farm, Judge Creek, to organics. Over the course of the year I have been interviewing farmers, both conventional and organic, and … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Higgins, Hayden R.
Labour, or the shortage thereof in NZ is an issue across all industries, and agriculture is no less affected than any other. The growth in land values in the past 5 years see’s the affordability of purchase and economic operation of farms, as a challenge for those looking to increase their business size, or enter … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
van Polanen, J
In recent years the van Polanen farm has intensified the grass based dairy operation which is the core activity of their farming business and it became necessary to use the limited water resource more efficiently. New technologies and practices in spray irrigation prompted an investigation into the economics of changing from border-dyke irrigation to spray … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Reeves, James
This report aims to assess the future of the New Zealand sheep and beef sector through to 2025. The assessment is based on an examination of the internal and external constraints that will influence meat production and their potential effects. It then suggests a vision for the industry, and the types of strategies needed to … Read more
- 2007
- Kellogg 23
Jennifer McDonald
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Ben Todhunter
Conservation is a subjective thing, it is different for different cultures. In the United States, in England and Italy the lived in working rural landscape is highly valued by rural and city people alike, and is protected by a variety of methods. Government involvement does not necessarily lead to better outcomes in the provision of … Read more
- 2006
- Nuffield 2006
Gibson Wendy, E
The main objective of the project for me was to use the project to implement learning styles on diary farms to create more open communication and build up positive working relationships. Developing strategies that we could practically implement on farm for the employer and employee in achieving this objective, I could develop my own leadership … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Pullin Barry
An investigation into the labour force characteristics and their ramifications on a shearing business was completed at Pullin Shearing Limited – a shearing business based at Rolleston, Canterbury, New Zealand (43° 36′ S, 172° 24′ E, 46 m.a.s.l). Pullin Shearing Limited (2005 /2006 season) utilised 231 employees composed of 115 shearers and 116 woolhandlers and … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Wills Bruce
The objective of this report is to understand why farmland values have almost quadrupled since 1990 and perhaps more importantly analyse and try to predict where prices paid for farmland are likely to go from here. The consensus of numerous discussions with Economists, Real Estate agents, Bankers, Valuers and the people making the final decisions, … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Knowles Katrina
In years gone by farming was looked at as a life style option for people who wanted to work outside. It was not considered to be a desirable career option for most but was for those who had no other options. It involved hard work and long hours. Today farming is looked at as a … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
McLane Duncan, N
The purpose of this report was to investigate key issues surrounding land ownership, how they are changing and what impact this has. Both rural and residential land have been discussed because in New Zealand often the driving force for change with one has a net effect on the other. The main focus however is towards … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Maxwell Jeanette, A
The purpose of this report was to identify underlying issues in the strong wool industry both here in New Zealand and the international market and find ways to look forward with a more positive approach. Since the release of the McKinsey report in 2000 and the ending of the New Zealand Wool Board, the strong … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Sharpin Richard
The Clydevale Clinton Quality Employers Group has been set up to specifically meet the needs of our 20 plus dairy farmer members. In setting up the processes and procedures for the group we have endeavoured to meet critical employment standards in areas of our industry that often create problems. This has included: – Capping hours … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Gorman Nicholas
Serotypes of Salmonella are the cause of two problems in the New Zealand sheep population. The first is enteric salmonellosis causing scours, which is widespread in the North Island and in the South Island effects Canterbury, Otago and Southland. The Second is Salmonella brandenburg which causes abortions and ewe deaths. This has been seen only … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Argyle Paul, S
The New Zealand bull beef industry can trace its beginning back to the early 1970s and the high international beef prices current at that time. Industry pioneers, recognizing the dairy farmers ‘bobby’ calf as a resource too valuable to ignore, set out to determine how best to optimize this resource. Through research, trial and error … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
McGill Paul, B
Productivity increases by farms over the past twenty years have been large. Farmers are always looking for ways to increase output, especially in the last ten years in a period of high market returns for farm products. Productivity increases have been partly achieved through intensification. Intensification of farming systems over the last ten years has … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Billing, Daniel
With equity partnerships becoming a more common form of ownership for people without the initial capital needed for sole ownership, the reliance on other people becomes an increasingly important issue. If the people that you become involved with aren’t compatible with yourself then problems will arise and the partnership may dissolve or become inefficient If … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22
Illston, Mark
Farmer actions to reduce the effects of Bureaucracy and Bureaucrats on our lives. Farmers, business ‘persons’ and citizens appear to be confronted with more and more rules and regulations that are affecting the way in which we live our daily lives and operate our business activities. The word “appear” is difficult to quantify unless one … Read more
- 2006
- Kellogg 22