10.0 THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE SHAREMILKING INDUSTRY
In order to provide a quantitative review of the sharemilking industry in the Waikato and Canterbury regions, a postal survey was circulated to 50/50 sharemilkers and farm owners with 50/50 sharemilkers. The survey was sent out to both regions in order to contrast the Central Waikato area, which is an established dairy area, with an emerging area such as Canterbury.
METHODOLOGY
The survey was sent out to 50/50 sharemilkers and farm owners with 50/50 sharemilkers on their property in both the central Waikato and Canterbury regions.
Central Waikato Region
1. In the Waikato the survey was restricted to the Matamata, Morrinsville, Hamilton and Te Awamutu areas which are the most solidly established dairying areas.
2. The population of sharemilkers in the area is estimated to be 1000. It was assumed that the number of farm owners is very close to this.
3. 200 Survey forms were sent out to each group in early June 1996.
Canterbury Region
- The survey was distributed throughout the Canterbury region as the whole area is considered to be developing, despite pockets of well established dairy farms.
- The population of sharemilkers is estimated to be about 110. Once again it was assumed that farm owner numbers were equal to this. [ Following return of the survey this was found to be an inappropriate assumption. The number of farms owned by corporates such as Tasman Agriculture and Applefields was under estimated.]
- 100 Survey forms were sent out to each group in early June 1996.
Selection of those to be surveyed was carried out by Federated Farmers who provided the mailing list for the survey. Due to the Privacy Act, Agriculture New Zealand was NOT able to see this list. For this reason no follow up calls were able to be made.
The survey included an incentive to return the survey with the offer of one draw for $500 of free consultancy. Participants were also asked if they would like to take part in a discussion on the sharemilking industry at a later date. Unless participants wished to take up one of these offers the survey form could have been returned anonymously.
RESPONSE RATES
The response rates to the survey in both the Waikato and Canterbury are shown in the following table:
TABLE 17: Response Rate to Survey
| WAIKATO | CANTERBURY |
| Sharemilker | Farm owner | Sharemilker | Farm owner |
| Number of respondents | 96 | 93 | 35 | 7 |
| Response rate (%) | 48 | 47 | 35 | 7 |
| Estimated % of population | 10 | 9 | 32 | - |
The response rates in the Waikato from both survey groups was good, considering the lack of follow up. The return from sharemilkers in the Canterbury region was satisfactory. However, responses from genuine farm owners with 50/50 sharemilkers were poor in the Canterbury region.
The reason for this are two fold:
- The mailing list available proved to be inadequate for the requirements of the survey. Approximately 40 returns were received from farm owners but the majority of these respondents did not employ 50/50 sharemilkers.
- The large number of farms in the region owned by corporates, such as Tasman Agriculture and Applefields, meant that although the sharemilker population may be 110, the number of farm owners is considerably smaller than that.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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