Negative attitudes and an incorrect perception that agriculture careers are for those who will find it difficult to find employment elsewhere is proving to be one of the biggest challenges the industry now faces.
While the agriculture/horticulture sector ranks as New Zealand's most productive, innovative sector and offers a wide variety of career opportunities, few young New Zealanders seem to be taking it up.
A cross range of people, including high-achievers, is vital to maintaining New Zealand's position as a leader in international agriculture.
Wellsford farmer and agriculture contractor Steve Levet, who is also the president of Rural Contractors NZ, says despite relatively high national unemployment, contractors and farmers are finding it difficult to recruit skilled and motivated staff.
A recent Federated Farmers/Rabobank 2013 Farm Employee Remuneration survey found that remuneration levels for most pastoral farm positions have continued to increase - with the average farm worker now earning $5500 more than the New Zealand average annual wage.
Farm workers earned an average salary of $46,246, with the figure rising to $49,159 when non-wage benefits were taken into account.
However, economics aside, said Mr Levet, many employers were having to bring in overseas workers to fill the gap. He lays part of the blame on schools that tend to see agriculture as an easy option for those less academically capable.
"I find it astounding schools and other educational institutions are not more actively encouraging young people to look at the agricultural sector for career opportunities.
"Some educators still view the agricultural sector as a second-class career option and only less academic students are encouraged to take on agriculture subjects at school.
"That really is last century thinking ... agriculture is the backbone of New Zealand's economy and an industry with massive growth potential - so we also need our best and brightest to be working in the sector."
He said with shortages in the field nationally and internationally, those entering the agricultural sector would find not only national progression but could end up having a global career.
"Schools and educators have an important role in encouraging quality people into agriculture careers," said Mr Levet.
Sarah Searle, learning support co-ordinator for the Northland AgITO agrees, saying she struggles with the knowledge some career advisers are not promoting agriculture career options - "especially in dairying".
"We need a wide cross range of people in the industry.
"A career in agriculture can involve anything from science and engineering, to marketing and design, Farming ownership and management requires good business skills, but there are also opportunities for those with good practical skills - such as driving, machinery work and harvesting.
"We also need to learn to value all of these roles - we (the co-ordinators/advisers) spend a lot of time encouraging farm workers to take a pride in whatever role they do, since it is part of the overall teamwork and therefore success of the farm."
AgITO trains those already working in the industry.
Mrs Searle is pleased schools such as Whangarei Boys and Otamatea have trades academies, which offer agriculture to students as a subject, which means school leavers already have some skills under their belt to build on.
Tikipunga and Kamo High schools also offer agriculture in their trade academies, while Northtec and Taratahi offer training courses at varying skill levels without the need to be working on a farm.
Rural Contractors NZ also provides a career path for young people entering the industry with qualifications up to diploma level.
However, willing people are needed to take up these various initiatives so the most important export industry and those industries that link into them can continue to support to national wealth.
The average age of a dairy farmer today in New Zealand is 43 years old.
The average age of a sheep and cattle farmer is 58.
Fewer than 1 per cent of university students are graduating with agricultural science degrees each year.
Federated Farmers has reported 23.1 per cent of farmers found it more difficult to attract skilled and motivated staff over the past six months, the highest level since surveys began in 2009.
Inheritance of a family farm are diminishing, as farming structures become more complex and corporatised.