Three-way partnership to benefit sustainable growth in agricultural productivity

12 October, 2005

PASTORAL : MEDIA RELEASES 2005

Agriculture – it's the biggest contributor to the Northland economy, and there's still more potential.

Farming – mainly dairying, beef and sheep – brings about $800 million a year in direct income into Northland, and even a one percent gain in annual earnings would deliver an extra $8 million into the regional economy.

Knowledge is the key to improving farm productivity, and now a new three-way partnership aims to put more of the right information in the hands of Northland farmers.

Enterprise Northland, Meat and Wool NZ and agricultural consultancy AgFirst Northland have jointly employed Gareth Baynham, formerly the national animal nutrition manager for Summit-Quinphos.

“Northland's climate and some soils can be challenging for farmers, but that also means we have the opportunity to make worthwhile gains by finding and applying solutions,” said Mr Baynham.

“In some cases, the relevant research has already been completed up to 20 or 30 years ago but may not have been distributed to farmers in the right form. At the same time, we need to be working on the research today that will be of benefit in another 15 to 20 years.”

He said farmers are positive and pro-active about improving their businesses. “Farmers are always looking at the next step and what they need to do to move ahead.”

Mr Baynham will also help to drive skills development for the pastoral sector, arising from Northland's Meeting the Skills Challenge strategy.

AgFirst Northland principal Bob Thomson noted that Northland agriculture, particularly the sheep and beef sector, needed an injection of younger people with strong technical skills and a passion for the industry.

“We wanted to help bolster the ranks, and in our business we also needed to be thinking about succession. It's much the same as flock replacements – making sure you've got the young ones coming on and that each new generation is better than the last,” said Mr Thomson.

“Gareth will be in a unique position – he will be up-to-the-minute with the latest developments through Meat and Wool NZ at a national level, will have a good knowledge of regional challenges and opportunities through Enterprise Northland, and will have his feet firmly on the ground through his consultancy to individual farmers.”