Knowing what the customer wants and being nimble is all part of the business plan of any of the successful dairy processors in New Zealand. While politicians go around saying that we rely too heavily on China, providing them with basic milk powder, the opposite is true. Turning milk into valuable, smart products which the customer can use in specific areas of their own market is the New Zealand dairy industry's strength and it also adds to New Zealand's prosperity.
Pay the right wage
Dairy farmers have been in the hot seat when it comes to employing people. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has been looking at on-farm practice and Federated Farmers is backing them in making sure that farm workers are paid at least the minimum wage. General Manager George Mason from MBIE's inspectorate spoke to the council on this issue.
It is well known that work on a dairy farm is hard work, but it mustn't be at slave labour rates or hours. Time sheets and record keeping help the employer keep track of what's really going on, on farm, and Federated Farmers is longing for the smart app that will make logging all this information easy.
One of the difficulties with dairy farmers is that it is hard to shift some from traditional employment practices. While 'throwing in' the house on farm, together with the milk, meat, firewood and veges has been the traditional way of making sure the farm worker was housed, fed and warm, with the salary or wage reflecting these costs, society is asking for more transparency.
MBIE is asking that workers' pay packets include all these extras that they be paid for the hours worked with clear deductions made for rent and these other items. As part of the bigger picture facing dairy farmers, Federated Farmers will promote this as being good practice. It also means that all employees will see what their salary or wage is and the cost of living on the farm.
Theileria
The council, together with Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre industry group, were brought up to date on Theileria, which is the blood borne parasite carried by the common cattle tick. All cattle farmers, dairy or beef, are at risk of this affecting their stock. Especially if their land supports ticks, or if their stock have been sent to tick prone areas for grazing or if new stock is arriving from areas where the disease has been isolated.
The major factors affecting the severity of the infection seems to be around times of stress, like calving and transporting. Good stock management, managing stress and pasture rotation is important. Ticks like long grass, so keeping young animals off these areas is important.
Signs of the illness are basically the signs of anaemia: tiredness, with cows lagging behind and pale mucous membranes. Other signs can be decreased milk production, cows not responding to usual treatments and sudden death, especially around late lactation and calving.
Theileria affects only cattle and is not a food safety or human health risk.
More information on the disease and management of the animals can be obtained from the vet or from various websites like DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb.
