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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 31, 2021
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Letter campaign gains momentum Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz A LETTER writing campaign aimed at highlighting the effects staffing shortages are having on the primary industry has revealed the heart wrenching decisions being made by farmers to keep their businesses running. The campaign launched by Federated Farmers in May came as frustrations at the Government’s refusal to allow more overseas workers into New Zealand to ease staffing shortages for the new milking season boiled over. The organisation urged farmers to email their concerns directly to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor or Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi. Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Chris Lewis says there had been a good response so far. Many of the messages from emails and on social media highlighted what farmers were doing to keep their farms working without the staff they needed. “It just reinforces why we’re doing this,” Lewis said. “For example, we have had one
RESPONSE: Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Chris Lewis says there had been a good response to the campaign so far, with most coming from the South Island.
couple who have to take their three young kids to the cowshed every day because both husband and wife have to milk because they can’t get staff.”
In another case, a contract milker is stuck in India instead of Southland where he is supposed to be starting a contract milking job.
“He’s an Indian-Kiwi who went to the wrong place at the wrong time, and his absence puts strain on a wide bunch of people,” he said. It highlighted the impact the shortage was having on families. While there had been responses from all over NZ, the bulk of the emails and messages had come from Southland. He says anywhere more than 30 kilometres away from a major city or town was affected. The shortages could see some farmers reduce their milking from twice-a-day to once-a-day or every 16 hours, which will reduce their production and income. “Farmers could also be taking shortcuts. It could mean two things: the existing workforce will have to work even longer hours with no time off, which is not ideal for health and safety, or they’ll cut corners,” he said. Lewis says this could potentially hurt New Zealand’s farming brand. “I’m not just concerned about the wellbeing of staff, I’m also concerned about the wellbeing of employers and everyone who works on a farm,” he said.
For example, we have had one couple who have to take their three young kids to the cowshed every day because both husband and wife have to milk because they can’t get staff. Chris Lewis Feds
He urged farmers to keep the emails coming and called on other industries also affected by shortages to join them. “We aren’t only in the team. Truckies, café owners, rest homes and everyone else who is struggling with not getting the support they need to join us. “Let’s put our boots on and kick the ball down to Wellington for a better response to the worker shortage than we’ve had already,” he said.
Farmers urged to get writing Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS are reverting to good old fashioned letter writing so they can keep running their farms. In a last ditch effort to be heard by immigration decision-makers Federated Farmers has put the call out to farmers to get writing. South Canterbury dairy farmer Rebecca Miller took up the challenge. Miller and her husband Brent are equity dairy farming in a mix of contract and sharemilking businesses, taking in a total 2600 cows. They employ 10 fulltime staff and at calving take on an additional six calf rearers. They have had their ups
and downs over the years but not being able to fill their full complement of staff at a critical time is seriously worrying, Miller said.
At the end of the day we will not have enough people. Rebecca Miller Dairy farmer “For our staff, we want them to be happy, healthy and safe, that is number one for us. “We are desperately advertising for three more staff, but the
people are just not there.” The Millers work in the strategic sector of their business across both farms. “For us not to have calf rearers we will have to go back into operational ourselves, and we will have to do the strategic at nights, that will impact on our family, we have three children, and for me I will be doing the job of two to three people. “It hits us at all levels, it impacts on our staff and their families too. “At the end of the day we will not have enough people, we will all be stressed out of our nuts (heads). What are the coping mechanisms? We will be at the bottom of the cliff. “We have been in the good employer awards, we have a
SHORT-STAFFED: Calving is just around the corner and Rebecca Miller is worried. Photo Annette Scott
beautiful house available, we pay above average wages.” Up to 4000 workers are required for the coming season,
1800 in Southland alone. “Dairy farmers are doing their bit – come on Immigration you are the stumbling block.”
