Defining and finding the skills for the future of dairy farming

We couldn't go two weeks without a milk market update so Chris has sent us one all the way from Ireland to keep us going till he’s back. Will and Ben then welcome James Allen from New Zealand based ag consultancy Agfirst Waikato who is currently the UK, alongside his wife Kerry Allen and Becki Leach, Senior consultant at Kite to discuss their respective commitments to the future of dairy. James firstly gives us an update on milk price in NZ and current farmer sentiment, moving on to discuss his Nuffield scholarship which is looking at the role of the rural/agricultural consultant and what this role might looks like in the future. He outlines what he’s learned so far from his travels in the US and UK and the importance of utilising the data available out there on farm, comparing and contrasting consultancy between the US, UK and NZ and the value rural professionals provide to the farmer. Kerry explains her work to influence the NZ school curriculum, changing the perception of agriculture to benefit students in over 100 schools, encouraging more young people into the sector and supply chain and to ultimately feed the world. Becki briefly touches on the news from AB Agri on the acquisition of NMR, which will help provide even more insight in helping dairy prosper for the long term.