Rabobank's latest agribusiness report Agriculture in Focus 2013, says finding and attracting the next generation of New Zealanders to agriculture must be a top priority for the sector.
Senior Rabobank analyst Hayley Moynihan says it's crucial New Zealand identifies where the next farming generation is coming from.
She says it's been an ongoing challenge though the tide is starting to turn with graduates in agricultural disciplines increasing in New Zealand.
Ms Moynihan says there's still more to be done in terms of ensuring agriculture is an attractive industry to enter, as well as improving succession planning and looking at where the next generation of farm workers, farm owners and agribusiness leaders will come from.
Lincoln University recently announced it will be reducing the number of academic courses it offers students as it looks to focus on four key subject areas - one of which is agriculture.
Assistant vice-chancellor Sheelagh Matear says the university is aware the sector needs new workers quickly.
She says the vice-chancellor will be talking to industry leaders around New Zealand over the next few weeks talking about their requirement for the future workforce.
Professor Matear says the workforce is ageing quite rapidly in some areas of agriculture.
