It\u2019s the toughest year in dairy since way back, even before milk was sold in glass bottles and China was still in the dark ages.<\/p>\n
While the majority of farmers will get\u00a0through this downturn, there are some that won\u2019t make it. Those that do will be doing everything they can to reduce expenditure and manage their cash flow. Farm owner\u2019s need their staff’s help in achieving this. We’ve put together a few basic tips for staff that might help.<\/p>\n
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When purchasing products for use on the farm don\u2019t buy them unless you are going to be using them that month. Too often, managers are over ordering product, which retailers are more than happy to supply. For example, there is no need to order two drums of teat spray if you\u2019re only going to use one in that month. Having that cash sitting in the bank just might make the difference.<\/li>\n
Think about ways in which you can use products more effectively and don\u2019t be afraid to ask your supply reps for advice around this.<\/li>\n
Make sure you\u2019re getting the best price for the items that you are purchasing. It’s easy to just head down the road and buy from the guy you always buy from. But you need to ask yourself, “Am I getting the best bang for my\u00a0buck?”\u00a0Tools like A<\/a>griTender<\/a>\u00a0will help you ensure you\u2019re making the best purchasing decisions.<\/li>\n Electricity is a major expense for farm owners. Be mindful of this, even small things like ensuring the lights in the cow shed are turned off when not needed. Make sure water leaks are fixed so pumps aren\u2019t running overtime and that you\u2019re using power efficiently at your house.<\/li>\n If you don\u2019t absolutely need it then go without and always check with your boss before ticking anything up at your farm store.<\/li>\n Share and discuss with other staff what you\u2019re doing to help reduce costs on the farm. \u00a0Talk with your neighbours and friends who are also in the industry as they might also have some smart advice around reducing expenses.<\/li>\n Lastly stay positive, work hard and make sure your boss is doing ok.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/p>\n Over the next few months we\u2019ll be talking with farmers about what they are doing to reduce expenditure. We\u2019ll be sharing these with you,\u00a0so stay tuned. If you have any tips and advice for other farm staff then please fire them through to us at blog@agritender.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s the toughest year in dairy since way back, even before milk was sold in glass bottles and China was still in the dark ages.<\/p>\n While the majority of farmers will\u2026<\/p>\nBe a bright spark<\/h4>\n
Do you need it?<\/h4>\n
See what your neighbor is doing<\/h4>\n
Stay positive<\/h4>\n