Learning the language of contracts

One course that particularly stood out to him was the Contract Milking Course. It gave him valuable insights into the complexities of contracts in various situations and their real-life implications on farming systems.

“I’m a typical practically minded farmer and I only had a basic understanding so there was a lot I didn’t understand when I was going through those contracts,” Matt says.

“But the Dairy Training course got into the nitty-gritty and helped me understand.

“It connected the clauses to what actually happens and how the farm and farm policies work with the contract and farm owner relationship, especially when there is a change in the system or issues arise.”

He and his partner, Amanda McSweeney, are in their third season contract milking 1300 cows in Mayfield, Canterbury.

Matt has completed three courses through Dairy Training – Contract Milking, Business by Numbers and Write a Business Plan.

“The courses are great. I found the best part was discussing the learnings with other people because when you read something you have your ideas but other people can read the same thing and come up with completely different ideas.”

He recommends the courses for a range of farmer types.

“I think managers should definitely do these courses. It helps you understand what you need to do and what steps you need to take to get where you want to be.“

And he’s already looking ahead: “If I’m ever in a position to hire a contract milker myself, I’ll keep an eye out for people who have also completed these courses. There’s a really good circle of valuable people who are minimising risk by developing their knowledge and skills.”

After leaving school in Year 12, Matt went farming, but then decided to build on his practical knowledge with a Diploma in Agriculture from Lincoln University. Since then he has also completed courses through Primary ITO, and the Dairy Training courses have continued to build his skill set.

“It takes a range of practical and technical skills to farm. Ultimately as contract milkers we’re self-employed but we’re also a service provider to another business. So understanding things like contracts is important as it’s the foundation of how your business is going to operate and how the relationship is going to work.”

This story originally appeared in Inside Dairy Feb-Apr 2025