Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
They have also called on all farmers to question their levy bodies, reconsider their membership of Federated Farmers and question their own meat processors and banks over their support for the current HWEN proposal, which they claim endorses a pricing mechanism based on "politics rather than science".
The letter states, "It's an affront that the Meat Industry Association, red meat processors, Federated Farmers and Beef+Lamb NZ have supported the proposal delivered to the Government, when BLNZ's own modelling states that this would see a significant number of farms exiting red meat production."
The group says it has abandoned any hope that HWEN in its current format will deliver any benefit to the country. It says it will cause widespread afforestation, community devastation and further intensification of land remaining in pastoral use. It accuses BLNZ of faltering in its decision making on agricultural emissions and departing from the aim of enabling sustainable food and fibre production for future generations.
"Instead, the current proposals (HWEN) are expected to drive one-in-four low-environmental impact sheep, beef and deer farmers out of business and strangle the remainder," the letter states. "While our industry 'leaders' and the Government bask in political glory, it will be 6,500 sheep, beef and deer farmers - and their communities, school and rural businesses - who will pay the price."
The concerned farmers accuse BLNZ - with the support of DairyNZ and Fonterra - of the destruction of sheep and beef farming to protect the higher emitting dairy sector.
"This is not an effective, fair or equitable way to achieve the Government's emissions reductions targets and works against the goals of the National Policy Statements for both freshwater and biodiversity."
The letter ends with a call to action from those "purporting" to represent the country's sheep, beef and deer farmers. "We request that you reject the untenable emissions pricing options proposed and support sheep, beef and deer farmers to form a sustainable emissions scheme based on warming, equity, environmental sustainability and on-farm viability."
If this does not happen, the farmers say they will call a special meeting of Beef+Lamb NZ and propose a vote of no confidence in all its directors.
