Tuesday, 25 February 2020 10:18

Only one year guarantee for levy

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Tim Mackle. Tim Mackle.

Industry-good body, DairyNZ is seeking a big mandate from fee-paying farmers on its upcoming levy vote.

The six-yearly vote in April gives farmers six weeks to decide whether to extend the levy for another term. The levy raises about $65 million annually.

However, the organisation has only committed to keeping the levy at the proposed 3.6c/kgMS for the first year. 

DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says beyond the first year there are no guarantees that the levy will remain at 3.6c/kgMS.

“Certainly for first year, beyond that there are no guarantees that demands won’t require a greater level of investment: we don’t know right now. 

“As always, you continuously cut the cloth and look at priorities: investing farmers’ money on things that matter the most.

“There may come a time when more investment is needed and we will go back to farmers then.”

Mackle wants farmers to vote early.

“Then we will spend less time ringing them up to vote and spend more time on the work,” he told Rural News.

Mackle is hopeful of a yes vote, but wants a huge mandate.

“It will be a positive thing for the sector if we turn out in big numbers: a weak turnout and getting the result is not a good outcome for us.

“We want a strong turnout: a big turnout and getting over the line.”

He says the organisation held 34 shed meetings around the country late last year: around 500 dairy farmers turned out to share their thoughts on issues affecting them, get updated on levy-funded research and talk about what the future focus should be for DairyNZ investment.

Mackle says the feedback from farmers on the upcoming levy vote has been positive.

The last levy vote in 2014 recorded a 60% turnout by numbers and 70% by milk solids production.

More like this

DairyNZ plantain trials cut nitrate leaching by 26%

DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

Featured

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter