Are New Zealand sheep and beef farmers a dying breed? Perspectives of New Zealand agricultural students.

Abstract

The New Zealand sheep & beef stock numbers have declined since the removal of government subsidies in the 1980’s. Recently there has been considerable media comment on the fortunes of the industry, to the extent that a news article in a national newspaper in August 2010 declared: “Sheep and beef farms on way to extinction” (Adams, 2010)  If young people don’t choose sheep and beef farming as a career option, the industry will further decline and no longer have sufficient numbers to maintain critical mass.  The research surveyed New Zealand university students studying agriculture to see if negative sentiment about the decline of the industry was affecting their attitudes and their future career choices.