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

Strong uptake of good wintering practices

DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of a major software project.

Musical chairs

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

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of…

Machinery & Products

BA Pumps expand

Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the…

Entries open for innovation award

Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Chinese strategy

OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.

Not fair

OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter