Why farming is the sunrise
Released 24 Jun 2011
Don Nicolson is President of Federated Farmers and retired from the position on 1 July 2011
In 1988, the late Prime Minister, David Lange, infamously said, "farming is a sunset industry and manufacturing and tourism will take its place." If Mark Twain was writing today, he'd probably observe that, "the rumours of agriculture's demise have been greatly exaggerated."
At the end of the June, Federated Farmers presidential baton will go to someone new. The fact we're seeing so many people seeking the top job is proof that Federated Farmers is hitting the mark. Forget every tired 1970's cliché about farmers or Federated Farmers for that matter because there's a deep vein of professionalism. Take Northland provincial president Matt Long and his team. Supported by policy staff and Northland Field Officer, Michael Jujnovich, they ‘have the back' of Northland's farming community.
For many farmers, local and regional plans can seem a byzantine maze and Federated Farmers Northland works hard to ensure the best outcome for farmers. We do it so well, that when farmers call 0800 FARMING, it's easy to forget that Federated Farmers is a membership based organisation. We've calculated that over my tenure as National President, we've saved each farm something like $93,000. That makes a membership a bargain in anyone's language. While we may sometimes grate with what we say, we actually get it right on most occasions. Sometimes it takes a while but as Gift Duty's abolition after 42 years of lobbying shows, we can play the long game. I'm also proud of the way Federated Farmers stepped up in times of crisis, like with Federated Farmers ‘Farmy Army' in Christchurch. I even experienced this work first hand when devastating spring snow struck at the opposite end of the country last September.
As I prepare to leave for new pastures, my big passion is to regain authority over property. It used to be about ‘maintaining authority', but frankly, years of the nanny state has created a nanny public. The philosopher Voltaire puts how I feel the best; "I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write". This sentiment is all about respecting the rights of others but today, some people seem to believe they know more about my farm, my finances and my life than I do. My big fear is that once you lose respect for the rights of others, you are taking a step towards anarchy. Take the brouhaha about Wellington airport's ‘Wellywood' sign. I remain indifferent about it but the airport's climb down after getting legal permission to build a legal sign on land it legally owns sets a bad precedent. It means easily created Facebook profiles count much more than the rule book. While we may vehemently disagree with rules you must respect them while working for change inside the tent.
That really sums up Federated Farmers approach using research and reason to bring about the best outcome for farming and by doing that, for New Zealand. Federated Farmers punches above its weight because we believe that "farming is a sunrise industry and farming related manufacturing and tourism will take New Zealand forward."
