DairyNZ and Federated Farmers are holding a series of meetings for sharemilkers as dairy farmers come under further pressure from lower forecast payouts.
Low dairy prices could open the door for new sharemilkers. Photo: AFP
A sharemilker typically owns the herd and milks the cows on someone else's property for a share of the farm gate milk price.
Federated Farmers dairy chairperson Andrew Hoggard said a meeting was held in Southland yesterday and more were planned for the Cantebrury, Manawatu, Taranaki, Waikato and Northland regions in the coming weeks.
The meetings were to provide advice and information on sharemilking and show the options available.
"Progression pathways, what do they look like?
"We've also got guys from our sharemilker employers and sharemilkers sub-sections that will be there talking about contracts and just offering hints and advice."
Mr Hoggard said the meetings were trying to stimulate discussion between sharemilkers and farm owners on what they should be thinking about and working together on.
"In that situation you've got one farm and two businesses, and if both of those businesses aren't rowing in the same direction it will spell bad news, especially in times like this."
He said the industry still had a positive long-term outlook and that also needed to be a focus.
"The opportunities are there.
"Things will change...and keep on evolving, like they always have, but I don't want everyone to get too wrapped up in the negativity and doom and gloom.
"It is a short-term thing, it has gone on a little bit longer than we expected it to, but things will come right."