B+LNZ has been gathering farmer feedback from a range of sources, including the Director roadshow, recent workshops and a farmer survey, to further develop our climate change policy positions. Find out about this and other climate change-related work.
B+LNZ is seeking to work with the Government on developing enduring policy solutions across a range of areas, including climate change. Our work is strongly informed by farmer input.
Survey of farmer views on climate change
First up, we commissioned an independent survey of randomly selected farmers to get their views on climate change policy responses.
In August, Primary Purpose conducted an online survey involving a randomly selected and representative sample of farmers on B+LNZ’s database. The survey was undertaken at the same time as previously released research into farmers’ preliminary views on gene technologies.
Key findings from the survey about climate change include:
- Most farmers (75%) agree that ‘human-created greenhouse gas emissions are having an impact on climate change’.
- Just under half of farmers (49%) agree that ‘New Zealand should be investing in finding technologies to tackle methane produced by animals’, with 28% disagreeing and 21% neutral.
- A similar number (46%) agree that ‘New Zealand farmers should be making on-farm changes to help manage their impacts on climate change’, with 24% disagreeing and 30% neutral.
- Just over half of farmers are interested in using tools or technologies to help manage on-farm emissions, with 23% neutral or unsure.
- Almost all farmers (91%) agree ‘the impact on food production and security should be taken into account when deciding how on-farm emissions will be treated’.
- A strong majority of farmers (76%) agree that ‘a price on emissions is not the best way to incentivise change’.
- A majority of farmers (69%) agree ‘the market should drive on-farm behaviour rather than government’.
The full research report is here (PDF, 540KB).
Workshops to test our policy positions
We also tested our existing positions in detail at small-group in-person sessions during the nationwide Director roadshow between 29 July and 5 September, and at several climate change policy workshops during October.
B+LNZ GM Policy and Advocacy Dave Harrison said the team is hugely grateful to everyone who came along and contributed during what is a very busy time on farm for most.
“There were high levels of engagement at all the sessions and It’s fair to say there was a wide diversity of views on what B+LNZ should focus on in the climate change policy space. We’re taking all views on board as we formulate our positions.”
Key themes we heard from farmers at these sessions included:
- Farmers wanted us to continue to make the case that sheep and beef GHG emissions have been reducing since 1990 and in recent years the sector has not been adding any additional warming – arguably it has been contributing to cooling of the atmosphere.
- Farmers strongly agreed that what they’re asked to do must be fair and achievable, and policy focused on not contributing to additional warming.
- They told us they wanted to see farmers’ interests at the heart of any discussions and agreed there should not be a price on agricultural emissions.
- The areas farmers wanted to focus on varied from meeting to meeting, showing marked differences in what’s top of mind for farmers around the country. In the Wairarapa, for example, afforestation for carbon farming was seen as a pressing issue, while in Oamaru farmers wanted to discuss the science behind climate change.
Next steps on climate change policy development
The independent survey results and all farmer feedback from the recent workshops will be presented to the B+LNZ Board. The Board will discuss and work through any adjustments to B+LNZ’s policy positions and to our engagement approach.
A summary of these positions will be reported back to farmers in the coming months.
Harrison says the development of B+LNZ’s climate change policy is ongoing and there will be further opportunities for farmers to contribute as the Government’s policy plans are released.
“We’ll continue to seek insights from farmers, especially on policies that impact their bottom line. It’s important that we reflect the farmer voice in our advocacy.”
B+LNZ plans to run workshops on biodiversity policy in early 2025, and on GE, and will provide more information when details are finalised.
Other recent climate change-related work by B+LNZ
- At the end of October we released updated research on sheep and beef farm sales into forestry which underlines the need for action to address the amount of productive sheep and beef farmland being lost to forestry, particularly for carbon farming.
- We’re now finalising further reports to underpin our climate change policy advocacy – we’ll keep farmers updated.
- We’re also getting ready for reports on emissions reduction targets before the end of the year from the Government’s independent panel on methane targets as well as from the Climate Change Commission.