Arable farmers around New Zealand are being encouraged to take part in an industry survey aimed at assessing the mood of the sector.
About 600 randomly selected growers from right across New Zealand have been sent the Growers Leading Change survey with questions on everything from how they establish their crops to how much they enjoy farming.
The survey is part of the joint Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (MPI SFFF) and Foundation for Arable Research Growers Leading Change (GLC) extension programme, established three years ago as a grower-to-grower learning platform.
GLC national co-ordinator Philippa Rawlinson said keeping track of growers’ farm systems and practices, along with their levels of optimism, has been a key part of analysing the project’s success.
“This is the third year of the survey. We ask the same questions every year and are monitoring changes over time. “For example, comparing the results of the 2022 survey and the 2021 survey we found that in 2022 more growers integrated new and innovative tools and technologies into their farming businesses.
“Comparing the two annual surveys also revealed that more growers were finding arable farming stressful and were becoming less optimistic about the future of arable farming for themselves and their families,” Rawlinson said.
The survey can be completed on paper or online. Responses are due by the end of April with results available in spring.
