Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
DairyNZ's chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says the dairy industry faces ongoing challenges this year.
Mackle told Dairy News that while the milk price is holding up at present, no one can predict what it might be in the future. He says the big issues are water quality, how the Government’s plans may impact on the sector, climate change and zero carbon proposals.
“There is also the issue of immigration and we are working with the Government on how we can make that work in a more sensible way for migrant workers and for farmers. Naturally M. bovis is also a major ongoing issue for us,” he says.
The rising popularity of alternative foods are another issue which Mackle says affects the dairy industry. But he says he’s a firm believer that there will always be a place for pure natural food and it’s up to the sector to farm in a way that puts industry at the top.
Mackle says farmer confidence isn’t overly high despite a good growing season and reasonable milk price.
He says some of this is due to the heavy debt burden some farmers are carrying from past bad seasons and their fears about some of the effects new Government initiatives may have on farming businesses.
“We need to push the positives because we have a very good story to tell,” he says.
Mackle rates last season as about eight out of ten, despite the issues farmers had to confront. He again points to labour problems in the sector and the ongoing criticism of the dairy industry by the news media.
“Some of the criticism is simply incorrect and this affects farmers,” he says.
To counter this DairyNZ is running a campaign with the news company NZME to help the public to understand that while dairying is partly to blame for water quality issues, many of the problems also occur in urban areas with no cows.
The ‘Vision is Clear’ campaign is described by Mackle as a “call to arms” to all NZers to tackle the problem of water quality. In recent weeks, full page advertisements highlighting what dairy farmers are doing for the environment have appeared in NZ Herald. He says the campaign is not finger-pointing or blaming. Other material is being made available on the issue.
“We have long recognised that the support of NZers is critical for our future and farmers themselves know this better than anyone. They live in the community so it has always been important to engage and tell the story about the progress that has been made,” he says.
DairyNZ has a very large water quality science team and is a key part of the solution, Mackle says.
“It is obvious to us that dairy cannot do it alone and we need to have a collective effort in NZ to solve our water quality challenges where they exist,” he says.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand's trade interests are best served in a world where trade flows freely.
New Zealand's red meat sector says it is disappointed by the United States' decision to impose tariffs on New Zealand exports.
OPINION: Farmers nationwide will be rubbing their hands with glee at the latest news from the Government about the RMA reforms.
Holstein Friesian NZ and Link Livestock have agreed on a strategic partnership to provide HFNZ members with comprehensive services from one of New Zealand's most respected dairy men.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
OPINION: Is it the beginning of the end for Greenpeace?
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.