Dairy Insight Meet Rural Professionals

MEDIA RELEASE

30 January 2002

Dairy Insight Meet Rural Professionals

Meetings this week between rural professional groups and the Dairy InSight team have indicated strong support for an industry good organisation in the dairy industry, says Peter Bodeker, Dairy InSight’s chief executive.

Meetings have been held in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson and Palmerston North and more are planned in Whangarei, Rotorua and New Plymouth, with a final meeting in Wellington. These meetings are part of a broader consultation process on funding of industry good activity through a commodity levy. A vote by farmers is due to take place in May which will decide whether there should be a levy and whether the levy fund should be managed by Dairy InSight.

“Rural professionals such as farm advisors, accountants, bankers, veterinarians and a host of other professionals have day-to-day contact with farmers and, as a result, have a unique and independent perspective on farming issues.

“We are very pleased to hear their perspective, because Dairy InSight’s focus is also inside the farm gate.

“If the levy is introduced, the financial commitment by farmers and the benefits to them will be clear and transparent. It will be easier for farmers collectively to set priorities for Dairy InSight. They will also benefit individually, in terms of farm management. Rural professionals we have talked with feel that this will give farmers greater control over their businesses. It will also give them security that industry good matters are a priority for someone and they are being looked after.

“We are also evaluating the idea that has been suggested that some rural professionals are involved with Dairy InSight in providing advice on the allocation of funds and the setting of priorities. At the end of the day these will be board decisions, but some rural professionals could provide useful input as part of the decision-making process,” says Mr Bodeker.

Following on from the consultation with farmer representatives which took place in November/December last year and the current consultation with rural professionals, a nationwide consultation with farmers and sharemilkers will take place in March/April prior to the vote on the levy.

Summary reports from the meetings are available from the Dairy InSight offices on request and have been posted on the Dairy InSight web site www.dairyinsight.co.nz
For further information:

Peter Bodeker
025 998 328

© Scoop Media