2008 farmer consultation process kicks off

Media Release

10 July, 2008

Meat & Wool New Zealand’s 2008 farmer consultation process kicks off in Takaka on July 16.

With 17 meetings scheduled from Balclutha to Whangarei, Meat & Wool New Zealand will inform and engage with farmers on the next year’s levy expenditure.

The last few years have been challenging for sheep and beef farmers, and despite prices in the market rising, there is a real need for improved industry collaboration and farmers to be more closely linked to the market to enable them to understand and better meet market specifications.  To assist this, M&WNZ is investing in on-farm, market driven tools and research that optimise performance and is continuing to foster a co-ordinated approach for industry-good investment.

Mike Petersen, M&WNZ chairman, Board directors and senior staff will speak at the meetings, outlining where Meat & Wool New Zealand as an industry-good organisation can add value.

“The M&WNZ Economic Service has provided analysis that has identified a number of key issues affecting returns for farmers and behaviours, and we will be using this consultation round to test this thinking and to map out a plan for the future.”

“Areas of focus are predominantly behind the farm-gate, in market access and promotional work and in a range of risk mitigation areas – like representing farmer interests in relation to the government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme”.

“M&WNZ is targeting these issues, alongside other like-minded industry participants in order to ensure a more certain and prosperous future for the sheep and beef industry”

“M&WNZ invests farmer levies for the collective good of the industry.  This is work we cannot do individually as farmers.  The annual consultation round is a time for farmers to have their say on the work planned and express concerns directly with staff.”

A copy of the consultation document will be printed in the Farmers Weekly on July 16, 2008 and is available on the M&WNZ website www.meatandwoolnz.com.  Hard copies can be received by post by ringing 0800 696 328.

Submissions on the proposals must be received by Meat & Wool New Zealand by Friday 22 August, 2008.  Submissions can be posted to Freepost 29, PO Box 121, Wellington (no stamp required) or emailed to consultation@meatandwoolnzcom.

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