The dairy farmers of the Waimate West 1997

The New Zealand Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme develops emerging agribusiness leaders to help shape the future of New Zealand agribusiness and rural affairs. Lincoln University has been involved with this leaders programme since 1979 when it was launched with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, USA.It has been my brief to critically analyse a sample of 70 farming operations from a total population of approximately 300 operations. My analysis has been in the capacity of a financier and therefore biased toward economic survival or proliferation of the entities involved. In the course of my work I have looked at a large variation in; entity size, organisational structure and ability of operators. The study seeks first to familiarise the reader with the local micro-climate (Physical, historical and economic). Secondly I have attempted to feature the main concerns of the farmers within the subject region. Thirdly I have studied in depth the issue of "Farm Profitability" using the commonly used benchmark of "Economic Farm Surplus" (E.F.S.). In doing so I will describe the method of financial analysis and comparative parameters. The ultimate intention is to identify an operating structure that addresses some of the concerns of the farming population within the population under study. It is my desire that the reader of this study is able to draw parallels with his or her own local farming operation or local farming community, and identify a common trend in New Zealand's farming entities