Dairy Progression Pathways and the Impact of Volatility

Sharemilking has long been considered a cornerstone of the New Zealand dairy industry, providing a viable progression pathway for young dairy farmers to build experience and wealth, and traditionally aiming to achieve their ultimate goal of farm ownership. This pathway has been under increased pressure in recent years, with the number of Herd Owning Sharemilking (HOSM) positions steadily declining, due to a variety of factors.

In the past five years’ there has been significant fluctuation in the milk price paid to New Zealand dairy farmers, and this volatility has created additional problems for farm owners and sharemilkers alike.