Matthew Zonderop wants Dairy NZ to reinstate local discussion groups
Bring back local discussion groups.
That’s the message dairy farmers have for DairyNZ’s new chief executive Campbell Parker and chair Tracy Brown.
The industry good organisation took local discussion groups online during the pandemic and scrapped them altogether afterwards.
Instead, dairy farmers, who pay 3.6 cents per kilogramme of milk solids to DairyNZ raising a collective $67 million in levies, are invited to larger regional events.
One is the Pokeno field day on November 13 on Jamie Lyons’ farm.
Federated Farmers Waikato Provincial Dairy Chair Matthew Zonderop said he had got used to a 15-minute drive to discussion groups, but regional events were more than an hour away.
“I would like to go back to the old school local discussion groups,” he said.
Such groups build community, he said.
“I don’t want to drive up to Pokeno where I will stand out like a sore thumb.”
Zonderop welcomed the appointment of Tracy Brown to the role of DairyNZ chair after fellow Waipa dairy farmer Jim van der Poel stood down at the October 22 annual meeting after seven years in the role.
“Jim has led us through some very difficult and hard times. He has always remained very positive, and I would like to wish him all the best,” Zonderop said.
“Tracy is a very experienced dairy leader and has been around a long time.”
Ōhaupō dairy farmer Andrew Reymer echoed Zonderop’s sentiments.
“The only real farmer connection that DairyNZ had was the discussion group,” he said.
“I just don’t see the regional events they have replaced them with as something I would bring staff to,” he said.
Reymer was concerned with the time commitment involved in driving to and from Pokeno, and the impact that would have on the business if he were to invite staff.
Sharefarming Consultants founder Louise Gibson said her clients also wished for the local discussion groups to return.
As well as delivering on topic information to farmers, they assisted with propagating good mental health.
“A lot of my sharemilking and contract milking guys move around a lot and use the local discussion group to meet the community so it’s a huge loss for them too and really puts them in isolation,” she said.
DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker said in a statement the organisation had delivered 27 events with an average of 30 attendees after calving and 72 per cent said they liked the new format focussing on putting scientists and experts in front of farmers.
“We have 34 more events planned till December 12 focused on improved workplace productivity and healthy waterways,” he said.
“When DairyNZ started out 17 years ago, we were one of the few advisors around for farmers, but the industry has changed and many other organisations host events now. We’ve evolved ours to ensure we meet the demand without duplication, with a focus where farmers have requested of us, on future sector challenges, as well as helping on farm today.”
