Survey of Rural Decision Makers 2019

The fourth biennial Survey of Rural Decision Makers was conducted in spring 2019. The survey addressed similar topics to the previous three waves (2013, 2015, 2017), but questions have been refined to reflect topics of emerging interest. In 2019, these topics included tree planting, resilience, and risk mitigation.

There were 3740 responses to the 2019 wave of the SRDM, including 1619 respondents who also completed the 2017 wave. These data:

Provide information that complements rather than repeats other surveys
Incorporate emerging topics of interest
Enable the delivery of a wide range of analyses and statistical information to support national, regional, and sector policy development and evaluation
Support research and insight into decision making among farmers, foresters, and growers.

Summary results for 2019 are provided below. All participating farmers, foresters, and growers are invited to view the results – it is rare to be offered these insights despite the high number of surveys that they are asked to complete.

About the survey

Participation

The Survey of Rural Decision Makers is completed by farmers, foresters, and growers (including both commercial operators and those on lifestyle blocks). Some 3,740 people from representing all types of primary production and all 16 regions completed the survey. This figures includes 1,619 respondents who also completed the 2017 Survey of Rural Decision Makers.

Donations

To acknowledge the time and expertise shared with us, we made a charitable donation for each response. We are pleased to announce the rural sector’s support of the following charitable causes:

Westpac Chopper Appeal ($11,800)
Cancer Society of New Zealand Incorporated ($8,820)
Blind Foundation guide dogs ($4,740)
Mauri Ora Kākāpō Trust ($4,640)

Prize winners

We gratefully acknowledge all respondents of the 2019 Survey of Rural Decision Makers, and we are happy to announce the five lucky winners of our $500 supermarket/fuel prize draws.

Mark M., Levin
Melanie M. Morrinsville
Nicole L. Feilding
Donal M., Balclutha
Allen L., Christchurch

Survey results

The results are posted as pie and bar charts, histograms, and box-and-whisker plots. We have put together some brief guidelines on how to interpret these results.

Citation

Stahlmann-Brown P 2019. Survey of Rural Decision Makers 2019. DOI: doi.org/10.7931/hkeq-ax12

Demographics

2.1 Age of respondents Image — 2.1 Age of respondents

2.2 Generations farming in Aotearoa New Zealand Image — 2.2 Generations farming in Aotearoa New Zealand

Education

3.2 Formal training in farming/forestry or business/commerce Image — 3.2 Formal training in farming/forestry or business/commerce

Current land use and land use change

4.1.1 Current primary land use Image — 4.1.1 Current primary land use

4.1.2 Current primary land use by region Image — 4.1.2 Current primary land use by region

4.1.3 Commercial and lifestyle farmer respondents by region Image — 4.1.3 Commercial and lifestyle farmer respondents by region

4.2.1 Current land use is new within the last 10 years Image — 4.2.1 Current land use is new within the last 10 years

4.2.2 Additional land allocated to existing land uses within the last 10 years Image — 4.2.2 Additional land allocated to existing land uses within the last 10 years

4.2.3 Existing land use have been intensified within the last 10 years Image — 4.2.3 Existing land use have been intensified within the last 10 years

Management practices

5.1.2 Type of formal written farm plan by primary industry Image — 5.1.2 Type of formal written farm plan by primary industry

5.1.3 Type of formal written farm plan by region Image — 5.1.3 Type of formal written farm plan by region

5.2.1 Erosion and sediment management practices Image — 5.2.1 Erosion and sediment management practices

5.2.2 Extent to which trees have been planted on slopes Image — 5.2.2 Extent to which trees have been planted on slopes

5.2.3 Extent to which grazing land is retired Image — 5.2.3 Extent to which grazing land is retired

5.2.4 Extent to which riparian areas have been planted Image — 5.2.4 Extent to which riparian areas have been planted

5.2.5 Extent to which sediment traps are maintained Image — 5.2.5 Extent to which sediment traps are maintained

5.2.6 Extent to which contoured paddocks bunds and/or raised headlands are maintained Image — 5.2.6 Extent to which contoured paddocks bunds and/or raised headlands are maintained

5.2.7 Extent to which conservation tillage is implemented Image — 5.2.7 Extent to which conservation tillage is implemented

5.2.8 Extent to which deer fence line pacing is prevented Image — 5.2.8 Extent to which deer fence line pacing is prevented

5.2.9 Extent to which erosion/sediment is managed for forest harvesting Image — 5.2.9 Extent to which erosion/sediment is managed for forest harvesting

5.3.1 Practices used on farm to restrict stock from waterways Image — 5.3.1 Practices used on farm to restrict stock from waterways

5.3.2 Percent of large streams fenced by primary industry Image — 5.3.2 Percent of large streams fenced by primary industry

5.3.3 Percent of large streams fenced by region Image — 5.3.3 Percent of large streams fenced by region

5.3.4 Percent of small streams fenced by primary industry Image — 5.3.4 Percent of small streams fenced by primary industry

5.3.5 Percent of small streams fenced by region Image — 5.3.5 Percent of small streams fenced by region

5.4.1 Commercial farms with water irrigation by primary industry Image — 5.4.1 Commercial farms with water irrigation by primary industry

5.4.2 Commercial farms with water irrigation by region Image — 5.4.2 Commercial farms with water irrigation by region

5.4.3 Type of water irrigation on farm Image — 5.4.3 Type of water irrigation on farm

5.4.4 Methods for when and how much to irrigate Image — 5.4.4 Methods for when and how much to irrigate

5.5.1 Reason that land has been set aside for bush and/or wetlands Image — 5.5.1 Reason that land has been set aside for bush and/or wetlands

5.5.2 Main reason that land has been set aside to protect native habitat under covenant and/or not under covenant Image — 5.5.2 Main reason that land has been set aside to protect native habitat under covenant and/or not under covenant

5.5.3 Actions taken on the land set aside for bush and/or wetlands Image — 5.5.3 Actions taken on the land set aside for bush and/or wetlands

5.5.4 Souce of financial support for activities taken on land set aside for bush and/or wetlands Image — 5.5.4 Souce of financial support for activities taken on land set aside for bush and/or wetlands

5.6.1 Practices used to reduce pugging Image — 5.6.1 Practices used to reduce pugging

5.6.2 Practices used to manage fertiliser application Image — 5.6.2 Practices used to manage fertiliser application

5.6.3 Practices to manage effluent for those in dairy by region Image — 5.6.3 Practices to manage effluent for those in dairy by region

Biosecurity

6.3 Which of the following most influenced your decision to focus effort on managing on farm biosecurity over the next 5 years? Image — 6.3 Which of the following most influenced your decision to focus effort on managing on farm biosecurity over the next 5 years?

6.4 How large is the potential impact of a biosecurity incursion on your farm over the next 5 years? Image — 6.4 How large is the potential impact of a biosecurity incursion on your farm over the next 5 years?

6.5 What is the biggest issue you face in preparing for/controlling a biosecurity incursion over the next 5 years? Image — 6.5 What is the biggest issue you face in preparing for/controlling a biosecurity incursion over the next 5 years?

Forestry and tree planting

7.1.1 What share of the exotic plantation on your farm is comprised of the following? Image — 7.1.1 What share of the exotic plantation on your farm is comprised of the following?

7.1.2 Share of respondents with forestry planted pre 1990 Image — 7.1.2 Share of respondents with forestry planted pre 1990

7.1.3 Is all or part of your post 1989 forest registered in the Emissions Trading Scheme ETS? Image — 7.1.3 Is all or part of your post 1989 forest registered in the Emissions Trading Scheme ETS?

7.1.4 Do you obtain expert advice for the following? Image — 7.1.4 Do you obtain expert advice for the following?

7.1.5 When will you next harvest all or part of this forest? Image — 7.1.5 When will you next harvest all or part of this forest?

7.1.6 Do you currently plan to replant after harvesting? Image — 7.1.6 Do you currently plan to replant after harvesting?

7.1.7 Reasons for not replanting Image — 7.1.7 Reasons for not replanting

7.2.1 Has or will the net stocked forest area change on your farm? Image — 7.2.1 Has or will the net stocked forest area change on your farm?

7.2.2 Reasons for planting trees in the recent past Image — 7.2.2 Reasons for planting trees in the recent past

7.2.3 What of the total area do you expect to plant with each of the following types of trees? Image — 7.2.3 What of the total area do you expect to plant with each of the following types of trees?

7.2.4 Reasons for plannting trees in the near future Image — 7.2.4 Reasons for plannting trees in the near future

7.2.5 Reasons for not planitng trees in the near future Image — 7.2.5 Reasons for not planitng trees in the near future

Values

8.1 In general I am prepared to take risks Image — 8.1 In general I am prepared to take risks

8.2 In general I prefer leaving experimenting to someone else Image — 8.2 In general I prefer leaving experimenting to someone else

8.3 I am always among the first in my area to try something new Image — 8.3 I am always among the first in my area to try something new

8.4 My values are similar to other farmers in my industry/lifestyle farmers Image — 8.4 My values are similar to other farmers in my industry/lifestyle farmers

8.5 My management practices are similar to other farmers in my industry/lifestyle farmers Image — 8.5 My management practices are similar to other farmers in my industry/lifestyle farmers

Climate

9.3 How much focus has becoming more climate change resilient been for you? Image — 9.3 How much focus has becoming more climate change resilient been for you?

9.4 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of drought by 2050? Image — 9.4 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of drought by 2050?

9.5 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of temperature by 2050? Image — 9.5 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of temperature by 2050?

9.6 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of flooding by 2050? Image — 9.6 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of flooding by 2050?

9.7 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of storms by 2050? Image — 9.7 Will climate change affect the frequency or intensity of storms by 2050?

9.8 Did you make any of the following changes due to climate change? Image — 9.8 Did you make any of the following changes due to climate change?

Resilience

10.1 How much focus have these been for you? Image — 10.1 How much focus have these been for you?

Finance

11.1 Percent debt relative to total value of capital and/or land by primary industry Image — 11.1 Percent debt relative to total value of capital and/or land by primary industry

11.2 Profitability of the farm over the previous 2 years Image — 11.2 Profitability of the farm over the previous 2 years

Future planning

12.1 Timing of planned intensification of dairy and horticulture Image — 12.1 Timing of planned intensification of dairy and horticulture

Enquiries

If you would like to discuss how Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research can help your organisation gain insights from the Survey of Rural Decision Makers, please contact:

Joanne Dow
Principal Engagement Advisor
dowj@landcareresearch.co.nz
04 382 6641

Key contact

Pike Stahlmann-Brown

Principal Scientist, Economics

Chief Scientist

Contact