I ask what has changed as we see farmers facing uncertainty around next year’s milksolids prices, drought and poor feed surpluses heading into winter and excess stock on farm waiting for the works and sale yards to get back to full capacity.
Is it the way the country is being run I ask, have we all received a wages subsidy, has being locked down with the family improved the wellbeing and isolation issues farmers have faced or have the banks and industry leaders been in touch and given assurance that all will be better than okay in the future?
It is none of the above.
It is as simple as the fact farmers now feel important again in the eyes of the nation and needed as part of the rebuilding of New Zealand’s economy.
For the last decade farmers have been on a hiding to nothing in media and through anti-farming campaigns that have really knocked the psyche of the men and women on the land.
However, the sentiment has changed since covid-19 turned up and changed how farmers are being talked about and in turn how they see themselves. Thank goodness because, I suspect, we have lost good people in the past as they take the negativity past the level of their own tolerance.
So, how do we turn this new-found farmer energy for what they do into a success story that does actually rebuild the economy? The answer, I believe, lies in two words: transparent leadership.
To rebuild we will need a huge effort nationwide with cohesion, patriotism and trust that we are all playing for the same team with the same goals from all of NZ, both urban and rural.
We need leadership from Wellington, government departments we can trust to do their job for the best interests of their assigned roles, media that tells the truth and does practise true journalism, all industry bodies and representatives working hard to ensure they achieve the goals set out for their industry to succeed, common sense in spending taxpayers’ money, industry levies and rates and, mostly importantly, advanced and transparent information coming down to the trenches inside the businesses of NZ, whether they be inside a farm gate or in the main streets of our cities.
New Zealanders are known to be grafters and to have a great work ethic. We need to get rid of the personal agendas of many people afforded the right to apply those agendas and also those getting paid to do bugger all before covid-19.
We must heavily invest in those who can contribute, who are honest and community-minded so we can launch from the position we have found the nation in post lockdown as a single-minded community with strength and resolve and work towards a common goal of a strong economy.
No more us and them, rural and urban. We are five million people about to take on the world to promote our trading nation.
We can’t afford any negativity reaching our international markets.
Mataura Valley Milk recently used Fonterra’s hygiene controls as an excuse for applying for the lockdown wage subsidy because it couldn’t process Fonterra’s milk and hence had a loss that entitled it to apply for the subsidy.
What does this company sabotage or unhealthy competition lead to? Nothing good for the sales of our products on the world stage as our markets see red flags about hygiene levels.
There is no room for the meat processing companies to work against each other internationally, either. We are just not in a position of strength that allows this any more. NZ needs to sell its products to survive. We must sell all we can at the best price possible and all work together.
What about Joe Public. Be honest, work hard and as a unit. If you have applied for and received a subsidy you were not entitled to, pay it back. If you’re ripping off the system or know someone who is then put a stop to it.
Demand our representatives in Wellington and those who represent our industry and take levies to do it, do it with a conscience. Put your hands up to mentor, help and grow your community. Look after those close to you and work together to achieve a stronger national position.
Wake up in the morning and say “I’m glad to be a New Zealander and I’m going to be a part of its success”.
Brought to you by PGG Wrightson Livestock
