#Meat company co-operation needed

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OPINION: After an extremely difficult drought, dairy farmers, at least, have some good news with Fonterra’s forecast farmgate milk price of $7 per kilogram of milksolids (kg/MS) for the 2013-14 season.
This news comes as many farmers will be looking the cost of 2012-13 with real dismay, especially if they had to borrow to cover the expense of extra feed or re- grassing.
It is important to remember that this forecast is very preliminary. We only have to look over the last season to see how far the pendulum can swing in a year.
While Fonterra farmers will and should take heart from last week’s announcement, we all must try to live within our means, in case some fresh disaster eventuates.
The Meat Industry Excellence Group (MIE) has held its farmers meeting in Te Kuiti.
Although prior commitments meant I could not go, Federated Farmers’ Waikato Meat & Fibre chairman Chris Irons did attend.
Irons said two clear messages were coming through. Waikato farmers are showing loyalty in supplying meat companies and meat companies to work together for the betterment of farmers.
I was impressed that around 80 per cent of farmers attending indicated they supplied a single company.
The other message is about getting the meat companies to co-operate better together so farmers get the best possible deal. After all, without the farmers supplying the meat, where would the industry be? Meat companies have no trust in each other and this stance is destroying farmers’ incomes.
Our competition is not the farmer next door. It is producers in other countries and it is the marketing structure in our markets.
As a dairy farmer I can attest to this approach to dealing with markets being much more beneficial.
I am also calling for farmers to step up and run their businesses they way they should be run – as professional businesses.
Too often I hear of unprofessional behaviour which unfortunately, despite being from a very small minority, reflects poorly on the rest of us farmers.
Gypsy Day is always stressful, but following recommended stock moving procedures, such as having drovers ahead of stock to warn motorists, can ensure it is not unnecessarily hazardous or overly strenuous.
There was one complaint of a farmer being rude and inappropriate to a motorist – who being a rural person knew what was going on. This reached the federation via Twitter, proving the rise of social media – a photo or video on a smartphone can be on Facebook or Twitter within seconds.
Reckless motorists who ignore warnings are even more troublesome. Consideration is vital from both farmers and the public in these circumstances. It is part of living in a community.
As farmers we cannot afford to underpay, overwork and generally treat staff poorly. Those who do make it difficult for the rest of us to find workers. Contracts must be honoured and conditions met. Rules and regulations are made to cater for the bottom 3 per cent. Do you want to be responsible for new rules and regulations?
We also need to realise our farms are business premises, as well as our homes. As such, we need to understand we are potentially responsible for every accident which occurs, so we need proper health and safety plans in place to safeguard against them happening in the first place.
Likewise, when it comes to the environment, it strikes me as crazy that in this day and age there are still a few hold-outs who do not feel they need to take their responsibility to the land seriously.
There are not many people who fall into these categories, but it is time they stopped tarnishing the rest of us. What will it take? Do we need to start naming and shaming?
Last week, I also attended a meeting with Auckland Watercare Services, which is proposing to increase its take from the Waikato River. I was sceptical beforehand, but was impressed by much of what they had to say.
This was a preliminary meeting, but they recognised the rights of other consent holders along the river and Auckland is one of the most water efficient cities in the country. It remains to be seen what eventually happens, but Federated Farmers will be there ensuring the best outcome for all.
One funny thing; when questioned they said the Waikato water was the cleanest water entering the Auckland network.
 
Source:  Stuff

Mirá También

Así lo expresó Domingo Possetto, secretario de la seccional Rafaela, quien además, afirmó que a los productores «habitualmente los ignoran los gobiernos». Además, reconoció la labor de los empresarios de las firmas locales y aseguró que están «esperanzados» con la negociación entre SanCor y Adecoagro.

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