Thursday, March 28, 2024

Leading is itself a challenge

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South Canterbury farmer and newly elected Beef + Lamb director Nicky Hyslop is committed to sheep and beef farming, admitting her real affinity with the land and rural people is what gets her out of bed in the morning. She talked to Annette Scott. 
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NICKY Hyslop grew up on a high country station and she’s passionate about contributing to the life and industry she’s always known.

Last month she was elected as the central South Island director on the Beef + Lamb board.

“I have a real affinity with the land and rural people because it’s been woven into my life.

“The feeling of being able to make a difference in that space, I guess I can say, is what gets me up in the morning.”

Hyslop said it’s not that she has striven for the leadership roles she’s landed.

“I haven’t necessarily been overly ambitious about standing on the leadership podium. Actually, sometimes I find that quite a challenge.

“What I am ambitious about is contributing and being part of the conversation. 

“It’s that feeling of making a difference that drives me.”

Raised on Clayton Station near Fairlie, Hyslop did a science degree at Massey University with honours in farm management then spent 20 years as a registered farm adviser in the Canterbury sheep, beef and deer sectors.

In that time she was also contracted to B+LNZ to facilitate a number of extension programmes including monitor farms, profit partnerships and future farm projects.

Together with husband Jonty, who is also a livestock agent, the couple farm The Levels, a 220-hectare intensive sheep, beef and cropping property in South Canterbury.

With 15 years of rural governance experience through irrigation schemes, private farming companies, the Canterbury Water Management Strategy regional committee and IrrigationNZ, Hyslop is confident she can effectively contribute as a B+LNZ director.

In 2016 she was the recipient of the Grasslands regional award for irrigation and consultancy services in South Canterbury, was chief judge for the Lincoln University Farmer of the Year from 2014-2017 and is a director of the Timaru District economic agency Aoraki Development.

“I believe my broad agricultural and governance experiences, not least the business of running our own farming business, has enabled me to gain invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities we have as farmers.”

She said B+LNZ is uniquely placed to lead the sector through the demonstration of good farming practice and identification of farming excellence through research and innovation.

“I am excited and looking forward to being a part of and contributing to that difference this can make for farmers.” 

B+LNZ has committed to sheep and beef farmers achieving good farming practice by 2022.

This will be predominantly captured through land or farm environment plans, which is not a new concept but to bring all the levy payers into the framework will be a challenge. 

“To motivate farmers that an LEP is a valuable management tool and not just a compliance requirement will be the test.

“I have experienced first-hand the benefit of going through an audited LEP process and apart from the competitive nature of wanting to achieve a high audit result, the invaluable process of identifying areas of environmental risk and opportunities for more biodiversity will put our farming business in a stronger position going forward.”

Hyslop said just knowing that they are improving their environmental footprint is also motivation to work through the paperwork.

“But I get that not all farmers will initially see it this way and I back B+LNZ’s many extension programmes to get even the most reluctant farmers involved.”

Research and innovation is another critical part of achieving not just good farm practice but also farming excellence. 

“The potential solutions to many of the environmental challenges we currently face could be delivered by science but we are in catch-up mode. 

“Not only do we need to keep investing in research as a sector but we need to keep encouraging big business and this Government to do so too.

“Internationally, we lag in the amount of investment in research and development so we need to be smart about how we proceed and any research spend needs to be future-focused and highly relevant and implementable at scale.

“Regulation may be part of the mix to ensuring we have the right framework to operate but it needs to be practical and compliance requirements streamlined to avoid an over-the-top, bureaucratic and idealist system.

“I am wary of some government work streams and objectives that may look to produce overly prescriptive national policy statements that direct our regional councils in a punitive direction.

“This would put at risk the huge amount of collaborative work that has been done in local communities to find enduring solutions to issues like water quality and biodiversity.

“So, there is work to be done and that’s all centred on building constructive relationships within government, both at a political and department level.”

Market insights and being at the table for international trade discussions will continue to be important as other countries look to position their food production in a world of rapid developments and continuous disruption.

“Alternative protein is just one example of threats to our market position as is the current Brexit issue.”

Hyslop cites biosecurity, food safety, animal welfare, health and safety as also important and requiring B+LNZ to be pro-actively engaging with government departments and other primary sector organisations to ensure they are well managed.

“The environment – climate change, water quality and soil health are huge areas that we as farmers must recognise and publicly acknowledge our contribution to, both good and bad, and commit to demonstrable improvements. 

“I see B+LNZ’s environmental strategy launch last year as a start in this journey but there is so much work to do to ensure we all deeply understand the science and the long-term consequences of any significant changes to the way in which we farm to produce food.

“We are some of the most efficient food producers in the world and we need to maintain this while minimising our impact environmentally.”

With three teenage daughters Hyslop enjoys following their variety of sports in her spare time, sharing with them a particular love of all things equestrian.

“Not that I get much time to ride myself these days but I’m often keeping the girls’ horses fit while they are away from home and I get to go hunting once or twice in the season.”

Or she can often be found just reading a book.

“That’s really not that glamorous but I find it a good way to just chill and as a family we all get a lot of fun and enjoyment out of our kids sports.”

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