Tuesday, 15 July 2025 09:58

Corporate narrative?

Written by The Hound

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: Forget about the fabled 'rural-urban' divide, the real fault-line in farming might actually be the divide between grass-roots farmers and the industry corporates who claim to be 'speaking on behalf of farmers'.

This gap came to the fore over the Feds' Save Our Sheep campaign to stop productive sheep & beef land being locked up in unproductive pines.

Some reckon a few of these corporate types framed the campaigners as a 'fringe group'.

Not so, says Richard Dawkins, Feds Meat & Wool Council: "Polished corporate narratives may sound convincing, but they often ignore on-farm realities. Quite simply, observing without objecting is a form of endorsement. We're observing the landscape of New Zealand and the face of our industry changing, but our Meat and Wool Council are also objecting. We do not endorse the status quo."

More like this

Mark Hooper Joins NZPork Board as Independent Director

Rural leader Mark Hooper has been appointed as an independent director to the NZPork board, bringing extensive farming, governance and advocacy experience to the role.

Farmers Warned Over Track Dangers After Wairarapa Floods

The terrible floods that hit the Wairarapa may have subsided, but the danger to farmers still exists, according to local Federated Farmers president Rob Hickson.

Wool Impact and Campaign for Wool NZ Merge to Form Collective

Will a stronger, more coordinated voice help rebuild confidence and improve returns in the wool sector?

NZ Pest Crisis Costs Farmers $466M a Year — Survey

New Zealand's pest problem has reached crisis point, according to Federated Farmers' second National Pests Survey, which shows farmers are spending more money and effort on control — yet pest numbers keep climbing faster than they were two years ago.

RMA Reform Still on Track Despite Wellington Drama — Feds

Despite political shenanigans in Wellington, farmers are confident that Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will get over the line in this term of Parliament.

Featured

Editorial: Backing Dairy

OPINION: The stats speak for themselves.

DairyNZ Resilient Pastures Trial Expands Across North Island

Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.

DairyNZ Sets Out Election Priorities for Dairy Farmers

Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.

Ballance Farm Environment Awards Launch on West Coast

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are coming to the West Coast of the South Island.

DairyNZ's Tracy Brown Flags El Nino Risk for Dairy Farms

Most dairy regions around the country have had a pretty good season so far says Tracy Brown.

Mark Hooper Joins NZPork Board as Independent Director

Rural leader Mark Hooper has been appointed as an independent director to the NZPork board, bringing extensive farming, governance and advocacy experience to the role.