B+LNZ calls for government action as sheep and beef farm sales to forestry climb
Red meat farmers are urging the Government to act on the growing number of whole sheep and beef farm sales for conversion to forestry, particularly carbon farming.
He says farmers will be hoping for a reset now the B+LNZ board has elected a new chair. His comments follow the release of farmer remit voting results from last month's annual general meeting.
Burke's remit, for B+LNZ to take an advocacy position from a sheep and beef sector standpoint over the dairy sector, was passed.
A remit from North Waikato farmer Jason Barrier for B+LNZ to exit the He Waka Eke Noa partnership immediately also narrowly passed.
Burke says it's time for B+LNZ to take stock.
"They do a marvelous job with extension and economic service, but they have dropped the ball in the advocacy space.
"If it wants to get into that space, you have to roll up your sleeves and get into it, boots and all."
Meanwhile, South Otago farmer Hugh Gardyne, who moved an unsuccessful motion of no confidence in the Beef+Lamb NZ board, believes the farm lobby has surrendered to the Government.
He claims B+LNZ's stance on primary sector climate action partnership He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) "looks like a white flag to me".
Gardyne's motion claimed B+LNZ did not oppose the Government when it overrode the HWEN report with their own amendments and accused the farmer body of backing the Government's agenda of replacing good farmland with exotic forests.
Gardyne remains convinced B+LNZ could have supported the motion to better articulate the opposition to HWEN to the Government.
B+LNZ's new chair Kate Acland says that while the remit results are non-binding, they are indication of farmer sentiment. She says the board must consider the results and show how it will respond.
"The remits received and the mood at the annual meeting show there are some farmers who are unhappy out there and we need to listen to their concerns and respond appropriately," Acland says.
"There is concern among farmers about the cumulative impact of layers of legislation and the relentless scale and pace of proposed regulatory change."
