Strong voice needed
North Otago farmer Jane Smith believes continual appeasement to government by industry-good bodies is not serving the sector well and it's time for a mega-merger of primary sector advocacy groups.
McCarthy says B+L's mandate does not extend beyond the farm gate and organisations such as Federated Farmers have to represent the entire agricultural sector.
"We've got runs on the board with increased farmer participation in the meat cooperatives' board elections and representations on the Alliance Group and Silver Fern," he says.
"MIE's focus is now on addressing procurement and marketing issues in the sector.
"We need the funds to meet expenses for travel, meetings and other activities associated with driving the reform process. Based on our activities last year, we believe we will need $200,000 to continue to make progress."
The remit, which asks "that Beef + Lamb New Zealand provide funding support to the Meat Industry Excellence Group to secure red meat sector reform" must have the signatures of at least 1000 registered farmers or 5% of the total number of registered farmers (whichever is the lesser) for it to be binding.
"We need to support a NZ Inc-type strategy which acknowledges the importance of the red meat sector to the economy. Our eggs are very much in one basket with dairying."
McCarthy says the task now is for MIE to keep farmers informed and continue to have input into itsactivities. There is also a need to widen the debate so politicians and the business sector can become involved, he says.
"This will take time and resources, both of which are scarce for MIE members who have their own farming businesses to run."
McCarthy says up to now the burden has fallen on a small core group of MIE members with support from others who have an interest in the sector.
"This can't continue so we are asking for farmer support through the compulsory levies acquired by B+L to allow the reform process to continue."
Last year B+L reimbursed $40,000 expenses for MIE and said further funding support would depend on farmers' feedback.
"We are not asking for the moon, nor do we want a gravy train – we just want to reform this sector so that farmers and farming families have a future they can aspire to."
McCarthy says meat company interests form a significant voting bloc within B+L.
He hopes that even if they do not specifically agree with the MIE position they will recognise the need for reform and vote accordingly.MIE is consulting widely with Industry and other stakeholders with the aim of driving consensual reform across the sector, he says.
"I think all the players in the agricultural sector know we are serious and know we are not going to go away. We need the resources to keep the drive for change moving."
