“Farmers are up against well-funded organisations and corporates with sophisticated communication machines.
“Communication is not currently a strength of farmers,” Maclean said.
There are, however, moves afoot to change the profile of farmers and of the industry.
“We need to begin by bringing young and energetic people into farmer organisations.
“I have seen great examples of people getting involved in leadership training and it proved to be a turning point for them. They begin to understand that it is only through politics and the democratic process that we are able to challenge issues and so champion the way forward,” Maclean said.
“We have good reason to be optimistic, we have to work at bringing people through the ranks and we have to invest in people.
“If we don’t get diversity in leadership then governance won’t be able to make any changes,” he said.
Farming, with annual growth cycles, presents a specific challenge because it can’t change quickly, like a manufacturing plant can.
“We know what we are good at and have some of the finest farming systems in the world.
“We have to look at improving efficiency. We, however, have to be careful that we think radical changes is the solution,” he said.
Maclean believes the Government is beginning to see that behind 75% of the country’s exports are thousands of rural communities that support farmers and farm employees and they need support that might be different to urban communities.
Vice-president Alan Cole replaces Maclean.
He comes from a dairy background but now finishes beef on his Waiau Pa farm.
“One of the biggest challenges Auckland farmers will face in the near future is new water regulation the Government will announce in July and the subsequent implementation by the council,” Cole said.
Though Auckland is better off than many other areas, the region and his farm have had some of the driest first months of a year he can remember, which presents a grazing challenge.
“In future we are also going to have to look at organisation membership and succession.
“Our executive is old and we have to encourage younger members onto the executive. It’s a countrywide issue,” Cole said.
