SPECIAL REPORT | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The making of Mark and Measure
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Words by: Chris Neill
he dairy sector has plenty of competition, from friendly rivalry with a neighbour to full on war with weeds, pests and disease. Less conspicuous is the intimate competition with self which for some is coping with the challenges of each day and for others it is pushing the boundaries of personal development and improvement. Numerous support, information and education programmes are available for self improvement and one of the gems is DairyNZ’s Mark and Measure. The genesis of Mark and Measure was a wealth creation programme for farmers developed some 23 years ago in Ireland with participation spread over several months. Lynaire Ryan, Phillipa Hedley and Paul Bird brought the concept to DairyNZ , and created a three-day residential programme. Paul is now a senior project manager with DairyNZ and responsible for delivering
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Mark and Measure to dairy farmers looking to understand and advance their business. The core elements of Mark and Measure are Vision, Values and Goals. Most participants are farming couples and the process of defining their individual and collective business vision can be challenging. When one partner draws an aeroplane as a part of her vision to signify travel and husband interprets this as flying fertiliser on the farm, courageous conversation is happening. The relevance of values to achieving a vision is not commonly recognised. Another farmer desperately wanting to increase pasture grown couldn’t get it to happen. He discovered his key constraint in the values passed down from his grandfather and father that the only nitrogen on the farm would be fixed by clover. Goals are often talked about but aligning them to the business vision gives greater reward to the business when they are achieved. Programme participants must define their own Vision, Values and Goals with the support and encouragement of the facilitators and other farmers in the room. For some it will be financial and others it may be lifestyle or succession and almost
certainly the Vision and Goals will change with more thinking and time. The current format for Mark and Measure offers those with a farming business three days off farm in the company of other dairy farming business owners providing an opportunity to talk about their future. Before the course starts, participants have a full financial analysis of their business undertaken using DairyBase. An experienced business analyst discussed with the farmers their business strengths and opportunities and this starts the journey of understanding how the business owners can achieve their Vision. The course warms up with introduction to personality types and how understanding these is integral to successful business and staff relationships. A look at the importance and maintenance of wellness will swing the mood from hilarity to sobering reality. It’s the beginning of understanding that as a group the participants are challenged by similar issues and the foundation for supportive relationships that will develop and continue. The progression into financial analysis, budgeting and investment principles can be challenging for some
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | October 2020
