Sheep & Beef Farm Conversion to Forestry Slows, Risk Remains
Conversions of sheep and beef farms to forestry have slowed, however new research from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) suggests land of value for food production remains at risk.
According to new B+LNZ chair Kate Acland, its recent round of farmer feedback sessions – which media were banned from attending – allowed it to outline the “benefits it’s delivering farmer levypayers”.
She added that it was “disappointing” to hear that many farmers “question the value and purpose of B+LNZ”.
Acland claimed the answer was “better communication” from the levy-funded organisation to farmers about what it does on behalf of farmers.
The new B+LNZ chair will be hoping that farmer sentiment towards her organisation picks up soon or she and her fellow directors will find themselves in the same boat as the old Wool Board and voted out of existence at the next levy referendum.
