RCNZ CEO Andrew Olsen says rural contractors head into the 2025/26 season with optimism, thanks to strong farmgate prices, workforce progress, and safety support
Rural contractors who belong to and are supported by their national organisation have every reason to head into the 2025/26 season with a spring in their step.
That’s the view of Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew Olsen, who says his comments reflect what his organisation is proving able to achieve, member feedback and good farmgate prices.
“Our members face a lot of challenges and the season’s climatic tests are still in front of them, but they are able to start with some good outcomes and positive signals.”
Not least are good current prices for dairy, beef and lamb farmers, which are the key client bases for rural contractors.
“Cash is king. With better farmgate prices there is no reason our members should not be paid on time. We’re encouraging them to address aged debt quickly and in line with their terms of trade.”
Obtaining skilled seasonal machinery operators from overseas used to be a common headache for RCNZ members but Andrew says working with the government has reduced some of the frustration.
“We’ve now got some band aids in place and are looking to the now-announced global visa solution before we are too far down the track.”
Fears about visits by WorkSafe used to be a literal nightmare for many rural contractors but presentations by WorkSafe inspectors at each of this year’s four RCNZ regional roadshows has eased those concerns.
“The inspectors gave clear messages to our members that they want to help them keep their workers safe, not clobber them.”
A post-roadshow survey showed around 90% of those responding found the presentations useful and a similar number said they’d make changes to their health and safety practices as a result.
Andrew says RCNZ will be running another campaign this season to refresh its members on the importance of avoiding fatigue.
“We will be repeating the messages on things like building breaks into staff rosters and building on the friendly advice from the WorkSafe inspectors at our Hamilton, Palmerston North, Gore and Christchurch roadshows.”
He says members are also being reminded about the risks this season of spreading noxious weeds as they travel from farm to farm, notably velvetleaf.
“This used to be thought of as a Waikato issue, but it’s now spread to our other big contracting regions in Canterbury and Otago/Southland.”
Travelling machinery is one of the key risks of spreading velvetleaf.
“Rural contractors need to ensure all machinery entering any farm is thoroughly cleaned to prevent the spread of the dastardly seeds, which can last for half a century.”
As for Rural Contractors NZ, Andrew says the organisation is good heart.
“It is in as good a shape as ever. We’re achieving things and we’ve got a healthy bank balance which helped us to put on another series of free roadshows that were well-attended by members.”
He says the support of RCNZ’s premium partners was also critical.
“We couldn’t run our roadshows and alternate year conference without the backing of Allied Petroleum, Nufarm, Rothbury Insurance, Farmlands, CNH (New Holland) and TRS Trelleborg. They provided a lot of the content for the roadshows, and our members lapped it up.”