fbpx
Print this page
Tuesday, 16 July 2019 07:55

$100m for what?

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Chris Lewis. Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Chris Lewis.

Farmers pay nearly $100 million a year in levies to industry-good groups, says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Chris Lewis. And for what value? he asks.

Proposed levies for Mycoplasma bovis eradication and biosecurity, if adopted, would have farmers forking out even more money, he says.

Speaking at the Federated Farmers annual meeting in Wellington this month, he questioned whether farmers are getting good value for their levies.

“What monumental shift in agriculture or value has this [caused]? I’m a supporter of levy bodies, but that shouldn’t stop us questioning the value or direction of them. 

“Farmer’s money is limited and must be used wisely.”

Lewis says farmers must ponder the future of some levy funded bodies.

“How will they ensure that their extension activities reach all their levy payers? How will they manage overlap and conflicts with other levy bodies and Federated Farmers?”

Lewis presented annual levy data showing DairyNZ raking in $66.2m, Beef + Lamb NZ $24.4m and the Foundation for Arable Research $4.25m.

He said it may sometimes be inappropriate for a levy body to comment publicly, but it’s okay for Feds to. He queried how levy funded bodies should manage this.

He asked how these groups should ensure an inclusive portion for all farmers. “How do you come to a position that doesn’t pick winners at the expense of others in agriculture?”

And he asked how they would ensure farmers see value in paying a compulsory levy. 

Lewis urged farmers to focus on “good news stories” and ignore attacks on farming by minorities.

“Many of our members are engaged in community catchment groups too, working with their communities to achieve great outcomes,” said Lewis.

“The only ones missing from all this work and engagement are the antagonists who like giving us the verbal, but their words don’t match their work effort with a spade or hammer. 

“Their political attacks on us are aimed at driving a wedge between farmers and their city friends. 

“We must remember this is a political attack by a minority.  It’s not the community attacking us, as we all know there are many issues we all must take hold of.”

More like this

A significant fertiliser breakthrough?

Former ACT MP and Federated Farmers president Owen Jennings believes he's come across a new fertilising method in Australia that yields "outstanding results".

Marlborough drought declaration welcomed

Marlborough Federated Farmers has got some real concern about the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families in the region because of the drought and there’s a lot of pressure starting to build.

SNAs will go - eventually

Despite some earlier confusion around the exact timing, the new Government is moving to reform the way local bodies implement Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) rules on farmland.

'A complete dog

OPINION: It's not just a rural banking inquiry that farmers want. Freshwater farm plans are another major headache for farmers.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.