Sheep and beef farmers have voted to approve Beef + Lamb New Zealand signing an operational agreement between the agricultural sector and the Government on foot and mouth disease readiness and response.
Over 96% of farmers voted in support.
Voting, which was conducted online and was open to all farmers on B+LNZ's electoral roll, closed on Friday 16 May. It was a weighted vote, although the weighted result was very similar to the one-farmer-one-vote result (at 95.05%).
The final percentage (turnout) was 14.67%, being 2,039 votes received from 13,899 farmers.
Chair Kate Acland says she's pleased B+LNZ can now sign the agreement.
"The board felt that signing the agreement was the best option for our farmers, but we needed farmer input and approval.
"Keeping foot and mouth disease out of New Zealand should still be our number one priority but it's important that we're as prepared as possible in the unlikely event it does arrive. It's especially important that sheep and beef farmers have a voice in decision-making about how any response effort would be funded and the money spent.
"It's like to thank all those farmers who used their voice on this important issue."
B+LNZ will sign the agreement at an upcoming event.
