Anti-farming slurs hurt farmers
Sheep and beef farmers are going on social media to show the environmental progress they are making as anti-farming slurs become more barbed.
Environmental groups are focussing on farming’s influence on the land and water as well as animal welfare, but farmers are resisting the urge to barricade themselves and want to adopt a more open approach.
Federated Farmers meat and fibre chairman Rick Powdrell said sheep and beef farmers were facing testing times, and many of the challenges were outside of their control. Farmers needed to support each other and communicate positive stories to enlighten the public about farming, he said.
‘‘There is nothing better than to show best practice. Whether that’s a video or social media or taking someone on a farm. Social media is always a good way and the power of the camera can be wonderful for you and likewise detrimental.’’
He said the troll factor was inevitable in media comment sections, but it soon became obvious if someone commenting was entering with an open mind.
‘‘You read the first line and have a fairly good idea whether there is someone with some knowledge and making informed comment or whether there is someone on some bandwagon. Quite frankly I don’t read a lot of it.’’
More open forums were the best way to talk through farming’s position in the environment, he said. ’’We have to accept that we can’t deny some people will let us down ... but there are lots of good things going on.’’
There was little point wasting time and emotion worrying about issues they could not influence such as bad weather and ‘‘adverse’’ events, regulations, currency volatility, global trade and market access..
Farmers would have farm environmental plans set back for 20 years in the first big rain after the Kaikoura quakes and there had to be some acceptance of unusual circumstances.
Powdrell told federation members at a council meeting in Wellington last week that farming practices were constantly being portrayed in a negative manner, often by uninformed people.
‘‘The frustrating thing is when invited to view the realities of the practice they are passing judgement on, most decline. We must continue to engage with them, share our experiences and invite them on farm.’’
Farmers were facing other challenges such as synthetic alternative proteins, everincreasing compliance and growing their position in marketplaces.