Room for improvement

B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor told Rural News that there is always room to improve policy, advocacy or process.

His comments come as a contentious remit, seeking to prioritise advocacy work for the sheep and beef sector over dairy farmers, is voted at B+LNZ's annual meeting this week.

The remit is causing angst among dairy farmers, who collectively pay around 20% of B+LNZ's overall levy income.

On average, dairy farmers pay around $400 per farm to B+LNZ annually on cull cows and other animals they send to slaughter at $5.20 per head.

B+LNZ is telling farmers that its advocacy work strives to achieve the best possible outcomes for sheep, beef, and dairy farmers' beef enterprises.

"In our view, the pastoral sector has a stronger voice when it's united. In most cases the interests of all pastoral farmers are aligned," says McIvor.

"Good examples include winter grazing regulations and more recently RMA reform."

But he admits that there are times when the positions of the dairy sector and B+LNZ differ to a greater or lesser degree.

"When this happens, B+LNZ does not change its position for the sake of seeking alignment - we agree to differ. Examples of this include PC1 in Waikato and the setting of methane targets in the Zero Carbon Bill," McIvor says.

"However, we also note there is always room to improve policy, advocacy or process, so we could be open to further work to provide farmers with additional comfort around how we balance the needs of all our levy payers."

The remit, filed by chairman of Farmers 4 Positive Change and Katikati sheep and beef farmer Rick Burke, wants B+LNZ advocacy position "taken from a sheep and beef sector standpoint".

During any advocacy negotiations, if there's perceived or actual conflict between the two sectors, the remit wants B+LNZ to declare the conflict.

McIvor says it is aware of concerns among "a small number" of sheep and beef farmers about B+LNZ collecting levies from both sheep and beef and dairy farmers.

"The consistent request from our farmers has been to work more closely with the dairy industry due to common issues," he explains. "All of these farmers live and work in rural areas and have emphasised that they want to see vibrant farming communities for everyone."

McIvor says New Zealand's dairy, sheep and beef industries are closely linked, with a significant proportion of New Zealand's beef exports coming from dairy beef.

"Many sheep and beef farmers view dairy support - including where raising dairy heifers or grazing dairy cows - as a critical part of their business."

Even if the remit is passed at this week's AGM in New Plymouth, McIvor says there won't be any changes to the beef levies dairy farmers pay as a result of the remit.

He notes that remits are not binding but the B+LNZ board must "respond and act accordingly".