McIvor to step down in July
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor will step down in July.
Afforestation continues to have a negative impact on rural communities, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ).
The statement comes after the release of the B+LNZ Stock Number Survey which showed farmers adapting to challenging circumstances including drought, processing delays and Covid-19.
The report, published this week, also highlights the extent of farmland being converted to forestry.
B+LNZ Economic Service chief economist Andrew Burtt says that while the increase in farm sales into forestry is yet to lead to a significant reduction in stock numbers, it can be expected to soon.
“There is usually a lag between farm sale and plantings, and planting is constrained by availability of seedlings and labour to plant them,” he says.
“After the original land has been planted, how livestock move through the system onto other farms before being sent to processing or directly to processing influences what statistics show. Much depends on the circumstances on individual farms.”
B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor says the extent of sheep and beef farmland being converted to forestry, along with the cumulative impact of a range of other policies on farm viability, is concerning.
“B+LNZ’s position remains that there needs to be specific limits on the amount of forestry that can be used to offset fossil fuel emissions in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS),” he says.
McIvor says New Zealand is the only country to allow 100% forestry offsetting, with other countries allowing approximately 10%.
“Without these limits all other policy changes, while helpful, will not solve the problem.
“As more farms are sold for forestry conversion, B+LNZ continues to call on the Government to take urgent action to stop the loss of productive farmland and the decimation of rural communities.”
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New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.