Jacqueline Rowarth: Dairying gives chances for young and old

Bored with the rat race? Thinking of getting a life? Making a career change? Want to make a contribution to the environment? But still hanker after being a millionaire?

Think dairying.

It is the mainstay of New Zealand's economic development.

It is vibrant and expanding. Latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reveal that New Zealand had 5.2 million dairy cows in June 2004; numbers had increased by 7 per cent in 12 months in Taranaki and 8 per cent in Canterbury.

The expansion is likely to continue. Demand for milk products is increasing in China by more than 9 per cent a year.

Low-fat dairy products are an important part of the glycaemic index diet (eating for sustained energy, which is particularly important for those with diabetes) which is taking over in popularity from the Atkins diet.

And for those desiring significant weight loss (again an increasing number of people), latest research has found that low-fat yoghurt included in a calorie-controlled diet results in 20 per cent more weight loss than a diet without the yoghurt but the same number of calories.

The future looks bright for those producing milk.

Despite general belief, owning a dairy farm is no more difficult than it has ever been. Land prices are up (and urban expansion at 4 per cent a year is driving up prices), but so are payouts for milk solids. In contrast, interest rates are significantly lower than they have been in the past. Banks have done the research and appear to be more than happy to lend money to those investing in dairying.

Jim Grayling, speaking at the last month's conference, said the prerequisites of the young person who wants to buy a farm are a relevant tertiary qualification, determination and commitment: sufficient commitment to save and build capital. Although the viewer might cringe at the sight of the hapless youth attempting to milk a bull on the National Bank advertisements, according to Jim Grayling's calculations, that youth will be able to own his own farm before he is 30 as long as he (or she) focuses on saving and investment, not overseas trips and fast cars.

Alternatively, the mature person seeking a career change will be able to move into the industry as an employee of a corporate farm before moving up to owning their own farm. All the dairy farmers speaking at the conference had moved into dairying because of lifestyle - working with their partners, spending time with their children, making a contribution to sustainable and productive management of their own environment - and towards being their own boss.

In the Northern Hemisphere an increasing number of businessmen and women are making the change to dairying because of the business opportunities in conjunction with the lifestyle.

Yet despite the fact that the industry is contributing to the country's growth and appears to offer almost everything that people want in the workplace, including financial rewards, recruitment is an issue - hence the television promotion of the industry by Dairy InSight, funded by farmer levy money.

Do you have what it takes to make a contribution?

* Jacqueline Rowarth is director, office for environmental programmes, at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She spoke at the conference at the invitation of the organising committee.