Live, learn and earn. This is the three-word motto used by a new initiative set up by Farm Relief Services (FRS) and New Zealand Dairy Careers (NZDC). In many ways it sums up exactly what the initiative represents. Live in a foreign country, learn from the best dairy farmers on both sides of the world and earn money while you do it.

The initiative in question is an exchange programme that allows Irish people to travel to New Zealand to work on a dairy farm and New Zealand people to travel to Ireland to do the same.

Padraig Madden, operations and business development manager with FRS, was one of the pioneers of the programme. The concept was born out of a meeting with the managing director of NZDC, Matt Jones.

“We got talking about the issues in both countries around the labour pressure at peak season,” says Madden about their conversation.

“The situation in Ireland and New Zealand was like a perfect mirror of each other in that our busy season is January to June and their busy season is July to December. We came up with the idea that if we could find labour in each country to come over during their quite season to help during the other’s peak season, then it could be of benefit.”

The result of that conversation in 2017 was the development of the exchange programme, which is now established and is currently in its first year. New Zealand participants are already in Ireland but with New Zealand peak season just around the corner, it is now the Irish participants turn. But how does it work and how does one apply?

Applying

Applications can be made by visiting the FRS website www.frsfarmrelief.ie/nzexchange or calling the offices on 050-522-100. Once applications are made, they are forwarded onto the NZDC. They will then interview each candidate for suitability. It must be noted that each candidate must have suitable skills before they apply. If these skills do not match what is required, students must gain the experience expected.

If you are accepted

Once a person is accepted from Ireland to go to New Zealand, they must pay for flights and the visa themselves. However, the NZDC book flights and provide transport from the airport to the farms. Accommodation is also provided and the farms are all vetted to ensure that working conditions are up to standard.

FRS do the same for New Zealand candidates, including working closely with farmers to provide accommodation where possible. So as Madden describes: “It is a managed exchange where participants are looked after.”

For Irish participants, they are provided with an induction programme as well as regular visits from NZDC. FRS also provide these supports for participants coming to Ireland.

How long does it last?

Those who enter the programme can decide to stay for between three months to 12 months. So far, seven people have come from New Zealand. Applications have just opened for Irish people and are open indefinitely.

“Great opportunity”

For Madden and the FRS, the experienced gathered by the number of New Zealand participants who have already come to Ireland has highlighted that the programme is so far a success. The fact that it is helping the pressure on labour is a bonus.

“This is a great opportunity for any young Irish person who has a career in dairy in mind. To go to New Zealand and work on that scale is great experience. This is the same for New Zealand candidates bringing their newfound skills back.”

As mentioned, applications are now open.

Name: Sarah Stark

Age: 27

College: University of Otago

From: Clydevale, Balclutha, South Otago, NZ.

I grew up on a sheep farm (dad has about 3,000 sheep on 550 acres) and worked on dairy farms through school and university holidays. I did about 11 summers on three different dairy farms, milking between 750 and 1,150 cows through 50-bale rotary sheds. Before I came to Ireland, I was teaching agriculture and PE (the last three years) in a small high school, so I have always had some sort of involvement in agriculture.

I got a year’s leave from my teaching job to travel and just as I was starting to get serious about what I was going to do (the rough plan was either teach or farm in the UK). We had NZ Dairy Careers come along to a young farmers meeting to talk about the exchange. I thought Ireland would be a cool place to come to.

Through the exchange I would get a job and life set-up plus the bonus of support as opposed to coming over and finding a job on my own, so I more or less signed up that night.

I wasn’t particularly nervous. I have travelled before. My biggest worry was no one would be there to pick me up from the airport and I landed having no idea where in Ireland I was going so what would I do next? But it was all fine.

I don’t think I had any particular fears, there was always the worry that I wouldn’t get on with the boss and other staff or I wouldn’t be good enough etc, but they are normal when starting any new job. I was just keen to turn up and experience something new.

I worked in Waterford, near Dungarvan. The farm milked about 200 cows plus some beef cattle.

My experience isn’t over yet. I’m travelling the UK and Europe for the next four months, then I will come back to Ireland and hopefully find another job farming until next January or, if things go to plan, maybe longer.

I think New Zealand farmers could learn a bit from the Irish way, especially Southland, as keeping the cows inside has huge advantages. However, in saying that, the model would have to be altered as the scale of size in each country is so different.

I have really enjoyed the whole experience and had a great family to live with and work for. I’m a huge advocate for travel anyway, to learn about different cultures and also to appreciate what you have back home – you can’t truly appreciate life until you see how other people live. I learnt living in the country is quite hard without a car – something I always took for granted back home. I also learnt that I’ve got a real soft spot for calves, especially the Herefords.

If you’re thinking of signing up, just do it. If you’ve never travelled before then it’s great to have the back-up of an established company like FRS to support you if needed. Also, the Irish are very similar to people in New Zealand in a lot of ways, so we are bound to have some good craic along the way.