Tuesday, 17 October 2023 08:55

Despite challenges, dairying has a great future

Written by  Peter Burke
DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says it’s important to keep a positive eye on the future and see all the good things that are happening. DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says it’s important to keep a positive eye on the future and see all the good things that are happening.

Despite all the challenges the dairy industry is facing, DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel believes the sector has a good future.

He made the comments to Dairy News shortly after being re-elected to the DairyNZ board for another term at its annual general meeting in Te Awamutu last week. The Ohaupo farmer is highly likely to retain his chairmanship when the new DairyNZ board meets later this month.

He says sometimes it's easy to get bogged down by all the challenges the sector is facing, but he says it's important to keep a positive eye on the future and see all the good things that are happening.

At one stage there was talk that van der Poel would step down from the board, but he says one of the reasons for standing again was the fact that DairyNZ has a new chief executive, Campbell Parker, and his colleagues thought his standing for office again would ensure stability and continuity to the organisation.

"I was conscious of not wanting to outstay my welcome on the board but am very conscious of the need to make sure that there is room for the next generation to come through.

"There are still things that need to be done and one of the things I will ensure is that there is a good succession plan in place for when I do step aside," he says.

Jim van der Poel says farmer confidence is an issue, especially with the low farmgate milk price, which is below the breakeven point for many farmers, adding to the pressure, along with high cost inflation.

He says the recent Rabobank survey which showed farmer confidence at its lowest ever does not surprise him and says it aligns with DairyNZ's own cow shed survey.

"There is also a lot of uncertainty about what action a new government may take on several regulatory matters and how these might now be implemented. One of my main tasks if I am elected chair again will be to develop a positive relationship with new ministers with a view to resolving matters of great concern to dairy farmers," he says.

Van der Poel says regardless of who is the government of the day, the role of DairyNZ is to respect their policies but also to ensure that any outcomes do not disadvantage farmers or the industry.

He says with Parker coming in as the new CEO, this is the perfect time to look closely at DairyNZ and make sure that it is adding value to its members. He says the organisation has limited resources and there is an imperative to make sure that these are being allocated to projects that have the most benefit to dairy farmers.

More like this

Musical chairs

OPINION: DairyNZ's director elections has seen scientist Jacqueline Rowarth re-elected for another three-year term.

DairyNZ levy to increase?

Retiring chair Jim van der Poel has used his final AGM to announce the intention to increase the DairyNZ farmer levy for the first time in the industry-good body's 17-year history.

Tributes to retiring 'Jim the farmer'

Doing what is right, not what is easy, has been the hallmark of Jim van der Poel's leadership of, and advocacy for, the dairy industry, attendees at the DairyNZ annual general meeting heard last week.

Featured

New ag degrees at Massey

Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.

The show is on!

It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.

National

'Quite a journey'

Former Synlait chief executive Grant Watson says the past two years have been quite the journey.

DairyNZ levy to increase?

Retiring chair Jim van der Poel has used his final AGM to announce the intention to increase the DairyNZ farmer…

Former Fonterra CEO dies

Former Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings passed away in the Netherlands over the weekend.

Machinery & Products

Milk Sustainability Centre launched

The recently announced Milk Sustainability Centre – a collaboration between global giant John Deere and milking and feed specialists De…

Data connection made easier

New Holland and Case IH are introducing new advancements in their precision technology stack to make farming easier and more…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Feed from farmers

OPINION: The country's dairy farmers will now also have a hand in providing free lunch for schools.

Brighter future

OPINION: The abrupt departure of Synlait chief executive Grant Watson could be a sign that Chinese company Bright Dairy, the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter