April 29, 2011

New Zealand firms unite for beef initiation policy

New Zealand's Federated Farmers believe two recent and significant policy initiatives that are coming together will make the Red Meat Market Development Contestable Fund good for both farmers and consumers.

"The NZD850,000 (US$682,124) Red Meat Market Development Contestable Fund is a lot more than unlocking entrepreneurial exporters," said Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson.

"It's potentially, the first example of how the impending Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry/Ministry of Fisheries merger is seeing a cross fertilisation of ideas. The Red Meat Market Development Contestable Fund follows a similar scheme run with our colleagues in aquaculture, since 2009.

"Not only that, the rural broadband initiative provides the means for not just our current exporters, but entrepreneurial farmers to realise greater export value from what we produce.

"The radical potential of broadband is to eliminate the gap between grower and consumer, to effectively develop farms and farmers as distinctive brands, either individually or collectively.

"It's one more way in which we can realise Federated Farmers T150 target of NZD150 (US$120), for an average mid-season lamb by 2013.

"That's why Federated Farmers is excited by this Beef New Zealand and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise initiative.

"These are things Federated Farmers wholeheartedly believes in. It's not a one-shoe fits all approach, but a mix meaning individual farmers can and will play a huge part," Wills said.