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Farm Assistant

Salary: $42,000

Your first step into farming is likely to be as a Farm Assistant where you learn the ropes and gain the skills needed to advance your career.

Once you have one- or two-years’ experience, you can become a Herd Manager or Assistant Manager.

Duties might include

Feeding

You’ll be helping to feed the cows, calves and any other stock on the farm. You may be involved with allocating the feed and driving machinery to feed it out and checking to make sure the animals have had enough to eat.

Milk harvesting

The engine room of any dairy farm and where you can get your hands dirty. You’ll be putting cups on cows and learning how the milk gets from the cows to the vat for collection.

Animal health

Keeping an eye on the cows will be a crucial part of your role. You will work with your manager to identify and help any animals with problems while also getting involved with things like reproduction, herd testing and preventative measures such as drenching calves.

Environmental management

This may involve shifting the effluent spreader and along with your manager keeping an eye on the system to make sure it’s working well. It can also involve spraying, fencing and planting trees and plants along waterways to help improve the farm’s environmental impact.

Career story

Mihaka Beckham always wanted to be a dairy farmer.

Education and training

Check out education, training and qualifications in the section below.

* Average Farm Assistant salary, Farming Salaries 2018, Remuneration Summary Report 2017/18, Federated Farmers.

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Herd Manager

Salary: $49,000

As Herd Manager you may have some staff working under you or be responsible for completing key areas of work.

You should only require limited supervision for most tasks on farm, and you'll require one to two years' farm experience. While no management experience is required, the desire to support and supervise staff is critical to success.

Duties might include

Herd Managers take responsibility for some day–to-day operations, running the dairy shed and other routine tasks.

Feeding

You may be responsible for the day-to-day tasks of feeding one herd which could involve allocating feed, putting up fences and feeding supplement. You will generally be working with your manager to optimise the amount of feed the cows consume.

Milk harvesting

You’ll be milking the cows and quite likely be expected to run the milking routine. You may be expected to assist and manage junior or relief staff.

Animal health

Keeping an eye on the cows will be a crucial part of your role. You will work with your manager to identify and help any animals with problems while getting involved with things like reproduction, herd testing and preventative measures such as drenching calves.

Environmental management

This may involve shifting the effluent spreader and, along with your manager, keeping an eye on the system to ensure it’s working well. It can also involve fencing and planting trees and plants along waterways to help improve the farm’s environmental impact.

Career story

21-year-old Matt Dawson has big career goals. He went farming at 16-years old and studies while working through Primary ITO

Education and training

Check out education, training and qualifications in the section below.

* Average Herd Manager salary, Farming Salaries 2018, Remuneration Summary Report 2017/18, Federated Farmers.

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Assistant Manager

Salary: $55,000

Assistant Managers assist with the day-to-day management activities linked to farm production. You will implement farm policies and plans including day-to-day planning and staff management in the absence of the Farm Manager or Farm Owner.

Assistant Managers ideally require one to two years' experience working as a Herd Manager and a minimum of three to four years on farm.

Duties might include

Assistant Managers work under a Manager or Farm Owner but may be required to step in and run the farm with minimal direction for extended periods of time.

Farm productivity

Completing documentation required on farm, with minimal support. Ensuring all farm policies are implemented. Gathering information on farm to influence feeding decisions i.e. farm walks and grass cover. Knowledge and understanding of production targets. Carrying out a feed budget and working out when supplementary feed is needed. Also understanding if cows are being fed the correct amount by analysing post grazing residuals.

Milk harvesting

You will have overall responsibility for all milking activities, troubleshooting, rectifying problems and knowing when further advice or help is required. Keeping an eye on the tanker docket. Helping to shape decisions regarding drying off through discussions with Farm Manager.

Animals 

Implementing the preventative animal health programme for common health issues including mastitis, milk fever, lameness, grass staggers and ketosis. Monitoring and reporting cow condition including body scoring and discussing their management. Implementing the mating plan, including the management of non-cycling cows and synchronising cows. Managing calving in farm manager’s absence. Diagnosing, treating and knowing when to seek further assistance for animal health problems. Undertaking good animal welfare practice.

Business

Planning farm tasks ahead of time and knowing what preparation and supplies are needed. Be aware of monthly cash flows. Monitoring operational key performance indicators (KPI’s) and reporting results.

Natural resources

Working within consent guidelines and proactively taking steps to ensure there is no breach of consents. Knowing and managing factors which impact on waterways.

People

Training new staff. Allocating jobs within the team. Running the farm in the farm manager’s absence. Responsible for the wellbeing, wellness and health and safety of staff.

Career story

"I’ve always had a love for production of food and the outdoors. I think It’s really important to be empathetic towards the animals; If I lose that then I won’t be doing my job properly."

Education and training

Check out education, training and qualifications in the section below.

* Average Assistant Manager salary, Farming Salaries 2017, Remuneration Summary Report 2016/17, Federated Farmers.

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Farm Manager

Salary: $69,000

Farm Managers are responsible for meeting farm goals, including all aspects of production, stock, environmental and staff management. You are likely to be involved in the budgeting process, but will not set the budget. Ideally you will have a minimum of five years’ experience working on farm and will have gained an overview of all the required elements needed for farm management. You will also have experience managing staff.

Duties might include

Farm managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the farm.

Farm productivity

Monitoring seasonal weather events and assessing how they will affect the farm system (e.g. pasture growth rates and pasture damage). Balancing production and cost to meet farm policy. Planning and implementing pasture improvement programme including deciding which paddocks need re-grassing. Implementing cropping policy on farm.

Milking

Organise herd tests as per farm policy. Monitoring records and/or ensuring only quality information goes to the operations manager.

Animals

Putting together breeding programmes that maximise genetic gain. Coordinating with breeding company and vet regarding mating plan requirements. Setting and monitoring the calving and calf rearing plan to meet farm policy. Setting annual plans for animal health programmes. Deciding whether to cull or treat stock.

Business

Ordering supplies at most economical price. Organising all contractors to meet farm policies and budgets. Maintaining knowledge of and planning to meet key performance indicators. Monitoring and working within budget guidelines for cost/ expenses. Maintaining knowledge of cost of production.

Environment

Setting effluent plan and monitoring system. Making sure all plans are implemented, monitored and up to date to meet compliance requirements. Following milk processor’s quality assurance practices.

People

Creating rosters for staff, including calf rearers or seasonal employees. Allocating role responsibilities i.e. who does what. Monitoring performance. Conflict resolution. Allocating the appropriate training relevant to the budget and individuals training needs. Building a team culture that supports the farms goals and values. Staff gap analysis and assessing/ implementing training requirements.

Education and training

Check out education, training and qualifications in the section below.

* Average Farm Manager salary, Farming Salaries 2017, Remuneration Summary Report 2016/17, Federated Farmers.

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Operations Manager

Salary: $79,000

Operations Managers are often associated with a large-scale dairy farming business that has a number of farms. Operational roles are strategic in nature and are directly responsible for returning farm/ share holder profits and ascertaining long term farm viability.

Operations Managers are often responsible for planning, reviewing, executing and reporting against the overall business goals. In charge of farm management. Responsibilities cover all areas including budgeting, targets and resource requirements. May be responsible for multiple farms.

Duties might include

The Operations Manager works with the Farm Owner or directors to develop strategy. Commonly they supervise multiple Farm Managers and/or Sharemilkers to ensure that the owner’s strategy is implemented. Their role often extends to coaching Farm Managers working under their supervision. The Operations Manager acts on behalf of the Farm Owner, taking responsibility to ensure that the Farm Owner’s strategy is implemented and overall profit and production targets are met.

An Operations Manager is well versed and competent in all areas of production and staff management. With over five years of on-farm experience, having worked effectively as Farm Manager you will have gained expertise in all the required elements needed for productive farm management. You will also have considerable experience in managing staff, and be able to communicate effectively at all levels of the business.

The role of Operations Manager has no ‘typical’ next role. Given the high level of skills and experience needed it is not unusual for many Operations Managers to move straight to farm ownership.

Education and training

Check out education, training and qualifications in the section below.

* Average Operations Manager salary, Farming Salaries 2017, Remuneration Summary Report 2016/17, Federated Farmers.

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Contract Milker

(self employed)

A Contract Milker is a self-employed farmer managing the property who is paid on a negotiated set price per kgMS produced. A Contract Milker typically provides labour, paying for shed costs, electricity, and vehicles and also has administrative, insurance and ACC costs.

Variable Order Sharemilker

(self employed)

An arrangement where the farmer managing the property is paid on a percentage of milk income e.g. 25%. This operating structure doesn’t own or part-own the milking herd. The sharemilker and farm owner will have agreed the costs that the sharemilker will provide typically including, labour, shed costs, electricity and transport.

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Herd Owning Sharemilker / 50:50 Sharemilker

A Sharemilker supplies the herd and operates the farm on behalf of the Farm Owner. A Sharemilker receives 50% of milk income and all money from the sale of livestock.

Under a Herd Owning Sharemilking agreement, the sharemilker traditionally received 50% of payout. Herd owning arrangements can range between 40 and 60% of milk price and the dividend may or may not be included in the sharing of income.

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Farm Owner

Own your own farm.