All 'Kelloggers' are required to research, prepare and present a project on a topic of their choice as part of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. These are usually on topics that are of interest to the rural sector.
A selection of projects of general interest are available here.
Beware Partnerships (PDF 258 KB)
John Ford (2002)
Personal experience of a partnership which was not as successful as it could have been, and a wish that he had had more knowledge beforehand, stimulated this report which looks into business partnerships in general. To enable people to consider the most appropriate business structure to achieve their goals, it briefly covers at the structures available in New Zealand. The main body of the report offers some guidelines on developing Exit Agreements as part of setting up a partnership.
The reality of a career in Dairy Farming (PDF 63 KB)
Gillian Searle (2002)
In order for the New Zealand dairy industry to be attractive to people in a tight labour market, the needs of the farming businesses must be aligned with the needs of the people doing the work. This report reports on the overall job satisfaction experienced by dairy farm employees under the age of thirty, and the degree to which farm jobs are meeting the top five career objectives of younger people as identified by Barbara Kuriger's Kellogg report Perceptions of a career in Dairy (2001). The report also covers the extent that dairy farm jobs are operating on a professional and legal level, and the level of staff management skills of dairy farm employers.
Development of Māori Land (PDF 469 KB)
David McLean (2002)
This report sees great potential for both Māori owners and their business partners in the development of their land asset, and of Māori business aspirations. It looks at areas for improvement in the management by Māori Authorities to maximise the returns to stakeholders from the resources they hold. It then identifies key success factors in developing Māori Land, and looks at avenues to ensure the success of a Māori Authority. The study looks at five case studies, draws conclusions from the information and makes recommendations for the future.
The profitability of milking dairy cows once-a-day all season in New Zealand (DOC 104 KB)
Anna Bayly (2002)
Once-a-day milking dairy cows (OAD) has long been thought of as a last resort when feed or cow condition is compromised, rather than a viable business decision. Important issues facing the modern dairy farmer include lifestyle, labour, animal welfare perceptions, increasing costs and low returns on investment. This report shows that industry research on this issue to date has tended to concentrate on the drop in production, and therefore payout, rather than looking at the overall system profitability.
The powers of General Competence in local and regional government (DOC 126 KB)
Fran Perriam (2002)
Written before the Local Government Act was passed, this report looks at the perhaps most controversial aspect of the Local Government Bill - the increase in power given to local government to be involved in a wide range of activities. Termed the "Powers of General Competence", they allow councils to be involved in any lawful activity. The emphasis is on local decision making, rather than the imposition of limitation by central government. The report explores the implications of these changes from two perspectives: the controls which exist in the [Bill] on the Powers vested to local government, and the roles of governance and management which lie at the heart of the democratic process.
Sharemilking: a snapshot - 2002 (DOC 209 KB)
Conall Buchanan (2002)
Sharemilking is unique to New Zealand and has become an integral part of the dairy industry. This report brings together, in a single document, a contemporary broad outline of the sharemilking system in New Zealand. It emphasises the importance of sharemilking to the dairy industry and the nation. Much of the information in the report is previously undocumented, as it is either industry-specific information, or an outline of usual practice. The report considers current practices and trends, the historical and legal basis, and touches on the culture, contracts and estimated returns of sharemilking.
Project Green: Futureproofing your farm business through sustainable farming systems (PDF 183 KB)
Kris August (2003)
Over recent years, NZ farmers have seen the introduction of on-farm quality assurance programmes to meet market requirements for their products in the areas of food safety and animal welfare. More recently, they have seen an increasing awareness of the sustainable side of farming being raised overseas, with emphasis on the impact of farming on the environment. The author suggests that NZ farmers need to be proactive in setting up a programme to address this issue which will be practical and workable, rather than waiting for standards to be imposed on them which are not appropriate to NZ farming conditions. This report outlines overseas Quality Assurance (QA) Programmes addressing sustainable production, their objectives and workings, and the likely implications for NZ farmers. It presents Project Green as an option to address the issue of sustainable production and market requirements. Farmer case studies are presented to show how Project Green has worked on their properties and their perceptions of its benefits.
Access over private property public interest vs private rights (a think-piece) (PDF 177 KB)
Nicola Luxton (2003)
The exercise of private property rights is, in this author s view, increasingly subject to restrictions by legislation and regulation in the wider public interest. Debate in 2003 about the adequacy (or otherwise) of walking access in the New Zealand outdoors and the potential provision of public access over private land raises questions about a further restriction on private property rights. The further qualification of rights of property through (potential) legislation inevitably results in tension between two competing ideologies; private property and the public interest. This project seeks to discuss the current access debate in the context of those competing sets of values and to stimulate the reader s thinking about the value and basis of the debate.
Risk factors associated with rural airstrips in the Hastings district (PDF 148 KB)
Tania Kerr (2003)
Rural airstrips can be at risk of closure owing to trees or buildings being too close to the end of the runway. In addition, farmers are now justifiably concerned about Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in airstrip operations and landowners no longer know what they are responsible for. This report aims to identify risks factors associated with rural topdressing airstrips. The objective is to minimise these risk factors by asking the Hastings District Council to take action, or ensuring the airstrip owners have sufficient information themselves to be able to take action.
Integrated Fruit Production in the New Zealand Pipfruit Industry (PDF 193 KB)
Jonathan Wiltshire (2003)
The Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) programme for pipfruit began in New Zealand in 1996, and by 2001, 100% of export fruit was being produced under IFP. New Zealand IFP guidelines were developed from international principles and matched carefully to local production conditions. The rapid rate of implementing the guidelines was largely attributable to the industry s strong reliance on export markets and the legislated single seller status operating at the time. The implementation of IFP has lead to a 95% reduction in the use of organophosphate insecticides, and a 50% reduction in overall insecticide use. This report looks briefly at the history of IFP and describes both the process of implementation and benefits achieved from the introduction of IFP to the New Zealand pipfruit industry.
Cherries; an analysis of the suitability of traditional and dwarf varieties and methods for the Teviot valley, Central Otago (PDF 337 KB)
Mike Paterson (2003)
This report aims to establish whether cherries are a viable diversification on a sheep, beef and deer farm in the Teviot valley, Roxburgh, Central Otago. It analyses the cost structures and returns from traditional cherry growing methods compared with methods for the newer dwarf or Bonsai types. It also considers the effect of the chronic labour shortage during the summerfruit harvest window, and how cherry producers, dwarf and traditional together, will deal with the increasing production of cherries that will result from the increase in recent plantings. The report may assist others who may be thinking of establishing a cherry orchard and require a reference or starting point to their investigations, giving them an overview of the present status of the industry.