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UNDER THE
— MANAGEMENT
OF
Douwe Wilts
Gary Courtney
BLYTH 523-9305
PG. 30 THE RURAL VOICE/MARCH 1981
FARM MANAGEMENT
BY JACK HAGARTY, AREA CO-ORDINATOR AND FARM
MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
A barber in a rural town must know all the reasons why it's
impossible to start farming today. He must wonder about his
own future. Maybe, he'll have to specialize in trims for balding
heads.
As I wait my turn in a barber shop in Mitchell I hear people
playing the "ain't it awful game." It take me back thirty-five
years. As a kid 1 waited in Go!die's shop on the same street --two
doors down and heard the same comments almost word for word.
"There's no way a young person can start tarming today, they'll
go broke trying. and their parents will end up in the poor house"
are statements these armchair reporters play out --like trump
cards in a euchre game.
It's a good thing that generations of farm families have
ignored this negative game. Young people start farming every
year. It's not easy. It's hard work --but the facts are that farming
in this area (maybe the best in the world) is our most important
industry. Young people will find ways to start farming.
Don Risebrough of the Holstein Friesian Association visited
New Zealand and came back impressed with the concept of
sharemilking agreements. They are very common in that
country. In fact, it's an act of parliament. The terms and
conditions are clearly spelled out. In return for milking the cows
and work on the farm. the sharemilker receives an agreed
percentage of the profits from the milk. The percentage depends
on the amount of work and responsibilities he has and whether
he has some form of equit y in the business.
There are three types of agreements; the first two (29% and
39% share) require no capital input into the farm apart from
paying some sundry costs such as fertilizer. They are normally
stepping -stones towards the more common 50% agreement.
Under this agreement the sharemilker owns the cows and the
dairty tools except for the parlour. In return he receives 50% of
the sales from the milk and the stock. This way the owner still
has an interest and a stake in the farm without the worries of its
day-to-day running and milking. A newcomer has an opportunity
to start farming and work his way up the ladder.
The next time you get a hair cut--suprise your barber. Tell him
a success story about farming. It'll make his day! And you'll feel
good knowing he'll likely be there to cut your hair next month.
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