Quarterly Newsletter
download newsletter as a PDF
Take stock and thrive
How to work ON your business
When you are busy with the day-to-day of running of your business, it's hard to know what needs to be done behind the scenes to ensure future success. You don't have to set aside an entire day to get all your planning, accounting and networking done - do it in small intervals throughout the year. Choose a time when you know you're not going to be knee-deep in calving or picking and make it a priority. Working ON your business is just as important as working IN it.
Whether you want to expand, develop or maintain your current activity, consider the following advice:
 Connect to other farmers. Working in a silo can be lonely and overwhelming so link up with others who share the same challenges. In the dairy industry, you can sign up to a free service called Dairy Connect, which puts you in touch with a support farmer happy to help. Look to your industry groups for networking opportunities and events.
Read more …
|
|
Buying or selling a home? You'll now need to provide your IRD number as part of the transaction process. The change will allow IRD to know who's flipping owner-occupier homes on a regular basis, and better enforce the existing law that ensures people pay tax on the profit. The move won't impact the rules around who's required to pay tax on investment property though.
|
|
A 'she'll be right' attitude towards health and safety won't cut it – it should be about discussion and involvement. You've got to make a conscious decision to be safe, and get everyone in your team thinking about health and safety every step of the way. Here are a few ways to do this effectively:
-
Get real. Sit down as a team (including family) and answer these three questions and then pin them where everyone can see them.
- "Why do we want a safe and healthy farm?"
- "What will we do to be a safe and healthy farm?"
- "How will we make sure everyone who comes to our farm is safe and healthy?"
-
Prioritise it. When you meet with your team, put health and safety at the top of the agenda. Even just spend five minutes discussing any incidents, injuries or near misses, and see if anyone has any suggestions about new or upcoming seasonal risks, or new ways of doing things.
Read more …
|
AGRICULTURAL
APPRENTICESHIPS
Struggling to recruit ambitious workers? Find out how two new apprenticeships, developed by Primary ITO and Federated Farmers, could help you tackle your skill shortage.
A Q&A with Mike Stephens, General Manager, Primary ITO:
How does the Federated Farmers Apprenticeship Dairy work? We match apprentices to relevant farms where they can 'earn while they learn', develop their skills on-job and grow their careers. Employers enjoy motivated staff, and learn and grow throughout the apprenticeship too.
How does an employer get involved? Farms wanting to take on an apprentice in the programme sign up to a farm charter to ensure they provide the best work environment, on-job training and career development for their apprentice. Since it launched two years ago, nearly 180 farms have signed the charter. This means the farming community is willing to invest to bring people on and put them on a premium pathway to farm management and even ownership.
How many apprentices are signed up? There are now nearly 100 apprentices in the programme throughout New Zealand. This number is building and we're working first on identifying people whose interests match the sector, like working outdoors and with animals, then helping match them with the best dairy farmers.
Read more …
|
Contact Us
If you wish to discuss any of the matters raised in this issue of Dollars and Sense, please contact our office - a member of our friendly team will be happy to assist.
Kind Regards
The team
Ean Brown Partners Limited
| What did you think of this email? |
 |
 |
 |
Handy weblinks:
|
|
Our
newsletters
 |
Our
blog
 |
Our
homepage
 |
|
|
