It's not unknown for us to receive a shocked look from farmer clients when we advise them that they are subject to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 regarding the accommodation they are providing to their staff.

These types of accommodation provisions are classed as 'service tenancies'. They are largely subject to the same rules as any other residential tenancy with a few minor exceptions such as rent in advance and termination notices.

As an employer or farm owner, you must comply with the same standards as any other landlord and you can be subject to a Tenancy Tribunal hearing if you fail to comply. Read more…

Most farmers will agree that working dogs play a crucial part in the day-to-day running of a successful farm. So it's important that you're fully aware of your legal obligations and responsibilities associated with owning working dogs. If you don't, there's a risk of substantial fines and possibly a conviction. Read more…

As we head into busy times on the farm with lambing and calving now mostly underway, it's important to remember that all staff must be paid the minimum wage for all hours worked. This is a requirement not only of staff paid hourly rates for hours worked, but also for salaried staff.

Salaried staff salaries may be divided by the hours worked in each pay period to calculate an average hourly rate. This rate must not fall below $15.25 per hour (the current adult minimum wage rate). No averaging of hours over the farming season is permitted.

As the dairy industry enters the calving season it's important to be familiar with the new regulations announced in June this year around the management and treatment of bobby calves.
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Which is the better option in a farming situation?

The two most common farm-owning entities are either a company or a trust. Often, a farming operation is carried out with a mix of trust ownership (typically owning the land) and a company (owning the rest). Both structures have their pros and cons; in this article we compare these two ownership models.

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When you are selling, buying or leasing a rural property one of the things that you should take time to consider is what grass or supplements will be available for the incoming farmer's stock. This is a matter for both the landowner, when selling and leasing, and the prospective purchaser or lessee to establish – regardless of what time of year settlement is to occur.

 

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