Industry good – DairyNZ

Taking care of your team

Guy Mitchell

Southland/ South Otago regional leader

Iwas pleased to see a Southland dairy farming couple recognised at the Primary Industries Good Employer Awards recently.

Annalize and Stefan du Plessis are 50:50 sharemilkers on a property milking 700 cows, and they contract milk 600 cows on another local farm.

The Du Plessis do lots of good things to create a great workplace, including being flexible about working hours and leave.

Annalize and Stefan ensure their team have plenty of time off during quieter periods. Staff also have input into when they work, as they’re part of developing the roster.

Farm teams are now recovering from calving, with some having worked particularly hard due to staff shortages.

Taking time off is important for us all to stay well – mentally and physically – especially after stressful periods.

“The Du Plessis do lots of good things to create a great workplace, including being flexible about working hours and leave.”

Annalize and Stefan also say it’s important to have good systems and routines in place to reduce inefficiency. This includes having the right machinery and equipment so jobs can be done faster, helping to create a good work environment with greater flexibility for staff.

Another option to keep working hours manageable for a lot of farms is flexible milking.

DairyNZ research indicates that shifting from twice-a-day milking to Annalize and Stefan du Plessis are flexible about working hours and ensure their team has plenty of time off. Back from left are Stefan Burger, Arun Aravind, Zander Ferreira, Kara Toimata, Armand Fourie, Stefan du Plessis, Carlo School. Front, from left, are Zackery Ferreira, Lee Louw and Annalize du Plessis. Absent from photo: Jancke Burger.

“three in two” reduces labour time and improves body condition score (BCS), reproduction and lameness. It does result in a small decrease in milk production.

Three in two milking can also be a good option if you’re down a staff member, or want to improve cow BCS in summer or autumn. I’ve also seen some farms use flexible milking to provide staff with time off over Christmas and New Year.

Supporting a great workplace can also involve some simple gestures.

Annalize and Stefan recognise staff birthdays with a day off, a present and a cake, and even warm meals. The Du Plessis have an open-door policy and encourage their team to come and chat to them about any concerns.

They also work hard to help new staff settle in, encouraging them to join a local sports club or get involved in community activities like Young Farmers.

With calving behind us, now is a great time to catch up with your farm team to find out how they’re feeling, and ask if there’s anything more you can do to continue supporting them. n with DairyNZ

Tips to help farm staff feel valued

DairyNZ research shows that farm staff value: • Regular one-on-one catch-ups and team meetings • Being able to share their views and ideas • Rosters that provide enough time off to avoid burnout, especially at busy times • Health, safety and wellbeing being a priority • Being regularly told they are doing a good job • Having warm and comfortable accommodation • Having a clear set of expectations • Competitive pay • Opportunities for upskilling or training