12 minute read
Dairy champion Jacinta Kete
Taranaki farmer Jacinta Kete works two part-time jobs for two families in a job sharing arrangement to give her full-time employment. Photos by Ross Nolly
Best of both
By Ross Nolly
Working two part-time jobs to make up a full-time position is working well for one Taranaki lass and the two farming couples who share her skills and expertise
When life gets busy on the farm, an extra pair of helping hands is a godsend. Often that help is only required for a few days a week and there’s not enough work on the farm for a full-time staff member.
Two Taranaki (Auroa) farming families have thought outside the square and have employed a full-time staff member in a job sharing role and spreading the hours across both farming operations in a win-win situation. Everyone benefits.
John and Kristina Wyatt are contract milkers on a 121-hectare dairy farm milking 315 cows and Donna and Phil Cram own a 117ha dairy farm milking 241 cows.
In the past, the Wyatts have employed someone only over spring, but have thought about having someone throughout the year but don’t have enough work to justify a full-time worker. In an ideal world they’d have employed a worker for two days a week, but they were unsure how to implement it.
The Wyatts were at a barbeque and job sharing was mentioned. They knew that neighbouring farmers (the Crams), who only lived 5.5km away, also wanted a part-time worker. Between the two farming operations there was enough work for one full-time worker.
Both couples knew that if a job sharing arrangement was workable, it needed to be in conjunction with a farmer who had similar values and ethics.
“We were really careful to partner with people who had the same values as us and would want to nurture and grow the person,” Donna says.
Before advertising the position, the Wyatts and Crams discussed what they were looking for in the arrangement and in the worker. The job was advertised as a full-time position and the situation was explained to the applicants at the interview.
Last season the couples employed Jacinta Kete to work on both farms in a job sharing arrangement that gave her a full-time position, with two individual employment agreements.
They operate a three-week roster. During that period Jacinta works for nine days at the Cram’s and six days at the Wyatt’s. She chose to have six days off during the three-week period, comprising a four-day weekend and two days off during the week. Each family gets one weekend off during each threeweek period.
“We feel that the success of the arrangement is due to both parties sticking to the rostered schedule. We’ve swapped the odd day here and there but
Jacinta works six days on Johan and Kristian Wyatt’s 121ha farm milking 315 cows. John and Kristina Wyatt, with Caleb and Danielle, and Jacinta.
that’s very much the exception to the rule,” she says.
“Some jobs such as weighing and drenching the calves are much easier and faster with two people. So we plan them for the days when Jacinta is here. Previously, if we had time off, we’d use a relief milker. A relief milker just milks the cows, whereas Jacinta continues the farm work, so there’s no backlog of jobs for me to catch up on,” John says.
“During spring it was invaluable to have an extra pair of hands here. It’s doable with two people, but much easier with three,” Phil says.
For Jacinta, the job sharing arrangement works well and enables her to work full-time.
She grew up on the family sheep and beef farm at Waikawau in north Taranaki. After leaving school she returned to shepherding before working as a wool handler in a shearing gang for two main shears. She then spent a season milking 980 goats before starting in the dairy industry. This is her second full season in the dairy industry.
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Jacinta Kete grew up on her family’s sheep and beef farm and went shepherding before turning to dairying for the opportunity to progress. Jacinta and her three-year-old son Arlo.
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Jacinta with son Arlo. Jacinta works on a three-weekly roster working nine of those days on Donna and Phil Cram’s 117ha farm milking 241 cows.
She never thought she’d become a dairy farmer.
“Mum persuaded me to try relief milking, which I did for 10 months. I’d loved milking the goats, so thought that I’d probably enjoy milking cows too. After all, it’s just another two teats. I then decided that I wanted to go full-time,” Jacinta says.
When she discovered that the job was split between two farms she recognised that it would give her the opportunity to learn two different farm systems. She is keenly learning the management side of farming so she can progress in the industry.
“Last season was a really good introduction, but I feel like I’ve expanded my knowledge during the second season.” she says.
“I enjoy the variety of working on two farms. They operate completely differently and John and Phil always explain what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. I’ve been able to take that knowledge on-board.”
Jacinta believes the greatest difference between drystock farming and dairying are the early morning starts.
“You must be able to get up in the morning. You also have to realise that you aren’t going to get every weekend off. You need a ‘this is your future and career’ mindset, and put many of life’s social aspects on hold for a while,” she says.
Jacinta has enjoyed the learning process and is undertaking a five-year Primary ITO course, which will result in a New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy) Level 4. She says that dairy offers a much faster progression than sheep and beef.
“I love learning from and listening to the farm reps when they’re on the farm,” she says. Especially when they explain how they work things out and why they make their recommendations.”
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are often seen as a boost along the dairy progression pathway. Jacinta entered the NZDIA 2020 trainee section and made it through to the Taranaki finals.
“I’m more confident this year and not as nervous because the process is more familiar to me. It’s intimidating to sit in a room and be grilled by three judges you don’t know,” she says.
“The five-year plan I’m currently working towards is to be managing, or in a management position, at the end of that period. I guess it’s everyone’s dream to own a farm, but I’d love to get a 50:50 sharemilking job one day.”
Jacinta hasn’t felt that it’s been a struggle to transition into dairy farming.
“I like the confidence that both families
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have given me, and the trust they have in me. I also like the fact that John and Kristina can go away and spend time as a family, and Phil and Donna can go away too. And they all trust me to not burn the farm down while they’re away,” she jokes.
It’s a big vote of trust in her abilities that both parties are prepared to leave their farms in her capable hands, considering she’s only been in the industry for a relatively short period of time.
“It’s not a lot of time, but it comes down to the type of person she is and her excellent attitude,” Kristina says.
“She has a good attitude to learning and a great work ethic, which I feel goes a long way. Attitude is the most important thing. You can teach people anything if they have a good attitude combined with a willingness to learn,” John says.
“We have an amazing lifestyle and we want to provide Jacinta with an amazing lifestyle too,” Donna says.
Dairy farming isn’t always easy, but Jacinta enjoys everything about the job. Spring is her favourite time of year.
“It’s busy, but there are babies around and there’s heaps of grass. It’s the time of year where you’re not really in a routine and there are lots of things going on,” she says.
There is a nationwide shortage of relief milkers and many farmers can’t afford to employ full-time staff. Phil feels that job sharing is a good option in a region like Taranaki that tends to have a lot of smaller farms.
“Jacinta has probably had the hardest job learning how two different farms operate. With her on the roster I’ve been able to have time off, even if we don’t go away, which is great now that we have kids. Just organising a milker can be enough of a headache and it’s often easier to do the milking,” John says.
“There are always employment opportunities in dairy and I‘d encourage anyone to enter the industry, even if they’re from an urban background. You’re outside every day and there’s a real satisfaction knowing that you’re producing top quality milk,” Jacinta says.
“I can talk to the Crams and Wyatts about anything. It’s all been so worthwhile. Both families push me and are great teachers. And they’re calm and patient when I break things.” n Working on two farms gives Jacinta a variety of work and taught her a range of new skills, as both farms are different and run different systems.
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Fieldays postponed amid Omicron outbreak
Fieldays has been postponed until later in the year due to the Omicron outbreak and restrictions under the current red setting.
By Gerald Piddock
The Omicron outbreak has forced the New Zealand National Fieldays Society to postpone this year’s Fieldays until November 30-December 3.
The event was planned to be held from June 15-18.
Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation says the decision will give all attendees, exhibitors and stakeholders involved some breathing room and confidence during these uncertain times.
“The feedback we have had from our customers is they really want the event to run, it creates the much-needed economic stimulus and reconnection that an event the size and scale of Fieldays provides,” Nation says.
He says there were several complex factors behind the decision.
“The current Omicron outbreak has caused extra layers of stress and complexity to our communities – holding Fieldays later in the year will give all involved confidence and breathing room,” he says.
Resourcing had also become a significant issue for all people involved with Fieldays, with a tight labour market and employee absenteeism due to ill health and isolation restrictions.
“Plus, the ongoing impact of a delayed global supply chain is having an impact on exhibitors, who are struggling to achieve requisite stock levels for their existing sales, let alone display stock or any new innovations,” he says.
While it could be assumed or hoped an orange traffic light system will have arrived by June, many did not realise that the build of Fieldays commences in April.
“Around 13,000 contractors come and go in the lead up to the event, building the small city that is Fieldays, which is just not possible under the red traffic light setting.
“While we can hope for a change in traffic light settings soon, this is crystal ball gazing at best,” he says.
The ongoing impact of a delayed global supply chain was also having an adverse impact on stock supply levels for both event build contractors and some exhibitors.
“This decision did not come lightly, but will ensure the physical Fieldays event can operate to its full potential,” he says.
He hopes the postponement to the end of the year will ensure the best outcome for all involved after a turbulent start to 2022.
“Our aim is to run a safe, secure and successful event, ensuring Kiwis can come together and reconnect, enjoying the best of what Aotearoa’s primary sector has to offer,” he says. n
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