Farmer input needed to combat FE
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on livestock farmers to take part in a survey measuring the financial impact of facial eczema (FE).
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!
