“Tinkering at the edges of change is not going to make it,” the outgoing Federated Farmers meat and fibre industry chairman said.
“It’s time for big sky, forward thinking on the cost, marketing and competition challenges facing the New Zealand meat and wool sectors.”
Complex ownership and marketing structures made achieving agreed national strategies very difficult, he said.
“In the face of profitability, squeezed at all levels, and in the case of meat the future threat of synthetic protein, boldness and open discussion are more important than ever.”
In completing his three-year tenure as national chairman he was confident he had left the sector in good heart.
Powdrell was unsuccessful in his bid for vice-president of the national organisation at the recent annual conference, but was happy his work on many fronts had been acknowledged.
“I am jolly disappointed not to get back in (national board) – I thoroughly enjoyed my time on meat and fibre, but there are some good people there and they do have some challenges in front of them,” he said.
Meantime, it was more time on the farm for Powdrell who had been invited to continue with a couple of his project involvements.
A wool sector working group was soon to report to the Ministry for Primary Industries on recommendations for next steps.
“I am very passionate about the work of this wool group and will continue my involvement in this, and also with a couple of Primary Industry Training education groups,” he said.
“Wool is the negative elephant in the room and if the desire by some to achieve significant industry change is to succeed, a very strong case will need to be created with clear evidence of a positive outcome for all participants.
“At that adoption point self-interests will have to be consigned to history, and those who aren’t prepared to join the united approach [will be] left to fend for themselves outside the tent,” Powdrell said.
“I can’t say too much about it yet, but it’s like-minded wool industry enthusiasts doing extensive work to unify the industry and give it a strategic direction driven by an overarching fit-for-purpose body.
“But as with the meat industry, we need individuals to leave their entities at the door and talk in the best interest of the whole industry.
“That’s where we want to be.”
How to get there? Watch this space, Powdrell said.
He saw encouraging signs that the various meat industry players recognised the need to accelerate work on a national strategy.
Recent programmes by Beef + Lamb NZ in market development and the red meat story, together with the Red Meat Profit Partnership programme, had highlighted a new level of industry collaboration as industry partners from farm to market joined to work together.
“The next challenge for these new initiatives is to develop the implementation plans, as all the work will be for nothing if visible returns are not evident,” Powdrell said.
Incoming meat and fibre chairman Miles Anderson said he was keen to progress the new direction initiated by Powdrell.
The sheep farmer from South Canterbury said he had worked alongside Powdrell for the past three years, and had no immediate plans for any dramatic change.
A fourth-generation farmer on the family farm of 125 years, Anderson breeds mainly Romney and Romney-Border cross ewes, fattening as well as buying-in finishing lambs.
“We did have beef but I sold them all in the drought and haven’t been brave enough to buy any back yet,” Anderson said.
He also ran a ewe-scanning business for 21 years and has been involved with Feds for 20 years, five as regional chairman of meat and fibre, and the past three years as national vice-chairman.
“For the past five years I have been immersed solely in the farm, and I believe I have a pretty good idea of where we need to move (the industry) too, and confident we are headed in the right direction.”
He was keen to keep the yarn rolling on the strong wool initiative and also his own baby, the wool industry education group aimed at establishing a tertiary qualification in wool technology.
Anderson highlighted profitability as the biggest issue facing the sector.
“We have seen a nice lift this season in sheep meat prices, the first in about five years, and we need to ensure that continues with an industry-wide strategy along with the wool plan, for change initiative.
“There’s some big challenges but we have some good people to help drive this – collaboratively will be the key,” Anderson said.
