Farm systems advisers will now be certified.
A certification scheme to give farmers confidence in the quality and standard of the advice they receive from dairy farm systems consultants was launched at the New Zealand Institute for Primary Industries Management (NZIPIM) national conference in Ashburton.
The scheme is the product of a partnership between DairyNZ, leading dairy farm systems consultants and NZIPIM, which will continue to be involved in developing and testing the scheme's assessment tools and associated training to ensure it remains current and relevant.
The Dairy Farm Systems Certification Scheme will also be used to recognise and promote the competency of consultants working on industry programmes such as the DairyNZ Sustainable Milk Plans, Whole Farm Assessments and interpretation of DairyBase benchmarking reports.
NZIPIM chief executive Stephen Macaulay says farmers need assurance in the advice they receive.
"Dairy farmers across New Zealand are currently experiencing significant challenges with price volatility and, at the same time, scrutiny from consumers and local communities to ensure food is produced to a high standard and in a sustainable manner.
"To become certified, consultants will have to pass a competency assessment across all aspects of the farm system, complete an ethics module, receive positive feedback from farmer clients on their knowledge base and communication skills and provide evidence of 'in the field' work such as Whole Farm Assessments -- a process for reporting on all aspects of the farm system, identifying risks and opportunities and forming recommendations in line with the farm business strategy.
"The scheme recognises the competency and capability of farm consultants and provides a level of surety for the farming community in the quality of the advice they receive, and in time provide regional councils, banks, accountants and milk companies with increased confidence in making referrals."
To date, nine consultants have begun their assessment and it is expected the majority of practising consultants will work towards certification within the next few years.
A list of certified consultants will be maintained on the NZIPIM's website and promoted via other industry websites.
The Dairy Farm Systems Consultant Certification Scheme is an initiative funded by New Zealand dairy farmers through DairyNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries as part of the Transforming the Dairy Value Chain Primary Growth Partnership programme.
The scheme adds to the suite of available programmes, including Certified People Management Consultants, Certified Nutrient Management Advisers, Certified Body Condition Score Assessors, Certified Effluent Warrant of Fitness Assessors and Accredited Effluent Designers.
Further information about the NZIPIM Dairy Farm Systems Certification Scheme and other related programmes can be found at nzipim.co.nz.
Ravensdown record
Farmers throughout the country are to benefit from Ravensdown's strategy and its focus on strengthening its balance sheet as the co-operative reports a record rebate of $50 per tonne.
The rebate was revealed this week and the company says it is paying out all its operating profit in rebate to farmers who have bought fertiliser from the co-operative in the year to May 31.
A fully paid-up shareholder who applied 150 tonnes of fertiliser will receive $7500 in cash rebate in August.
Ravensdown chairman John Henderson said that, in the second year of a more focused strategy, "we again made significant progress on the balance sheet front, so we were in a position to support those customers who need the cash and capital more than us right now".
"This is why our co-operative exists, to run an efficient, value-adding business so that we can help our shareholder owners when they are facing tough times," he said.
"We will continue with the improvement to our stores and manufacturing network, but we do not have to ask shareholders for additional equity or investment to fund our planned manufacturing or operational upgrades."
The co-operative is now virtually debt-free compared to owing $355 million in 2012, he said.
Ravensdown earned an operating profit of $51.9 million, despite one-off costs associated with the closure of Waikaretu's lime quarry.
Chief executive Greg Campbell said it was not a one-off result but built on the back of a solid strategy that had worked since 2013.
"The first year we bounced back. The second year we are able to help all those farmers who stuck with us," he said.
Vietnam okays spuds
Fresh potatoes from New Zealand have been approved for export to Vietnam, providing a new export opportunity for growers.
Potatoes New Zealand chief executive Champak Mehta said the development, following four years of negotiations, would absorb excess potatoes in good growing seasons and provide better export prices in less abundant years.
New Zealand exports about $100 million worth of potatoes a year, mainly frozen but with about 30,000 tonnes as fresh produce.
"Most fresh product goes to Fiji, with some to other Asia Pacific markets," Mehta says.
"The Vietnam market can be supplied by New Zealand potatoes over a long period of time due to exceptional storage conditions."
Death and the island
Imagine a pandemic that swept the world, killing everyone in its wake. Imagine if Great Barrier Island was the only place to escape the virus, leaving its 900 residents to rebuild humanity.
Awana Branch of Rural Women New Zealand will pose this scenario to four experts at the No Barriers -- Small Island, Big Ideas panel discussion exploring pandemics on September 12.
The panelists will give insight into how such a pandemic would play out.
The panelists include a virologist Associate Professor Lance Jennings, Civil Defence Northern Regional Co-ordinator John Titmus, a disaster researcher, Professor David Johnston; and a young adult fantasy writer, Karen Healey.
The panel will be moderated by well-known microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles.
Also in attendance will be Civil Defence Minister and local MP Nikki Kaye.
The scenario is not as far-fetched as it seems.
The last major global pandemic in 1918 killed an estimated 20 million to 40 million people and the flu was notorious for its rapid onset and progression to respiratory failure and death.
The highest number of deaths occurred in the 20 to 40 age group.
"The scenario is not entirely impossible," says Jennings. "Isolating Great Barrier Island as a sanctuary is perfectly feasible."
He added that if a pandemic did get out of hand, Civil Defence would take over much of the running of the country, including isolating communities to contain the virus.
Johnston knows the challenges communities face in times of disaster, having focused his research on human responses to natural disasters and crisis decision-making.
"Communities can be amazingly resilient in times of disaster -- especially without the interference of bureaucracy," he says.
Healey will be discussing the "what ifs?". What if the bad guys take over Great Barrier?
What if a resident's best friend tries to sneak onto the island?
What if the young residents decide to kill all the old ones?
The aim of the event is to make people aware of disaster preparedness through a scenario that will capture people's imagination.
It is a free event.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 8.30pm.