https://hdl.handle.net/10182/3 2018-01-23T17:45:12Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8895 Changing New Zealand dairy farm systems Greig, Bruce J. There have been dramatic changes in New Zealand dairy farm systems over the last decade. There is evidence that the basic grass dependant dairy farm systems are becoming more intensive with greater amounts of supplementary feed. Basic economic and business principles can explain why this shift is occurring. The study of elementary production economic principles which guide the development of a chosen farm system are explored in this paper. New Zealand literature has examined different dairy production systems (Hedley, 2006; Newman, 2009) but few have ever done so from an economic imperative. All this literature has failed to mention that the key driver of profit and therefore the choice of farm system is dependent on relative prices i.e. the price of inputs (Px) vs. the milk price (Py). One element of the farm system debate is about high vs. low input. This debate has been part of the dairy industry for decades, both locally and overseas. In New Zealand researchers have concentrated on the scientific principles (animal nutrition and substitution rates) rather than the economic ones. The questions are essentially can farmers make more profit from higher (and sometimes more expensive) feed inputs, and what combination of feed inputs will achieve this, and what are the risks? 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8851 An investigation of relationship quality and supplier performance in New Zealand red meat supply chains Lees, Nicholas Julian Supplier relationships and performance have become increasingly important in agri-food supply chains. This research aimed to investigate buyer-supplier relationships in the New Zealand red meat industry. Specifically, this meant examining how relationship quality, as well as supplier characteristics and relationship attributes affect supplier performance. The analysis improved the conceptualisation of relationship quality by bringing together constructs from the relationship marketing and social capital literature. This established that relationship quality and social capital were closely related constructs. By combining social capital and relationship quality this created a broader measure of the overall strength of the relationship. The findings show that improving supplier performance requires taking into account both supplier characteristics and relationship attributes. Furthermore, relationship quality played a significant mediating role between all the relationship factors and supplier performance. The implications of this research are that there are specific ways buyers can improve supplier performance. This involves identifying and selecting suppliers who have superior ability, motivation and customer focus. They also need to avoid selecting suppliers with high levels of self-direction. Improving supplier performance also involves influencing relationship attributes and improving the quality of relationships with suppliers. In particular, processors need to ensure that suppliers experience positive value from the supply relationship. Furthermore, they need to manage the interaction between specific assets, dependence and use of coercive power. 2017-12-15T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8800 Collaboration, cooperation and power in food supply chains Lees, Nicholas J.; Nuthall, Peter L. This research develops an integrated framework of long-term agri-food supply chain partnerships and the cooperation and collaboration this requires. It builds on existing frameworks within the economic, managerial and sociological literature, clarifying the conceptual definitions of these constructs and develops these to provide a more comprehensive understanding. The results have wide application and expand the understanding of cohesive and beneficial food supply chains. A multi-disciplinary approach is used, drawing from constructs in transaction cost economics, resource dependence and social exchange theory. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used to explore the importance of the variables likely to influence cooperation and commitment and how this creates value for all supply chain stakeholders. The main objective of this research is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of supply chain relationships in the global food system. This will help develop long-term partnerships between the various stakeholders in order to meet the higher product specifications and delivery schedules required by international consumers. It will also enable policy makers to support the multiple stakeholders in food supply chains to create a better and fairer system in the delivery of food choices for all. 2015-02-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8795 Fertilizers in New Zealand, 1867-1929 McCaskill, L.W. In 1869, New Zealand use 216 tons of imported fertilizers in addition to a very small amount of local bonedust. Sixty years later, the imports amounted to 324,145 tons, while local production was in the neighbourhood of 35,000 tons. The increase in phenomenal particularly over the last few years. It is now realised fairly generally that we have banked too much on “stored fertility”. It was perhaps only natural, in the first few decades of farming in New Zealand with huge areas of the soil, that farmers should be prodigal of nature’s resources. But with the exhaustion of the virgin fertility, and the ever increasing demand and competition for land, it came to be realised very gradually, that more production was required from the existing land in occupation. Also, if possible, land previously thought useless should be made to produce. The key to both problems was found in the use of fertilizers. An attempt to trace the development of such practice forms the basis of this essay. As far as can be ascertained no previous investigation has been undertaken. Some of the outstanding points resulting from the enquiry are as follows: The importance of statistics to the investigator The pioneer work of the Canterbury Agricultural College The overwhelming importance of phosphates in general and superphosphate in particular The rise of topdressing The useful work of the Department of Agriculture The decline of the importance of local production 1929-01-01T00:00:00Z