Landcorp - Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit

lambs above specified meat yields in the leg,loin and shoulder regions. During 2009/10,through the Alliance Group, premiums formeat yield earned up to $5.25 per qualifyinglamb. Of lambs supplied to this processor by14 South Island Landcorp farms, the numberfrom each property that qualified for thehighest premium ranged between 63 per centand 87 per cent.Information SystemsLandcorp made solid progress during 2009/10on new information systems that are criticalfor strategy implementation. We are puttingnew forecasting and analytical tools in thehands of decision makers on-farm and inthe Wellington office. Dairying operationsnow have a constantly-updated “dashboard”of performance indicators, based on datafrom multiple sources. Managers have theproduction, weather and financial informationrequired to make rapid, well-informeddecisions for increased productivity. Thesetools provide consolidated production andfinancial information at both dairy complexand national levels.Next developments include an integrated feedbudgeting system with one-time data entrythat will make regular forecasting a moreviable option for farm managers. This andother tools use newly-acquired farm geospatialdata, high-speed broadband connectivityand other infrastructure that is not generallyavailable in rural areas. The company is leadingNew Zealand agriculture on the take-up ofinformation technologies for better decisionmaking and productivity growth.Training and Employee PerformanceWe are also moving ahead with initiativesfor employee training, and for linkingindividual and business performance. During2009/10, Landcorp adopted a competencybasedframework for recruitment, ongoingdevelopment and management of peoplewho have the knowledge, experience andmotivation required for the company to besuccessful. Targets and measures in Landcorp’sBalanced Scorecard are now reflected in theannual performance objectives set for eachbusiness unit, farm and manager.Greater focus is being put on farm staffinduction and for new farm managers,this includes a four-day induction coursein Wellington and ongoing support froma mentoring colleague. The company hasestablished a manager succession plan,updated annually and used to identifyindividuals most suitable for promotion in thecoming five years. Across Landcorp, employeescontinue tertiary training and they studied fora total of 406 agricultural qualifications during2009/10. Participation in external courses and/or internal training programmes is critical tobuilding our capability.At 30 June 2010, the company had 584permanent employees (June 2009: 599).Staff turnover was down to 23.7 per centduring the year (2008/09: 28.4 per cent),with levels of retention improving onboth dairy and drystock farms, and in theWellington office. We undertake an online“job climate” survey every six months, with themost recent survey indicating that 85 per centof staff feel happy with their jobs, and wellsupported by their manager and the company.Virtually all feel safe on the job and 88 percent say they have the right people around forthem to perform well.Environmental ProtectionLandcorp continues to place high importanceon environmental protection and sustainableland use. Conservation values are factored into farm management, with areas of particularnatural significance set aside from productionMORE INFORMATIONWe are leading theeffort to controlmanuka beetle andlimit its costly damageto West Coast pastures.Refer INFORMED PEST CONTROL,pages 32–34.13