fbpx
Print this page
Monday, 11 March 2019 08:43

Time to regulate all stock agents

Written by  Miles Anderson, Federated Farmers’ meat and wool chair
Feds meat and wool chair Miles Anderson. Feds meat and wool chair Miles Anderson.

Federated Farmers' meat and wool council is calling for compulsory regulation of stock agents.

No-one likes more rules and regulation, but to protect all parties in the sale of livestock we believe it is the best way forward.

Discussions about this topic have run hot and cold for years, but we believe it is time for some finality.

The NZ Stock and Station Agents Association has created a code of conduct and set up an independent body that can adjudicate on complaints about the actions of stock agents.

However, with all respect to the association, membership and thus adherence to the code is voluntary and we understand it currently only covers about 65% of all stock transactions.  

Less reputable agents – a minority in the industry – are unlikely to become voluntary members and even if they do, when trouble arises they can simply resign and continue to trade.

A fully enforceable and regulated industry would be able to stop agents trading, and could impose redress.

As well as potential losses from fraudulent transactions, Federated Farmers members have also raised concerns about biosecurity risks where there is misrepresentation – either accidental or deliberate – and limited ability to seek redress in a voluntary system.

Another potential regulation that deserves debate is one that would require any stock agent who trades livestock on their own behalf to do so through an auction system or another agent, and not conduct the transaction on their own behalf.

A lot of ill-feeling is caused when a stock agent buys from a farmer when it’s not clear he is acting on his own behalf, keeps the animals on his property for a day or two, then on-sells at a substantial profit.

Feds’ meat and wool council does not envisage an increased cost to the farmer from regulation because, for most companies and agents, there would not be a huge change from how they are now operating with their own internal processes.

We are hoping for a positive response from the Government to support this.

Some will try to tie our advocacy for regulation to complaints made in relation to a former employee of a stock trading company in the South Island.  However, irrespective of the current SFO investigation into that, it is well past time some sensible regulations were brought in to cover stock agencies.

The vast bulk of stock and station agents operate in an exemplary manner.  

We need regulation to be fair, to give them protection also – not just the farmers.

• Miles Anderson is Federated Farmers’ meat and wool chair

More like this

A significant fertiliser breakthrough?

Former ACT MP and Federated Farmers president Owen Jennings believes he's come across a new fertilising method in Australia that yields "outstanding results".

Marlborough drought declaration welcomed

Marlborough Federated Farmers has got some real concern about the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families in the region because of the drought and there’s a lot of pressure starting to build.

SNAs will go - eventually

Despite some earlier confusion around the exact timing, the new Government is moving to reform the way local bodies implement Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) rules on farmland.

'A complete dog

OPINION: It's not just a rural banking inquiry that farmers want. Freshwater farm plans are another major headache for farmers.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.