New Zealand dairy farming is highly regarded throughout the world for their simple, low-cost grass-based farming system. While they can’t be regarded as completely perfect either, there are certainly a lot of lessons to be taken from our southern hemisphere counterparts.
In this week’s edition of the Twenty ways to spend €20,000 series, we are looking at the costs of a study trip to New Zealand and the value that can be gathered from the experience.
Anyone you meet throughout the Irish dairy industry that has been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to New Zealand typically speaks glowingly of the experience.
They are probably the closest relation there is to the Irish spring-calving, pasture-based system. Over the last 30 years, hundreds of students and young people have gone there for placements and have returned with a wealth of information.
As a country they are optimistic and energetic by nature and when it comes to improving their dairy farming operations, this optimism is to the fore.
Finding the time to jet off for three weeks to the opposite side of the world won’t be for everyone but it’s something any farmer at any scale could definitely benefit from.
The cost of a trip to New Zealand as part of a group tour could cost around €5,500 per person.
The trip
These trips are often organised for groups by a range of different entities. LIC genetics and The Positive Farmers to name a couple, have organised trips in the past.
A group tour will typically be far more beneficial, with more accessibility to better farms and cheaper fees for travel and accommodation versus travelling alone. The standard length of one of these tours is usually between two to three weeks.
In terms of costs, a quick look at flights would say return flights will cost in the region of €2,000. Accommodation for the duration of the trip is around €1,500 with the cost of food and drink a further €1,500. The cost of travelling around from farm to farm by bus is around €500, giving a total cost per person of around €5,500.
Additional labour maybe required to feed cows, milk or clean cubicles while the farmer is away. In that case, an extra cost of approximately €2,000 could be added on to cover the two and a half weeks.
The ideal time for one of these trips from an Irish point of view would be during the winter months. It’s the quietest time of the year for us and at that stage the New Zealanders will be coming into the summer months. Calving should be well behind them and the breeding season coming to an end.
A group study trip to New Zealand is an excellent investment for dairy farmers. \ Odhran Ducie
Rating
There will be significant learning for any farm owner and operator from this type of trip, no matter how knowledgeable or experienced they already are.
How they go about implementing the lessons upon returning home is where the real benefits lie. It’s impossible to calculate a monetary return on the investment, but the information gathered if used effectively, could transform a farm business.
This trip is a once in a lifetime experience so it would be important to make the most of it by going through a good organiser and carefully planning it out.
I think this an excellent idea for farmers to get a break away from the day to day of the home farm and see what else is out there. New knowledge and information can be refreshing and inspiring.
For that reason, I’m giving this investment a 5/5 rating.
New Zealand dairy farming is highly regarded throughout the world for their simple, low-cost grass-based farming system. While they can’t be regarded as completely perfect either, there are certainly a lot of lessons to be taken from our southern hemisphere counterparts.
In this week’s edition of the Twenty ways to spend €20,000 series, we are looking at the costs of a study trip to New Zealand and the value that can be gathered from the experience.
Anyone you meet throughout the Irish dairy industry that has been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to New Zealand typically speaks glowingly of the experience.
They are probably the closest relation there is to the Irish spring-calving, pasture-based system. Over the last 30 years, hundreds of students and young people have gone there for placements and have returned with a wealth of information.
As a country they are optimistic and energetic by nature and when it comes to improving their dairy farming operations, this optimism is to the fore.
Finding the time to jet off for three weeks to the opposite side of the world won’t be for everyone but it’s something any farmer at any scale could definitely benefit from.
The cost of a trip to New Zealand as part of a group tour could cost around €5,500 per person.
The trip
These trips are often organised for groups by a range of different entities. LIC genetics and The Positive Farmers to name a couple, have organised trips in the past.
A group tour will typically be far more beneficial, with more accessibility to better farms and cheaper fees for travel and accommodation versus travelling alone. The standard length of one of these tours is usually between two to three weeks.
In terms of costs, a quick look at flights would say return flights will cost in the region of €2,000. Accommodation for the duration of the trip is around €1,500 with the cost of food and drink a further €1,500. The cost of travelling around from farm to farm by bus is around €500, giving a total cost per person of around €5,500.
Additional labour maybe required to feed cows, milk or clean cubicles while the farmer is away. In that case, an extra cost of approximately €2,000 could be added on to cover the two and a half weeks.
The ideal time for one of these trips from an Irish point of view would be during the winter months. It’s the quietest time of the year for us and at that stage the New Zealanders will be coming into the summer months. Calving should be well behind them and the breeding season coming to an end.
A group study trip to New Zealand is an excellent investment for dairy farmers. \ Odhran Ducie
Rating
There will be significant learning for any farm owner and operator from this type of trip, no matter how knowledgeable or experienced they already are.
How they go about implementing the lessons upon returning home is where the real benefits lie. It’s impossible to calculate a monetary return on the investment, but the information gathered if used effectively, could transform a farm business.
This trip is a once in a lifetime experience so it would be important to make the most of it by going through a good organiser and carefully planning it out.
I think this an excellent idea for farmers to get a break away from the day to day of the home farm and see what else is out there. New knowledge and information can be refreshing and inspiring.
For that reason, I’m giving this investment a 5/5 rating.
SHARING OPTIONS