This is my first opportunity to write in a Federated Farmers publication as your new national president. Three weeks ago, I was focused on leading my province. Now I am rearranging my farming routine so can I can go from crutching to Wellington and back again.
Thisnew challenge will present a steep learning curve for me, but I am excited by the prospects for agriculture over the next three years. More importantly, I'm excited at the part Federated Farmers will play in that future. We have a largely new board, but the new members joining David Rose and I possess a wide and impressive range of skills. Our former president, Southland's Don Nicolson, leaves a lasting legacy with what he achieved over his three-year term. I'm a different person, having lived longer in the cities than in rural areas and spending longer in banking than in farming. On-farm, I spend as much time working with trees as I do with stock, but these trees literally keep our farm together. I have also talked about a more 'collaborative' approach to Federated Farmers advocacy and building stronger ties with our urban communities.
The issues Federated Farmers deal with won't change, but you will see a new style and approach. I am confident that the broader skills and backgrounds of the new board will make an impact for the better. Hopefully, my almost 20 years in finance will prove useful in the years ahead as well. I have a strong interest in the environment including chairing the East Coast Ballance Farm Environmental Awards and also chairing the New Zealand Poplar and Willow Research Trust. It concerns me that many farmers aren't recognised well enough for the work they do in building environmentally sustainable and profitable farming businesses. This needs to change. But there are also some in farming who aren't pulling their weight. As a Federation and as an industry, it's on us to show them the benefits and get these farmers on board with us.
