The farm owner warrants that—

The farm owner must, before signing this Agreement, provide to the sharemilker, for the past and present dairy seasons, the following records, if available, concerning the herd’s status:

It is the policy of the farm to graze off the following stock annually:

The farm owner possesses the farm shown on the plan attached to this Agreement (the land), the legal description and area of which follow.

Area in hectares:

Legal description:

The area of land to be used for sharemilking identified in clause 4 includes [number] hectares, identified on the accompanying map.

The farm owner must provide the following stock at the commencement of this Agreement:

The cows must be of similar quality to the quality of the herd in the previous 3 years unless otherwise agreed by the parties and recorded in writing.

The farm owner must supply the following machinery, implements, and vehicles at the commencement of this Agreement: [list]

The sharemilker agrees to supply the following machinery, implements, and vehicles at the commencement of this Agreement: [list]

If the sharemilker is required to supply machinery, implements, and vehicles, the farm owner and the sharemilker must agree on a set amount to meet the running costs and supply of the machinery, implements, and vehicles. These amount(s) are to be specified in Annex 1.

At the commencement of this Agreement, the sharemilker will supply the following small tools to enable the sharemilker to perform the sharemilker’s obligations under this Agreement: [list]

The farm owner and the sharemilker must, on termination of this Agreement, account to each other for the items of machinery, implements, and vehicles.

If a contractor is used, the farm owner must pay all costs associated with the purchase, cartage, and spreading of fertiliser and lime.

The farm owner must supply and apply, in each season, the following minimum quantity and type of fertiliser:

The farm owner must, in each season, supply and apply the following minimum quantity and type of lime:

The relationship of the parties to this Agreement is that of farm owner and independent contractor and is not that of employer and employee, nor that of a partnership.

This Agreement is not a bailment of stock or chattels of either party.

Remuneration of the sharemilker for work performed by the sharemilker and the sharemilker’s employees under this Agreement is as follows:

Delete paragraph (a) or (b) as appropriate. Within paragraph (a) or (b), delete subparagraph (i) or (ii) as appropriate.

Penalties incurred by way of grades, or penalties or deductions incurred from the dairy company, must be paid by the sharemilker, unless there are matters outside the sharemilker’s control that prevent the sharemilker from producing the finest-grade milk. This clause is subject to clauses 63 to 66.

The remuneration for rearing replacement calves is included in the net returns to the sharemilker from milk. Replacement calves must be reared by the farm owner/the sharemilker*.

The farm owner is entitled to select for rearing for herd improvement and replacement purposes (or in the absence of that selection the sharemilker must do so) up to 25% of the total minimum number of the herd specified in clause 42. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all other calves are to be sold in the farm owner’s name.

The sharemilker must tend and rear calves if required by clause 21, and must feed the calves according to the directions of the farm owner. In the absence of directions from the farm owner, the sharemilker must observe good farm husbandry in accordance with clause 39.

The farm owner and the sharemilker agree that the weaning date and/or body weight for the calves is as follows: [specify]

If the parties agree that the sharemilker is to receive a share of the income from the sale of calves not selected for rearing, the payment for that share is as follows: [specify]

If, under clause 22, additional calves are reared by either the farm owner or sharemilker in excess of 25%, the terms and conditions under which such calves are to be reared, including the sharemilker’s remuneration, must be negotiated and recorded in writing and do not form part of the agreed share.

Unless the parties agree otherwise in writing, the farm owner and the sharemilker agree that the farm owner is responsible for 100% of any capacity adjustment and the sharemilker is responsible for 0%.

The sharemilker is not required to make a payment toward the purchase of shares in a dairy company. The sharemilker is not entitled to participate in capital distributions.

If there is a change to the method by which payments are to be calculated and paid by the dairy company to the farm owner, it is the intention of this Agreement that the sharemilker must not be disadvantaged. Therefore, the method by which the sharemilker’s share of income is paid to the sharemilker must be revised by agreement between the parties and if there is no agreement, then by the dispute resolution procedures provided in this Agreement.

The farm owner and the sharemilker must complete a dairy company order that authorises the dairy company to pay the sharemilker’s proceeds by direct credit to the sharemilker’s bank account.

The sharemilker must at all times supply the following labour:

The sharemilker must personally supervise each milking or delegate to a competent person in the sharemilker’s absence.

The sharemilker must devote a reasonable proportion of the sharemilker’s time and that of the sharemilker’s labour force to the general maintenance and reasonable permanent improvement of the land. The farm owner must supply all materials for that purpose.

The labour requirements recorded in clause 31 must not be reduced in number or varied except with the written consent of the farm owner.

If extra labour is required for herd testing, the sharemilker must pay for that labour.

Before taking a holiday or time off (or if the sharemilker is unable to perform the sharemilker’s duties because of sickness), the sharemilker must arrange, at the sharemilker’s expense, for a competent person agreed to by the farm owner to perform the sharemilker’s duties during the sharemilker’s absence. The farm owner must not unreasonably withhold agreement.

If a farm owner employs a sharemilker with young children and the farm owner requires the partner of the sharemilker to milk the cows, the farm owner must ensure a safe area is provided at the farm dairy if it is necessary to accommodate children at the farm dairy during milking. In these circumstances, the sharemilker should view and approve the safe area before the sharemilker signs this Agreement, and if the sharemilker does not do so, the farm owner must, at the farm owner’s cost, provide a safe area or upgrade the safe area to a standard that meets the sharemilker’s approval (which must not be unreasonably withheld).

If, after signing this Agreement, the sharemilker becomes responsible for young children and it is necessary to accommodate the children at the farm dairy during milking, then the sharemilker and the farm owner must, in good faith, negotiate to ensure a safe area is provided for the children. If there is a dispute about the provision of a safe area, the dispute must be submitted to conciliation as provided for in clauses 142 to 148.

The farm owner or the farm owner’s agent must retain the management and control of the farm, and all of the farm’s operations, and of the management of the herd. All work to be performed on the farm by the sharemilker under this Agreement must be performed in accordance with any reasonable directions and instructions that the farm owner (or the farm owner’s agent) may give from time to time. In the absence of any directions or instructions, the sharemilker must perform the work in a manner that conforms with good farm husbandry.

The sharemilker must not, without the previous written consent of the farm owner, plough up any permanent pasture land, or cut down or damage or destroy any trees or hedges, on the farm.

Before the commencement of this Agreement, the farm owner agrees to carry out the alterations and improvements to the house, farm dairy, or other facilities specified in Annex 2. The alterations and improvements must be done promptly.

The minimum and maximum number of cows (see clause 19) in the herd to be milked are as follows:

Spring-calving herd

Autumn-calving herd

Total number of cows

The spring herd is to be in calf as at 1 June of the season. Cows or heifers found not to be in calf as at 1 June of the season do not form part of the maximum and minimum cow numbers and must be removed from the farm and replaced with in-calf cows or heifers of similar quality.

The autumn herd is to be in calf as at 1 January of the season. Cows or heifers not in calf as at 1 January of the season do not form part of the maximum and minimum cow numbers and must be removed from the farm and replaced with in-calf cows or heifers of similar quality.

Unless the parties agree in writing, carry-over cows do not form part of this Agreement.

All stock subject to this Agreement must, at the farm owner’s expense, be vaccinated against leptospirosis each year.

Neither party is to graze on the land stock that is not subject to this Agreement (except replacement stock as provided in clauses 21 to 26). If the parties agree, the sharemilker may graze [number] horse(s).

The sharemilker is allowed to have [number] working dogs and [number] other dogs on the property.

If stock are reared for home consumption, the condition of rearing and depasturing is: [specify]

The farm owner or the farm owner’s agent and the sharemilker together must, within 10 working days of the commencement of this Agreement, verify and record in writing the amount of pasture cover and supplementary feed on hand. If the parties do not agree, the farm owner must engage a suitably qualified person to carry out a count or measure and that person must issue a certificate recording the count or measure.

If there is insufficient feed available on the land at the commencement of this Agreement for the requirements of the stock during the winter and spring immediately following, the farm owner must, at the farm owner’s expense, promptly make good the shortfall. For the farm owner to be liable under this clause, the shortfall as at the commencement of this Agreement must be recorded in writing within 10 working days of the commencement of this Agreement.

The landed cost of bought-in feed for the stock that is the subject of this Agreement, except in clause 51, and including meal purchased for calves, must be paid by the farm owner unless otherwise specified in the table in clause 106.

If, at the commencement of this Agreement, extra feed input is required over and above that agreed to in Annex 1 (Total C), the cost of bought-in feed (eg, grazing, meal, nitrogen) must be agreed by the parties. The agreed share must be recorded in writing between the parties before purchase.

The sharemilker must, at the termination of this Agreement, leave the property with the following minimum levels of supplementary feed:

Select the paragraph(s) that apply.

If, on termination of this Agreement, the supplements, pasture cover, or area closed as specified above are not on hand, the cost of any shortfall must be met by the farm owner or according to the terms and conditions of clauses 98 to 105. No payment is to be made to the sharemilker for feed left in excess of that specified in clauses 54 and 55.

The farm owner must provide an efficient milking plant and cooling system for the milking of the herd (except those accessories that are specifically required to be provided by the sharemilker (see clauses 74 to 76). The sharemilker must have the milking plant, cooling system, and cleaning system checked for efficiency each season by a suitably qualified tester who is appointed and paid by the farm owner. This Agreement gives the sharemilker the authority and responsibility to organise the machine test. The sharemilker must deliver the result of the efficiency check to the farm owner and, until this is done, the farm owner is not liable for any inefficiency in the milking plant.

The sharemilker must, at all times, maintain a minimum standard that is acceptable to the farm owner regarding the operation, cleanliness, and efficiency of yards, milking shed and surrounds, plant, utensils, and appliances used for milking the herd to ensure the highest value for milk supplied. All cleansing materials and cleaning costs are to be supplied and met by the sharemilker at the sharemilker’s expense.

The milking times agreed between the parties are as follows:

The sharemilker must, in accordance with the terms of the supply agreement with the dairy company, follow good farm husbandry, and in particular must—

The farm owner has the right to determine the dairy company or other company to which the milk will be supplied. The farm owner may change supply from one company to another during the course of the season, as long as the sharemilker is not disadvantaged in terms of remuneration. At the commencement of this Agreement, the company to be supplied is [name of company].

The sharemilker must read and comply with the supply agreement.

Despite clause 64 or any other provision of this Agreement,—

The sharemilker bears all of the deductions in connection with the grading of milk, subject to anything outside the sharemilker’s control that prevents the sharemilker producing the finest-grade milk.

The sharemilker is responsible for making good to the farm owner any loss or lowering in value of milk arising from non-acceptance or downgrading by the dairy company due to—

In all other cases, including (without limitation) somatic cell count grades, if there is a downgrading or lowering in value of milk or meat supplied, the party responsible for the downgrading or lowering of value must reimburse the other party to the extent of the loss.

The effluent management system used on the property is [state what type of system is used].

The farm owner must—

The sharemilker must operate the effluent disposal system in a proper and skilful manner and in accordance with good practice and the standards set by the local authority. The sharemilker must indemnify the farm owner against any charges or actions arising out of the failure of the sharemilker to operate the system in a proper and skilful manner. The sharemilker must notify the farm owner immediately a deficiency or failure is discovered in the equipment or system. In the event that the sharemilker cannot contact the farm owner, the sharemilker is authorised to fix the fault immediately, at the cost of the farm owner.

If a pump or spray effluent disposal system is used, the sharemilker must pay the cost of the electricity charges and shift the spray unit. The sharemilker must lubricate the pump and spray unit as required. The farm owner must meet the cost of the maintenance of the unit as required.

The type of effluent pond must be noted in clause 67. Where an effluent pond and long drains exist, the cost of cleaning these systems must be paid by the farm owner/the sharemilker*.

If other systems of effluent disposal are used, the operation of such systems must be agreed on by the parties in writing at the commencement of this Agreement.

The farm owner must provide the rubberware for the milking plant cooler and pulsators as required.

The sharemilker must, at the commencement of this Agreement, supply and install new milking plant rubberware and, where necessary during the term of the Agreement, maintain and replace all milking plant belting and rubberware (except pulsator and cooler rubberware) required for the efficient operation of the milking plant according to the manufacturer’s specifications. The sharemilker must leave the rubberware and belting in working order.

The sharemilker must supply and retain ownership of all utensils, brushware, and materials for cleaning the milking plant and appliances.

Unless otherwise agreed, the sharemilker must supply the filter socks and the washdown hose and nozzle.

The sharemilker must pay for all electricity used by the milking shed and pumps, including the cost for milking machines, water heating, pumping of water, chiller, and effluent pumping.

The farm owner must provide a suitable cover or shed space for all machinery, implements, and vehicles supplied by the sharemilker.

The supplier of machinery specified in clauses 8 and 9 must pay the maintenance costs of the machinery.

Expenses incurred by the farm owner or the sharemilker through damage to plant or equipment (except normal wear and tear) caused by the neglect of, or misuse by, the other party must (at the date the damage is repaired) be paid by the party who caused the damage.

The owner of the machinery, milking plant, effluent disposal unit, and water pumps must supply the fuel and lubricants for the machinery, plant, unit, and pumps.

If the sharemilker uses a motorbike on the farm, the sharemilker will provide it. All costs, including fuel, oil, and running expenses, must be paid for by the sharemilker and recorded in Annex 1.

The herd must be tagged at the commencement of this Agreement and the sharemilker is responsible for maintaining the tagging of the herd with materials supplied by the farm owner.

If the farm owner requires the herd to be tested, the farm owner must pay all herd testing charges. If extra labour is required for herd testing, the sharemilker must pay for that labour. The sharemilker must co-operate with the tester in the work of herd testing and provide to the tester the records and assistance that the tester may require.

All herd records must be provided by the sharemilker to the farm owner when requested and at the termination of the Agreement. All herd records remain the property of the farm owner and are confidential to the parties.

The farm owner must provide bulls as required. The farm owner must arrange for the supply of and payment for the bull semen and the services of a trained technician. The sharemilker must present the herd and replacements for insemination or natural mating at the required times.

The sharemilker must record and provide to the farm owner on request, and on termination of this Agreement, details of—

Unless otherwise agreed, the sharemilker must provide the farm owner with a management report in the form specified in Annex 3 at the end of each month.

Unless otherwise instructed by the farm owner, the sharemilker is responsible at all times for the total care and husbandry of all stock that is the subject of this Agreement, including the calling of a veterinarian where necessary.

The farm owner must ensure that adequate supplies of animal remedies are on hand at all times and must instruct the nominated supplier to provide to the sharemilker supplies of products to treat or prevent any diseases and conditions that require treatment or prevention.

Note: Both parties must be aware of their responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

The sharemilker has purchasing authority for any one purchase of supplies of animal remedies up to a value of $[amount] per calendar month without recourse to the farm owner.

The following methods, materials, and period of administration must be used for the prevention of bloat, facial eczema, grass staggers, and mastitis:

The sharemilker must immediately report to the farm owner any sickness, disease, and death in the stock.

The farm owner must, after consultation with the sharemilker, decide when the cows are to be dried off and the sharemilker must take appropriate steps to dry off the cows. In the absence of this instruction, the sharemilker must seek the authority of the farm owner before the cows are dried off.

The farm owner must provide a locker for storage of medicines and medicinal requisites at a convenient place at or near the milking shed.

The sharemilker must provide to the farm owner at end of each month a written monthly management report encompassing such information as requested by the farm owner (see Annex 3).

The farm owner must pay all animal health and veterinary expenses.

The farm owner must, at the farm owner’s expense, supply the chemicals and other materials required for weed and pest control and eradication and the sharemilker must provide the necessary labour. Subject to clauses 96 and 97, the sharemilker must at appropriate times of the year eradicate all noxious weeds and weeds of economic importance (except capital weeds as defined in clause 96) from the land.

It is acknowledged by both parties that the control and eradication of the following weeds (capital weeds) is a capital cost in the locations specified:

The responsibility of the sharemilker for the control and eradication of capital weeds is confined, as far as is practicable, to the prevention of any increase in capital weed infestation compared with the extent of infestation at the commencement of this Agreement or any subsequently improved position brought about at the farm owner’s expense. If it is considered necessary, the parties may, at the commencement of this Agreement, consult a farm consultant or other acceptable third party to record the extent of capital weed infestation at the specified locations. The cost of any consultation is to be shared in the same proportion as specified in clause 19.

Unless otherwise agreed, the costs incurred in employing contractors for any harvesting, collection, carting, and stacking of surplus feed on the land, including the extra labour and machinery required, must be paid by the farm owner. If the parties agree to share the costs, the share to be paid by the sharemilker must not exceed the agreed share and must be recorded in the table in clause 106 and reflected in costs allocated in Annex 1. For the cost of harvesting maize silage, see clause 101.

The sharemilker must provide the sharemilker’s labour and the labour of his or her employees at no cost to the farm owner for the harvesting of surplus feed.

The growing of green feed or other forage crops on the land is to be determined by the farm owner in consultation with the sharemilker and must be recorded in writing. The farm owner must provide seeds, fertiliser, fencing materials, and any other materials required to carry out this work. If outside contractors are used, the farm owner must meet that cost.

Unless otherwise agreed, in the case of maize grown for silage on the land, the cost of growing and harvesting the crop must be paid by the farm owner. If the parties agree to share the cost, the share to be paid by the sharemilker must not exceed the agreed share recorded in the table in clause 106 and must be reflected in the costs allocated in Annex 1.

The sharemilker must provide the sharemilker’s labour and the labour of his or her employees at no cost to the farm owner for the growing and harvesting of forage crops and maize silage.

Unless otherwise agreed, the costs, including cartage and spreading where a contractor is used, of applying urea to boost seasonal pasture growth on the land, except as provided for in clause 50, must be paid by the farm owner. If the parties agree to share the cost, the share to be paid by the sharemilker must not exceed the agreed share and must be recorded in the table in clause 106 and reflected in costs allocated in Annex 1. If the parties agree that the sharemilker will share the cost of the application of compound nitrogenous fertiliser to boost seasonal pasture growth, the cost to the sharemilker will be determined by calculating the nitrogen content based on the equivalent cost of urea.

Unless otherwise agreed, the landed cost of bought-in supplementary feed for the stock that is the subject of this Agreement, except as provided for in clause 50, including meal purchased for calves, must be met by the farm owner. If the parties agree to share the cost, the share to be paid by the sharemilker must not exceed the agreed share and must be recorded in the table in clause 106 and reflected in costs allocated in Annex 1.

Unless otherwise agreed, the cost including cartage of the grazing off of any stock that is the subject of this Agreement, except as provided for in clause 50, must be paid by the farm owner. If the parties agree to share the cost, the share to be paid by the sharemilker must not exceed the agreed share and must be recorded in the table in clause 106 and reflected in costs allocated in Annex 1. The conditions of grazing off must be recorded in writing before the stock is grazed off.

Insert the % share relating to clauses 98 to 105:

If the parties agree that a cash crop is to be grown on the dairying area, the terms and conditions of cropping including the sharemilker’s return must be agreed in writing before the preparation of any land for that purpose.

All costs of cartage incidental to the farming operations (except where otherwise provided for in this Agreement) and all droving fees (except for the droving by the sharemilker or the sharemilker’s employees of the stock that is the subject of this Agreement, to outside grazing) must be paid by the farm owner.

The farm owner must provide a water supply system of sufficient capacity to provide water of acceptable quality for stock, farm dairy, and household purposes. If satisfactory drinking water for domestic use cannot be obtained from other sources, sufficient tank accommodation for the collection of rainwater must be provided at the sharemilker’s house. The cost of purchased water for household purposes must be paid by the farm owner.

The cost of providing water to stock, the farm dairy, and for household purposes must be paid for by the sharemilker as follows:

In the event of a serious interruption to the water supply or the need for major repairs to the supply, the sharemilker must immediately advise the farm owner, who must take prompt steps, at the farm owner’s expense, to remedy the situation. If a shortfall is due to climatic conditions or a serious malfunction of the water supply system outside the sharemilker’s control, the farm owner must meet the cost of imported water.

If water is being used for a purpose for which the sharemilker does not receive a share of the returns, except for use at the farm owner’s house, then all costs associated with the supply of water to such areas must be paid by the farm owner.

If irrigation of pastures is practised, the sharemilker is responsible for shifting the irrigation plant and equipment as required by the farm owner. The sharemilker is responsible for minor repairs and the regular maintenance of the irrigation system, and must provide the farm owner with the materials, if necessary, for that purpose.

The sharing of the total cost of the irrigation operation is to be decided before the signing of this Agreement and must be recorded in Annex 1.

On the commencement of this Agreement, the farm owner (or the farm owner’s agent) and the sharemilker must inspect the house and surrounds together and—

The farm owner must provide and maintain in good order and condition suitable accommodation for the sharemilker and the sharemilker’s employees. The sharemilker may make this house available to the farm manager. The accommodation must consist of suitable living room, kitchen, including a stove operating to the manufacturer’s specifications, bedrooms, bathroom, laundry, and flush toilet. The accommodation must include—

The cost of septic tank cleaning is to be paid by the farm owner.

The cost of electricity for lighting, heating, and power (including for pumping water) at the sharemilker’s house is to be paid by the sharemilker.

The sharemilker must keep the house and the surrounds in good and clean condition, and is responsible for any damage sustained to the house and pertinent buildings during the sharemilker’s occupation (except fair wear and tear).

On termination of this Agreement, the sharemilker must leave the house, chattels, and surrounds in a clean and tidy condition. If the sharemilker fails to do so, the farm owner is entitled to have the premises cleaned and to deduct the cost of the cleaning from any money due to the sharemilker.

Neither the sharemilker nor the sharemilker’s employees are a tenant of the land or any building. If the sharemilker or the sharemilker’s employees are given notice of early termination of this Agreement, the sharemilker or the sharemilker’s employees have 14 working days to vacate any accommodation provided as part of the contract.

The farm owner (or the farm owner’s agent) has the right to inspect the sharemilker’s accommodation. The farm owner (or the farm owner’s agent) must give the sharemilker 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

The sharemilker is responsible during the term of this Agreement for paying the sharemilker’s and sharemilker’s employees’ accident compensation levies as required under legislation.

The farm owner and the sharemilker acknowledge that safety in the workplace is a priority to both parties and that both parties will take all practicable measures to ensure safe working conditions and to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. To this end, the parties agree to take all practicable steps to provide a safe working environment, and act in accordance with good practice and relevant standards set by the Department of Labour. If either of the parties brings people onto the farm, that party will be responsible for those person’s safety.

The farm owner agrees to provide reasonable access to officials of the Federation or any duly appointed representative of the sharemilker.

If an appropriate authority orders the slaughtering of an in-milk cow, and the slaughtering of the animal does not reduce the herd to below the minimum number specified in clause 42, the farm owner may elect whether or not to replace it with a similar-producing animal.

If slaughtering referred to in clause 126 reduces the herd below the minimum number specified in this Agreement, the farm owner must, at the farm owner’s expense, within 14 working days of the animal leaving the farm, replace it with another similar-producing animal, unless the parties agree in writing that it should not be replaced.

If there is a production compensation paid on account of the slaughtering of such animals, then the sharemilker is entitled to receive the sharemilker’s share of the compensation.

The farm owner must advise the sharemilker in writing 3 months before the end of the contract of the work required to be done to meet the terms and conditions of this Agreement. This does not exempt the sharemilker from carrying out maintenance work until the end of this Agreement.

If there is a shortfall of feed on hand on termination of this Agreement, then the cost of meeting the shortfall must be met by the parties according to the terms and conditions of clause 56.

If this Agreement is made with a sole sharemilker and the sharemilker dies during the period of this Agreement, the Agreement will terminate as from the date of the sharemilker’s death. In this case, the personal representatives of the estate of the sharemilker are entitled under clauses 19 to 29 to all money due to the sharemilker at the time of the sharemilker’s death, including deferred or final payments, but subject to adjustment in respect of any other matters of income or outgoings (or both) arising under this Agreement.

If this Agreement is with a sharemilking partnership and 1 of the partners dies during the period of this Agreement, the remaining partner or partners have the option of terminating this Agreement immediately or at the conclusion of the season, but the farm owner has the prior option of terminating the Agreement within 1 month of the date of death of the sharemilker in the event that the remaining partner or partners cannot continue to the satisfaction of the farm owner.

If the farm owner dies during the period of this Agreement, the Agreement will terminate at the end of the current season.

If this Agreement is silent on any matter or thing that becomes the subject of dispute between the parties, then that matter or thing must be determined in accordance with the custom prevailing in the district. If there is no custom prevailing in the district, the matter or thing must be determined in accordance with equity and good conscience.

If the sharemilker commits a serious breach of this Agreement, the farm owner may give the sharemilker notice in writing to remedy the breach. If the breach is not rectified within 10 working days, or recurs, the farm owner may terminate this Agreement immediately and the sharemilker is entitled only to money actually due to the sharemilker at the time of termination, but without prejudice to—

Any sharemilker who uses, possesses, or cultivates any illegal substance or who commits an offence against the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 is to be treated as having committed a serious breach of this Agreement and those actions constitute grounds for immediate termination of this Agreement.

If the farm owner commits a serious breach of this Agreement, the sharemilker may give the farm owner notice in writing to remedy the breach and, if the breach is not rectified within 10 working days or recurs, the sharemilker may terminate the Agreement immediately. If this Agreement is terminated under this clause, the sharemilker is entitled to money actually due to the sharemilker at the time of the termination and subsequent payments on production up to the date of termination. Termination of this Agreement under this clause does not affect the rights of the sharemilker to recover damages for breach of this Agreement, the rights of any other sharemilker, or the farm owner’s right to refer the matter to conciliation under clauses 142 to 148.

If either party disputes the right of the other party to terminate this Agreement, the dispute must be referred to conciliation under clauses 142 to 148.

A notice given to the farm owner or the sharemilker is to be treated as having been served if—

No claim by the farm owner against the sharemilker or the sharemilker against the farm owner in any way arising out of this Agreement in relation to operations during any one milking season (whether the Agreement is renewed or not) will be recognised or sustainable, and no action in respect of any claim is enforceable, unless full details of the claim in writing (the notice of dispute) are served by the claimant on the respondent within 20 working days of the claimant becoming aware of the alleged breach of this Agreement, but in any event no later than 20 working days from the end of the season to which the alleged breach relates, time being strictly of the essence.

If a claim is made by either party, a period of 10 working days after the claim has been served is permitted within which to make a counterclaim. No counterclaim will be recognised or sustainable, and no action in respect of any counterclaim will be enforceable, unless adequate details, in writing, of the counterclaim have been served by the respondent on the claimant within that 10-working-day period.

A party to this Agreement must not withhold proceeds or commence court action or arbitration relating to any dispute arising out of this Agreement unless that party has first completed the dispute resolution procedures set out in clauses 142 to 148.

If any dispute arises out of and in relation to this Agreement,—

The conciliation procedure terminates—

The parties must pay half the costs of the conciliation as well as paying their own costs of the conciliation procedure.

All discussions in the conciliation process are without prejudice to, and must not be referred to in, any subsequent proceedings of any kind.

The conciliator must not, unless by consent of the parties, act as arbitrator, witness, counsel, adviser, or representative of any party in any subsequent arbitration or judicial proceedings in respect of any dispute that has been the subject of the conciliation procedure where he or she has been the conciliator.

If the dispute is not resolved by agreement within 20 working days of the notice of dispute, the parties’ dispute must be treated as having been submitted to arbitration as provided for in clauses 149 to 159.

If the dispute is not resolved by conciliation, the farm owner is entitled to withhold the sharemilker’s proceeds to the value of the claim as follows:

If a dispute, difference, or question arises between the parties or a party’s representative in relation to the construction of this Agreement or in relation to any matter or thing connected with or arising out of this Agreement (a dispute) that cannot be resolved by conciliation under clauses 142 to 148, the dispute must, in the absence of any provision to the contrary, be referred to arbitration with a sole arbitrator in accordance with and subject to the Arbitration Act 1996.

Arbitration is commenced by one party serving notice in writing on the other party.

The parties may agree on the arbitrator. If the parties are unable to agree on the arbitrator within 20 working days of the dispute being referred to arbitration, then the arbitrator is to be appointed by the President of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand Incorporated (or the President’s nominee) in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996. The arbitrator must not be a person who has participated in any conciliation procedure in respect of the dispute unless by consent of the parties.

The arbitrator must deliver an award within 3 months of the arbitrator’s appointment. The parties agree to fully co-operate in the arbitration. Subject to the Arbitration Act 1996, the arbitrator may conduct the arbitration in the manner that the arbitrator considers appropriate.

If the farm owner withholds more money from the sharemilker than the amount the farm owner is claiming, then, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, the arbitrator must award interest on that money at a rate of 8% per month or part of the month compounding.

If the farm owner withholds only the amount being claimed and the farm owner’s claims are subsequently not awarded in full, then, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, the arbitrator must award interest at a rate of up to 5% per month or part of the month compounding on the excess money withheld.

The arbitrator has the power to direct by whom, in what amounts, and in what manner any fees and charges must be paid.

The arbitrator may require the parties to lodge with the arbitrator a sum of money as a deposit against the arbitrator’s fees and charges.

In assessing a claim for interest, the arbitrator may set interest rates in excess of the rate that would apply on an award of interest on a money judgment under Part 1 of the Interest on Money Claims Act 2016 if the arbitrator considers it appropriate to do so.

The arbitrator must give the award in writing within 1 month of the hearing. However, the arbitrator may extend the time for giving the award by a further month by giving notice in writing to the parties.

The award in the arbitration is final and binding on the parties. The parties agree that clause 5(1)(c) of Schedule 2 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (which allows the High Court to grant leave to appeal on any question of law arising out of an award) does not apply to the arbitration.

The farm owner and the sharemilker must each take out public liability insurance to a recommended amount of at least $2 million. At the commencement of this Agreement, each party must produce to the other a copy of the certificate of insurance cover.

The farm owner has the right at any time during this Agreement to sell the farm or any part of the farm and, in doing so, to cancel this Agreement. If the farm owner sells the farm or any part of the farm, the sharemilker is entitled to receive from the farm owner the sharemilker’s proportion of the actual, deferred, and final payment unpaid on milk or milksolids produced during the season up to the date on which the cancellation takes effect, together with an amount equal to the sharemilker’s net proportion of the value of the estimated milk or milksolids for the unexpired period of the season, including deferred and final payment. If the farm owner and the sharemilker fail to agree as to the estimated amount of milk or milksolids, the previous 3 years’ average production must be used as the basis for the calculation. The total production in the previous 3 seasons for the month in question must be divided by the number of cows milked during those months in the previous 3 seasons, giving, for the purposes of the calculation, a standard of production per cow.

By signing this Agreement, the parties acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to seek advice from an independent third party and to seek legal advice on the terms of this Agreement.