Deer Industry News #36 June 2009 - Deer Industry New Zealand

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conferenceFrom left: Ed Noonan, Sharon Love, Earle Wells, Bill Taylor and Tony Pearse. Executive Committee has instigated a review of the NZDFAposition on NAIT.Executive committee remit“That this 34th NZDFA AGM review the current NZDFA positionstatement on NAIT, as presented to the NAIT Governance Group(April 2009)”Taylor/NoonanThe emergence of this remit has marked a further softening inNZDFA’s official stance against the NAIT concept and the mandatoryinclusion of deer by 2011, although concerns still remain (see alsoreport on the Branch Chairmen’s meeting in this issue).The April 2009 position is outlined in full in the 2008/09 NZDFAAnnual Report, which was published in the April/May issue of DeerIndustry News.Chairman Bill Taylor explained that the current NZDFA positionwas formed over a period of three years, and that circumstanceshad changed somewhat since this process started, making a reviewappropriate. “The purpose of the remit is to move things slightlyahead to a somewhat more supportive position.”At the Branch Chairmen’s meeting the previous day, a NAITdelegation had also hinted at a softening of attitudes about theimplementation of the system with ability to negotiate some of theconditions and technical practicalities around tagging, timing andthe possibility of an alternative direct-to-slaughter RFID tag. Thedelegation had emphasised that the key to success was cooperationfrom all quarters to get things working.Most deer farmers now accept that NAIT will happen, but concernsremain about the “devil in the detail” such as dates for taggingfawns and the types of tags to be used. The open hostility to NAITfrom most DFA members seen in previous years had subsided thisyear, but concerns remain, nonetheless.To ensure debate was well informed, Producer Manager, Tony Pearse,a member of the NAIT Technical Advisory Group, gave the meeting abrief refresher on how NAIT is designed.He reminded farmers NAIT would be linked to a government propertydatabase, FarmsOnline, and that cattle and deer were to be first offthe block because they are already linked under the Biosecurity Actand the NPMS. Other species will be able to be “clipped on” to thesystem under separate legislation. It will be ultimately a one-tagsystem, possibly by 2013. The AHB will still run a separate databasefor its purposes, but it is intended that there won’t be separateNAIT and AHB tags. Therefore NAIT should be cost neutral based oncurrent systems, but farmers may choose to have a separate visualmanagement tag. NAIT tags will also be the basis of the electronicASD form. (For further information on current NAIT plans, refer tothe Branch Chairmen’s meeting report in this issue.)John Scurr reiterated the DINZ position of strong support for NAITand encouraged a change of position by NZDFA. “We’ve heard fromthe marketers. We need this system.” He said that while there is acost involved, it is a small price to pay for market access. GettingNAIT established without sheepon board at the start wouldmake it easier to get the systemrunning, he said.Mike Holdaway noted that theindustry strategy was to targetthe premium end of the market,and this is a segment thatdemands traceability.Mike McCormick supported thisview, but was worried that theNAIT Governance Group had notbeen listening to deer industryconcerns.Mike McCormick – concernedNAIT Governance Group notlistening to deer industryconcerns.David Stevens said concernsabout the timing of mandatoryintroduction, the need to payheavily to manage the low riskinvolved with direct-to-slaughter animals, the usefulness of the lowfrequencyRFID technology proposed and the equity of cost sharingshould be non-negotiable in a review of the NZDFA position.Mark Hawkins queried the current status of electronic tags assecondary AHB tags. Tony Pearse said there was a verbal agreementwith AHB that the electronic tags are acceptable and that theofficial sanction was imminent .Andrew Peters said he was still opposed to NAIT which is “justanother job I’ll have to do”, and said it had been poorly sold to theprimary sector. He said exporters had not convinced him that therewould be a premium on his product for implementing NAIT. “Weneed something that works for deer and our industry.”Alastair Porter raised concerns about the wording of the remitas it stood, suggesting that an AGM could not effectively review aposition statement. He proposed an amendment to the remit so thatit read:“That this 34th NZDFA AGM request that the NZDFA ExecutiveCommittee commit to a review of the current NZDFA positionstatement on NAIT, as presented by request to the NAITGovernance Group (April 2009)”Porter/Denley14Deer Industry News
conferenceThe amendment was CARRIED by a voice vote.The amended motion was then put and CARRIED unanimously.The Chairman noted that the Executive Committee may co-optassistance to coordinate the task of reviewing the NZDFA positionon NAIT.Candidates for DINZBoardThree candidates competed fora single vacancy on the Boardcreated by the retirement byrotation of John Spiers. Theywere Jeremy (Jerry) Bell,Bernard Card and John Spiers.Each was invited to makea brief presentation to theNZDFA AGM.The Selection andAppointments Panel metthe candidates the day afterJerry Bell: Provisional producerthe AGM, and provisionally appointee to DINZ Board.appointed Wanaka deer farmerJerry Bell to the position. Aprécis of his presentation to the AGM follows:The industry is facing challenges, but we also need toconsolidate the good industry initiatives made to date. Wemust strengthen all the linkages along the value chain andbe prepared for any challenges. I can contribute to DINZ byhelping address some of the internal barriers to our industry’sgrowth.As well as farming, I have 25 years’ experience establishingand managing several successful food wholesaling anddistribution businesses. I have strong business relationshipsin China and travel there often. The key to these venturesis the same added value attribute that I can bring to theDINZ Board: strategic communication skills and effectivestakeholder relationship management.One of the keys to having stakeholders work together is bettercommunications across the entire value chain. All elementsmust understand what’s in it for them if they work togetherand take a shared long-term vision. The deer farmer mustunderstand what the shopper wants and we must continue toeducate the importer about producer concerns. And we mustmake sure restaurateurs are not exposed because we don’tunderstand their issues.Velvet producers have to work closer together. We needbuy-in to a common goal and we need to ensure no-one isdisenfranchised or at too much risk. These issues are raised inboth the velvet and venison industry strategies.A lack of trust has been identified as an issue in the venisonindustry, while a “last man standing” attitude affects thevelvet industry.Good communication and stakeholder management willhelp DINZ better manage levies, to lobby for improved R&Dinvestments and to ensure those funds are well targeted.Farmers need and deserve a voice, because they are thebackbone of this industry. They must have a role in settingstrategic direction, but must also trust others in the valuechain.I’m keen and motivated. What I’m offering won’t solve all theproblems, but it’s part of the solution. I don’t have all theanswers but I do have a plan.ElectionsBill Taylor confirmed that David Stevens and Ponty von Dadelszenhad been returned unopposed to the Selection and AppointmentsPanel for a two-year term.Wilton Turner has been elected unopposed to fill the NZDFAExecutive Committee vacancy left by the retirement by rotation ofSharon Love. Bill Taylor stood again after retirement by rotationand was re-elected unopposed. Wilton and Bill join Earle Wellsand Ed Noonan on the four-personcommittee.FarewellsBill Taylor thanked Sharon Lovefor her tremendous contribution tothe Executive Committee followingher two-year term, especially herefforts in regard to standardisingand coordinating the various velvetcompetitions. He wished her thebest for her future endeavours anddirections.Sharon said she had appreciated theopportunity to join the committeeand make a contribution. “Beinginvolved in the velvet competitionshas been very exciting and challenging.” She said she is steppingaway from the family farm but continuing to pursue her newTradedeer business and looking forward to seeing some differentparts of the country.Also making a departure is DINZMarketing and CommunicationsAssistant, Natalie Fraser, who hasfinally succumbed to the siren call offull-time study at Victoria Universityto complete a degree in accounting,after nearly two years’ service atDINZ.Natalie has provided excellentsupport to Producer ManagerTony Pearse, particularly incommunications surrounding theFocus Farm projects and of coursethe e-newsletter for DFA members,Stagline-online, which goes fromstrength to strength.Natalie said she had learnt a lot during her time at DINZ andthanked the NZDFA and Branch Chairmen for all their support. Shealso pointed out that the “I want to marry a farmer” sticker onher DINZ computer was not an advertisement and had in fact beendonated by the DFA Executive Committee Chairman.A final word from the organiserSharon Love: Moving onafter two years on NZDFAExecutive Committee.Natalie Fraser: LeavingDINZ for full-time studyCentral Regions’ conference organising committee chairman andincoming Executive Committee member Wilton Turner thankedthe many people who had contributed to the assembly of themagnificent antler wall which made such a striking backdrop to theconference. These included:Ken Swainson, Fallow Society; Donald Whyte and John Falconer,Elk & Wapiti Society; Steven Borland (North Island Reds); TrevorKenny (South Island Reds); Miles Halberg (builder); David Crowley(scaffolder); DINZ (lighting); Tony Cochrane (transport); and theCentral Regions committee.Issue No 36 • June 2009 15
Page 7 and 8: conferenceExporter/marketer forumFo
Page 9 and 10: conferencepeople) now receive this
Page 11: NZDFA 2009, 34th Annual General Mee
Page 15 and 16: Hannah Hsu joins DINZ teamgeneral n
Page 17 and 18: conferenceand returns. This strateg
Page 19 and 20: Korean FTA negotiations under wayco
Page 21 and 22: industry newsFitting climate change
Page 23 and 24: Market ReportVelvetWhile the weight
Page 25 and 26: general newsStrategies begin to sho
Page 27 and 28: general newsThe treated group showe
Page 29 and 30: Venison production shows healthy gr
Page 31 and 32: July technical conference draws top

Deer Industry News #36 June 2009 - Deer Industry New Zealand

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