Fair, practical rules still high on lobby's agenda
Commodity prices and interest rates play a huge role in shaping farmer confidence, but these factors are beyond their control, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre.
The Horowhenua farmer and Federated Farmers dairy section chair says he's passionate about farming and wants to contribute to the industry-good organisation.
"I can see the challenges we're facing, and I think I can make a real contribution at the board level," he told Rural News.
McIntyre is the second high profile candidate for the director elections. DairyNZ deputy chair Jacqueline Rowarth, who is retiring by rotation, is seeking re-election as a director.
McIntyre has been a dairy farmer for 24 years. Originally a townie, McIntyre started out as a farm assistant and working his way up to become a herd owning sharemilker. He also has a calf rearing business and a 180ha drystock farm.
McIntyre has been part of Federated Farmers for 11 years where he has chaired the sharemilker section and served as a vice chair of the dairy section before taking up the chairmanship in 2022.
McIntyre believes that the skills and networks built at Federated Farmers would be an asset for DairyNZ and makes a real difference for farming families.
"DairyNZ is a great organisation, and I'm a big supporter of the levy, but there is a real feeling out there now that things have gotten off track.
"Farmers are struggling with some major challenges right now with increased costs, reduced incomes, and squeezed profits.
"We're also struggling to fill gaps in our workforce, and there's a huge wave of environmental changes coming at us."
He says farmers are looking to DairyNZ for practical solutions to some of those challenges - improving productivity, reducing environmental footprint, and increasing profit.
Farmers also want to see DairyNZ focusing on their core roles of research, science, and extension to help address those challenges.
If successful, McIntyre says he won't be stepping down from his Federated Farmers role.
"I love my role at Federated Farmers and take the job incredibly seriously.
"My term as Federated Farmers dairy chair ends in June next year. I'd want to see my term to the end, finish what I've started, and then I'd reassess where things are at.
"Any potential conflicts would be carefully managed, but I don't see any major issues. At the end of the day, both organisations work for farmers."
He points out that DairyNZ farmer-elected directors sit on other boards like Ravensdown, Ballance Agri-Nutrient, and the Deer Industry Association.
"I don't see any reason why Federated Farmers should be treated any different," says McIntyre.
McIntyre's governance roles include being a current member of the Fish and Game Wellington council. He has served as chair of the NZ Dairy Industry Awards Trust and did an eight-month stint as associate director of DairyNZ.
