More than two years of cross-sector collaboration with uncomfortable conversations and robust debate on pricing emissions has not been recognised and “I am gutted”, Beef + Lamb New Zealand director Nicky Hyslop says.
“I am gutted as a sheep and beef farmer and as a BLNZ director with the government decision to make significant changes to He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), which now have an unacceptable impact on a sheep and beef farmer,” Hyslop told farmers at the central South Island farmer council annual meeting.
“We get the current farmer anger and frustration but let’s channel that into strong messages that will resonate with the public, build pressure on the government and get constructive changes to make this whole thing workable.
“The bottom line is we are not going to agree to anything that threatens the viability of our industry and of our family farms.
“We accept that we have a role to play in reducing our emissions but not in a way that will put us out of business,” Hyslop said.
“This is a great sector; we are proud stewards of our land and right now most of us are seeing pretty solid farmgate returns.
“Yes, there’s some significant headwinds and challenges ahead and to meet these challenges we need to be in the right mindset, we need to be match fit and ready so let’s focus on the positives, look for the solutions for our challenges, see the opportunities and remember we are all part of pretty special sector with a bright future ahead.”
BLNZ chair Andrew Morrison said farmers did not ask for the sector to be the one to set prices, but farmers must be more than consulted on price settings and spending revenue.
In particular, farmers should have direct control and say over the use of the re-investment of the farm levy back into the sector, he said. “As a sector we wanted to have a say on pricing, certainly that’s been diluted now.”
Sequestration has to be recognised; existing planting is a bottom line, with exploration of safeguards around preventing economics alone leaving any sector with an unfair share of the burden.
“The model needs to be reassessed to ensure equity in the system. Price cannot be the primary driver and as a collective sector “we need to get clear and consistent messages to government”, Morrison said.
Chief executive Sam McIvor said there are still some safeguards that can be put in place.
“Certainly, there’s some rubbish in the modelling and how we address that is the question.
“We need to get recognition of sequestration. This is essentially a bottom line for us.
“In terms of levy relief there are some safeguards we can put in place early in the journey. There is new science still emerging and we need to step through that carefully.
“Some things we are firm on, some things we need to do more work on and we don’t have a lot of time up our sleeves.
“We need to push back; you will see more sternness and aggressiveness from me over the next few days.
“We need to come up with a plan now to get the balance right but our voice needs to be heard in a constructive way to achieve a level of influence over our future.” McIvor said the best way forward is to combine with other sectors.
“We need to be collaboratively driving our own destiny to have better chances of succeeding.”
He urged all farmers to make a submission.
“As a sheep and beef industry we were the most vulnerable at the start. We are more vulnerable and most affected in this government response now.
“Farmers are willing to do their bit but if there’s no mitigation then it’s worthless.
“We need every farmer to submit, we need government to know how this affects you, your business, your family and your community.
“This is not just what is happening politically but social licence domestically and internationally,” McIvor said.
Consultation closes on November 18.
