On the path he always wanted to take

Alex Stuart started with PGG Wrightson Livestock as a trainee in August 2022, moving into the company’s academy programme at the start of this year, and taking up a permanent role as a Waikato based livestock representative in April.

Growing up on farms managed by his parents in Waikato and Hawke’s Bay, Alex always knew a career in agriculture was the path he wanted to take.

“I certainly enjoy the variety that comes with farming, particularly the people. Dealing with livestock, and the connections you have to the land are a huge part of why I love it,” he says.

After finishing his schooling in Napier, Alex continued his study at Lincoln University, graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce.

In the role he started this year, Alex attends to farms between the Arapuni dam, Tokoroa to the south, and the Tirau side of Putaruru. Predominantly dairy country, it includes a number of large businesses with upwards of five or more farms.

“With several of the best known farm owning companies in the country, I enjoy the variety of getting alongside and providing service to those large operators, then heading up the road to deal with the first farm owners and family farming businesses that also do well in this district,” he says.

Although relatively new to the role, Alex is in no doubt what makes an effective livestock representative.

“Establishing and developing good relationships with farmers is what we do. Being able to keep them informed, making sure you are across developments, and keeping them up to date. For example, we are just about into the feeder calf season now. I’m keeping up with what’s going on in the market: prices, tallies, what we have been getting, and passing that information on to clients so they have a current and accurate idea of where their stock sits in the market.”

With his farming background, Alex particularly enjoys the personal interaction on farm.

“Getting out, seeing different farms, coming to grips with their systems, how they are run, plus the different practices and processes that are used on farm to meet the varying needs of different farming systems. We have a broad range of different approaches and functions in Waikato, with agricultural systems to match,” he says.

At an early stage of what promises to be a long career as a rural professional, Alex expects to see plenty of change.

“All of us in agriculture need to find ways to continue to make farming profitable. In terms of dairy, I can see more farmers seeking to make as much as possible in-house and self-sufficient, protecting against the risk of disease that might arise, so adopting more closed systems and processes.

“In addition, most farmers are motivated to become as environmentally responsive as possible, looking at innovative ways to overcome those environmental issues, whether that be retiring more marginal land, planting natives through the wetter areas, or breeding lower emitting cows to reduce methane. 

“I believe that trend will increase, and we are well suited to meet the challenge. Leading from the front is something New Zealand is good at. Farmers tend to be leaders and to have an innovative mindset, so I am confident sustainable farming practices will increasingly come to the fore and be adopted. Whatever we do has to be practical for the next generation, so that they can carry it on and thrive with it, as opposed to inheriting problems that nothing has been done about for years,” Alex says.

Outside of work, Alex spends his time in the winter playing rugby, this season in the front row for Hinuera RFC, while in summer he is into fishing, mainly on the west coast of the North Island, and deer stalking.