Making your sharemilking or contract milking job as attractive as possible for this coming season
The advertising season is nearly upon us (I know of several people already shoulder tapping) and it is a great time to seriously look at the job you have on offer. The best sharemilkers and contract milkers are going to be looking closely at the following:
Have you chosen the right sharefarming position for what you need? I will be doing a further blog post exploring this more soon but depending on the amount of involvement you want to have in the farm, what you can afford financially, and how much engagement and/or responsibility you want to have from your sharefarmer, this is something you should take the time to explore.
For contract milkers - are you using the DairyNZ Contract Milking Budget calculator to ensure they are going to be earning a (good) premium above that of an employed manager? The calculator can be found here
Is your housing up to Healthy Homes standards? The best sharefarmers are going to have their pick of jobs and they will be scrutinising the quality of the housing. If the home is damp, cold or drafty, they are going to notice. Additionally, if it is rundown, this is something they may mark you down on.
Have you got your records ready to present as evidence? Demonstrate transparency on previous production, feed fed, pasture and crops grown, and nitrogen used. If you don’t have this data and you cannot get it from your current sharefarmer, you need to start building a picture in other ways to have this available.
What condition are the weeds, fences, lanes and buildings in? If they aren’t great, how are you planning on remedying this? Sharefarmers won’t be looking at jobs that require fixing up someone else’s mess - if you do need their support, ensure this is clear and transparent, and that remuneration will be provided above that of the milk remuneration.
Do you have clear farm policies and procedures? Sharefarmers aren’t mind readers and a lack of clear communication will result in resentment building up on both sides before the first season is out.
Do you have a plan for a start of season stock take? Cows (number, body condition, tags), feed on hand, and the condition of housing and buildings needs to be accurately documented
The Sharefarming Consultants are here to help with all of the above - check out the Our Services page to get an idea of the packages we offer (including the pricing). If you want to get in touch, send an email to admin@thesharefarmingconsultants.com or call Louise on 0211335607
