Friday, March 29, 2024

Farmers vote yes on sheepmeat and beef levies

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Farmers have voted to continue paying the sheepmeat and beef levy and also supported an increase to the sheepmeat levy.
Andrew Morrison says Beef + Lamb NZ has been focused on getting the best outcome for farmers.
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Almost 90% of farmers voted in favour of the sheepmeat levy on a one farmer, one vote basis, with support of 92% on a weighted stock unit basis.

Results also showed 88.1% of farmers voted in support of the beef levy on a one farmer, one vote basis, with support of 89.4% on a weighted stock unit basis.

In terms of the proposal to increase the sheepmeat levy from 70 cents to 75 cents, 68.3% voted yes on a one farmer, one vote basis, and 70.4% voted yes on a weighted stock unit basis.

Almost 35% of farmers on the electoral roll voted. 

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairman Andrew Morrison said the result showed farmers valued the work of B+LNZ.

“Now more than ever, farmers need a strong voice representing their interests domestically and internationally, positioning our product with consumers, and providing them with the support they need on-farm to run more sustainable and profitable businesses.

“We’re very pleased with the result particularly given the amount of farmer concern out there about the wave of regulation coming at them. I’d like to thank everyone who had their say and for giving us a mandate.

“The result validates what we’re doing, and it was heartening to hear from farmers during our recent roadshow that there’s a lot they like – especially around our farming excellence work and programmes such as Taste Pure Nature.

“Farmers strongly endorsed B+LNZ’s role in advocacy, but we also heard loud and clear from them that there’s a lot of frustration out there about the scale and pace of regulatory change and they want us to fight as hard as we can on their behalf, working more closely with Federated Farmers and DairyNZ in responding to this. I can assure farmers we are taking this on board.”

The result on the sheepmeat levy increase was also encouraging, Morrison said.

“We’re pleased that farmers have taken the information on board and seen why we need this increase.”

Morrison said he had informed Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor of the result and B+LNZ would be applying to the Minister/ry for new levy orders that would run for six years from when the new levy order becomes effective.

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