Being+A+Farmer!

Being a      =  Farmer! = Tasks & duties Most dairy farmers milk cows twice a day – once in the morning and again in the afternoon – while others milk once a day. Some dairy farmers milk seasonally and others milk all year. When milking cows, dairy farmers:


 * get the cows ready for milking
 * milk the cows using milking machinery
 * wash out pipes with water and detergent and clean the yard after milking.

Dairy farmers also:

Skills & knowledge Dairy farmers need to have:
 * plan and manage the amount and type of food the cows eat
 * sort, drench, move, tag and monitor cows so they produce milk efficiently
 * organise breeding and mating of the herd
 * carry out general maintenance such as fencing and spraying weeds around the farm
 * manage the health of animals
 * keep financial and farming records, and organise the farm business plan
 * make extra feed such as hay and silage in summer
 * manage calving of the dairy herd
 * rear calves and prepare them to milk in the herd
 * maintain optimum soil fertility
 * maintain equipment and farm vehicles, such as farm bikes and tractors
 * ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations
 * employ people to work on the farm.

driving skills.
 * good animal-handling skills and an understanding of animal welfare
 * an understanding of pasture management practices to ensure production is maximised
 * knowledge of the milk harvesting process
 * an awareness of milk company standards and safe practices on the farm
 * practical skills to complete farm maintenance, and operate and use machinery
 * accounting and general business skills
 * good people management skills, particularly on large farms where staff are employed

Entry Requirements There are no specific entry requirements to become a dairy farmer, although a motorcycle and heavy vehicle driver's licence may be useful.

Secondary Education At least three years of secondary school education is recommended and useful subjects include economics, accounting and maths.

Get help with choosing school subjects Tertiary Education A relevant training course in agriculture or dairy farming is recommended. Specific agribusiness or farm management courses may be helpful. Find out more

Dairy NZ - information about careers, training, and scholarships Working Conditions Dairy farmers work outdoors on farm paddocks and inside milking sheds.

They may vist other farms or attend agricultural field days, and sometimes they travel overseas to experience other farming methods. Pay According to the 2006 Census, dairy farmers earned an average of $45,900 a year. Pay can vary depending on a number of factors:


 * People with little or no experience may start on the minimum wage ($12 an hour, or $24,960 a year), plus overtime.
 * With a tertiary qualification or after two or three years' experience, a dairy farmer could earn between $30,000 and $38,000.
 * Herd managers' salaries can range from $35,000 up to $50,000 a year.
 * Farm managers' and senior herd managers' pay ranges from $40,000 to $90,000.
 * Operations managers can earn between $60,000 and $100,000 or more.
 * Salary progressions will depend on an individual's abilities, the degree of responsibility and the size of the herd.

Other benefits

Dairy farm workers are often supplied with free or subsidised accommodation, power and telephone, some or all meals, and sometimes farm-killed meat. The monetary value of these extra benefits can be significant, and range from about $5,200 to $13,000+ a year, according to Federated Farmers. Sharemilkers' pay

The earning potential of sharemilkers, (who pay some farm expenses but get an agreed percentage of milk company payouts) and dairy farm owners is much greater than dairy farm workers:

However, farmers' and sharemilkers' incomes are subject to fluctuations, depending on market conditions and on-farm cow production. What are the chances of getting a job?
 * Milk company payouts in 2008 are expected to earn the average dairy farmer about $730,000 before tax and the costs of running the farm.

The dairy industry is continuing to expand rapidly, and there is a shortage of workers.

The chances of getting a job are very high:


 * Federated Farmers and recruitment agencies estimate there is an immediate shortage of at least 2,000 dairy farm workers.
 * Many dairy farm jobs appear on Immigration New Zealand's immediate skill shortage list, which means the Government is actively encouraging skilled dairy farm workers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Besides the growth of dairying, the industry has lost workers through natural attrition and retirement and has struggled to recruit enough replacements.