Editorial: Getting RMA settings right
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: Beef + Lamb NZ's annual meeting will be an interesting affair this year in a number of ways.
The meeting is being held in New Plymouth on March 30 and has garnered a record nine remits from levy payers.
The nine remits range from a demand for B+LNZ to immediately exit He Waka Eke Noa, an independent review of B+LNZ advocacy, change to weighted levy voting, asking for clarity on the role of the Farmer Council and a request for advocacy from the sheep and beef sector in the first instance.
Another key point of interest will be the results of the director election for the Southern South Island ward. This has seen current B+LNZ chair Andrew Morrison face a stiff challenge from fellow Southland farmer Geoff Young.
Like many of the remits proposed, the director election contest is seen as a challenge to the B+LNZ status quo and a demand for change.
This would all indicate that there could be blood on the floor at this year's AGM. However, history has shown a dismal lack of engagement in voting by red meat levypayers in the past - something around the 20-30% mark is the standard - and nothing indicates any change on this front this year.
Farmers only have themselves to blame if they fail to vote and engage in their industry's democratic process.
It is a bit rich for levypayers to complain about the work of B+LNZ when they can't even be bothered voting for who they put on the board of the organisation or the remits asking for change.
Undoubtedly there is a feeling of discontent among some farmers about B+LNZ's advocacy on a number of issues and the remits put up at this year's AGM are proof of this.
However, the voting results will show if this feeling is widespread among red meat farmers or just fanned by a bunch of malcontents who do not represent the majority.
B+LNZ levypayers need to remember, you get what you vote - or don't vote - for!
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
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