7 Dec 2011

Survey to find best pathway for farm ownership

6:14 am on 7 December 2011

A new farmer survey will attempt to identify the best pathway for those looking to buy a dairy farm.

The traditional road to dairy farm ownership has been share-milking, which still makes up about a third of dairy farming businesses.

But that's under pressure as the number of sharemilker positions on farms decline, and sharemilkers are finding it harder to raise the money to buy a farm.

Federated Farmers sharemilking chairperson Cieran Tully says other arrangements such as equity partnerships are becoming more common.

He says the survey will aim to highlight what's working best.

Mr Tully says there are about 11,000 dairy farmers and 4000 sharemilkers and each one has their own idea about what works well.

He says the survey will seek the views of sharemilkers, contract milkers and those involved in equity partnerships, as well as farm owners.

Results will be released in the autumn.