Why we’re stronger together
‘‘We’re on the ground and online supporting farmers with information to make it easier for them to get on and farm.’’
Andrew Morrison, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chairman.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is currently asking red meat producers to vote on the continuation of levies on sheepmeat and beef, As we operate under the commodity levies construct, that means we ask farmers every six years to vote on the continuation of B+LNZ.
The theme of our referendum is that we’re stronger together. Because that’s the value of levyfunded industry-good organisations. We work in areas that farmers themselves can’t do on their own. It’s an effective way of pooling resources and achieving scale to undertake activities that benefit all farmers.
One of our key strategic priorities is increasing market returns. B+LNZ’s strength is our involvement at all points of the value chain – we’re there asking consumers what they’re looking for, working with processors on proven approaches like the Taste Pure Nature origin brand, and we’re at the table on trade issues working to ensure increased and fair market access for our products.
We’re on the ground and online supporting farmers with information to make it easier for them to get on and farm. If you haven’t already, check out the resources available on our Knowledge Hub at beeflambnz. com, including our new planning approach.
There’s also information on our website about our genetics investment (including through the dairy-beef progeny test) and research and development.
If you’re a dairy farmer I encourage you to learn more about how you get value from the beef levy through B+LNZ’s dairy-beef work – search ‘beef levies for dairy farmers’ on beeflambnz. com for our dairy-beef book.
Our other key priority is championing the sector. One way we’re telling the farmer story is through the new makingmeatbetter.nz website. This science-based information in an easily digested form is really having an impact on conversations about the production and consumption of beef and lamb, by bringing facts and balance.
Using our combined resources, we’re also able to commission independent research to shape public conversations – our Wairoa case study comparing our sector’s contribution with carbon farming, and our reports on native biodiversity and sequestration, changed the public conversation and made the government take notice.
We also advocate for our farmers and influence policy. I recognise there has been a lot of conversation lately about who does what in this area, and I acknowledge farm it hasn’t always been clear. That’s why the Chairs and Chief Executives of B+LNZ, Feds and DairyNZ met recently to discuss key issues around how we work together – and better. I’m confident this will only improve.
Regardless, I’m proud of the work B+LNZ does alongside others in the advocacy space. We have got some genuine concessions from Government on things that matter such as the winter grazing rules deferral and He Waka Eke Noa – but the job’s not done yet.
And our farmers keep telling us they want us to continue advocating for the sheep and beef producer perspective - we regularly survey farmers about our priorities and advocacy tops the list.
We’ll continue to work hard
to maximise the value of levies. We’ll keep partnering for greater impact and efficiency and leveraging
outside investment make farmers’ money further. to go