GET FRESH! // Other Dairy Careers // Agri-business opportunities

Agri-business opportunities

You can support the dairy industry and build a thriving career or business in a variety of ways. Here are some examples:

Farm consultant/advisor

Farm consultants help farmers develop their business and create wealth by providing a user-pays advisory service, often through one-on-one meetings, discussion groups and field days. They also assist farmers with developing their financial and business management skills to increase farm profitability and growth.

The role of the farm consultant would suit someone who enjoys interacting with and helping people, and isn’t looking to be office based, as a farm consultant constantly travels around farms and businesses in order to keep in contact with their clients.

Farm consultants should be professional, patient, friendly, confident, helpful, trustworthy and able to motivate people, as well as fit and healthy because their work involves visiting farms and can involve a lot of travel.

Alternative titles

Agribusiness consultant
Consulting officer

Typical tasks

Visit farmers regularly
Give advice on financial and business planning and farm management
Provide farmers with decision-making support
Help farmers set business goals
Advise on resource use
Research information requested by farmers
Run training and seminars on a variety of farm management topics
Provide sound and unbiased advice
Property supervision
Staff management
Farm management

Recommended subjects to take at secondary school

English, biology, chemistry, statistics and modelling, science, maths with calculus.

How to become a farm consultant

To become a farm consultant it is preferred that you have a tertiary qualification in agriculture. Degrees can be obtained from either:

Degree options

Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgriScience)
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Science (BSc Agricultural Science)

Possible employers

Private farm consultant companies, DairyNZ or self-employed businesses.

To find out more about this career, register for more information

Rural banking consultant

Rural banking consultants are the key link between farmers and the bank. They work one-on-one with farmers to assess financial situations and develop solutions; develop lending applications; facilitate meetings within farm business teams and work with farmers to best meet their financial needs.

While some desk work is required, a good proportion of a rural banking consultants time is spent on-farm, either appraising the operation or over the kitchen table working with the farmer. Did we mention the job usually comes with a car?

If you like numbers, problem-solving and working with people to develop solutions, the role of rural banking consultant might be the one for you.

Alternative titles

Bank manager
Rural manager
Agribusiness

Typical tasks that a rural banking consultant would do

Lending applications
Visit farmers regularly
Provide farmers with decision-making support
Account analysis
Farm business plans (mainly financial)
Facilitate meetings
Give financial advice
Develop and monitor budgets
Provide advice
Travel to clients farms

Recommended subjects to take at secondary school

English, biology, chemistry, statistics and modelling, economics/accounting, science, geography.

How to become a rural banking consultant

To become a rural banking consultant you will need a tertiary qualification in agriculture, preferably with valuation papers. Degrees can be obtained at either:

Degree options

Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce (BAgriCommerce)
Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgriScience)
Bachelor of Agriculture (BAg)

Possible employers

Rural lenders such as ASB, National Bank, Westpac and BNZ.

To find out more about this career, register for more information

Large animal/dairy cattle veterinarian

Dairy cattle vets help farmers to manage the health and fertility of their herd. This involves advising clients about animal care and feeding, disease prevention and enhancing fertility. Prevention is the name of the game but vets also play a vital role helping farmers to treat sick and injured animals.

As a vet, your office will often be your ute, as you travel to meet with clients at their place, either over the kitchen table or on the farm. If you’re extra nice you may even be invited to stay for lunch! Back at the office you will also have a team of other vets and technicians to support you.

With an average herd size of 300 cows and dairy cows being worth over $2,000 each, this is a responsible position!

Typical tasks that a dairy cattle veterinarian would do

Work closely with herd owners to help them achieve their breeding and production goals
Teach farmers practices to minimise health issues on-farm
Work with farmers to treat animal problems and diseases
Work with farmers to prevent animal problems and diseases
Advise on animal nutrition and the care and welfare of animals

Recommended subjects to take at secondary school

English, biology, chemistry, calculus, statistics, physics, all level 3 sciences

How to become a dairy cattle vet

To become a veterinarian you need to study veterinary science. The Bachelor of veterinary Science (BVSc) is only available at Massey University (Palmerston North campus).

Possible employers

Veterinary practices, large farming organisations, animal health product manufacturers, research organisations such as DairyNZ or AgResearch.

To find out more about this career, register for more information

Environmental officer

An environmental officer is there to help make sure that our environment is not harmed. Many work for large companies, which by producing their products, are having an impact on the environment. The environmental officer's job is to ensure pollution is stopped or at least minimised by carrying out tests, monitoring performance and suggesting ways to improve systems.

Alternative titles

Water quality officer
Resource management consultant
Consent officer
Environmental officer
Environmental analyst

Typical tasks

Study and assess sources of pollution and develop ways to control pollution
Study and develop environmental policies and plans using ecological, mathematical or physical science data
Provide technical advice to clients, members of the public, interest groups, local iwi, regulatory bodies or local government authorities
Water monitoring for resource consent conditions
Take part in projects to help better the environment

Recommended subjects to take at secondary school

Statistics and modeling, geography, chemistry, biology, geology, agriculture, English.

How to become an environmental officer

To become an environmental monitoring officer in the agricultural industry you need a tertiary qualification. Degrees can be obtained from either:

Degree options:

Bachelor of Science (with environmental papers)
Bachelor of Environmental Management and Planning

Possible employers

Fonterra, Regional Environment Councils; Ministry for the Environment; research organisations such as AgResearch and Landcare Research; NIWA; major companies that have an impact on the environment such as Fonterra or Genesis Energy.

To find out more about this career, register for more information

Field services representative

Field services representatives may sell grain, seeds, fertiliser, chemicals, farming supplies and crops to farmers, depending on who they work for. They may also advise farmers on farming matters, assist in harvesting and arrange the sale of farmers' produce.

Field services representatives work in offices, on farms and in stock and station firms, agencies or private practices. They spend much of their time travelling to farms, where they meet their clients.

Alternative titles

Fertiliser representative
Grain and seed agent
Agriculture sales representative
Technical advisor

Typical tasks

Advise farmers on the use of their product they represent and how it will contribute to their business; provide technical support to farmers on their products
Supply seeds, grain, sprays and fertilisers to farmers
Advise farmers on pasture and crop varieties, the planning and rotation of crops, and how to plant and harvest crops
Advise farmers on fertiliser use, weed and pest control
Organise the harvesting of crops
Keep records of sales and orders and write reports
Promote company services
Talk to clients about products and update product information materials
Keep in contact with clients and answer their enquiries
Find and contact potential new customers
Predict future market trends
Attend trade shows and conferences

Recommended subjects to take at secondary school

Biology, accounting, mathematics with calculus and/or statistics and modelling.

How to become a field sales representative

To become a sales representative in the agricultural industry it is preferred that you have a tertiary qualification. Degrees can be obtained from either:

OR:

There are no specific entry requirements to become an agricultural sales agent or grain and seed agent but it is likely you will be required to study towards tertiary qualification that will help you to do your job better, for example a National Certificate in Rural Servicing.