Angela McFetridge, B+LNZ’s Design Lead – Research programmes, received full funding to attend and speak at the 24th International Farm Management Association Congress in Canada. This global event brought together experts from over 50 countries to discuss new approaches to farming and rural enterprise.
Angela shared insights from B+LNZ's Hill Country Futures programme, a five-year research initiative aimed at boosting the resilience of hill country farms. She focused on how change which is pushed and pulled through rural communities have different impacts. Much of this change highlights the growing pressure New Zealand farmers face due to regulations and tight deadlines to meet challenging environmental targets.
Interviews conducted as part of the programme revealed that many New Zealand farmers are frustrated by the push for change. New policies often feel rigid and out of touch with the practical realities of farming.
Angela noted, “Farmers expressed that many policies focus on a narrow aspect of a wider system, overlooking the complex biological and ecological dynamics of hill country farming.”
Farmers also raised concerns about the costs involved, both financial and time related. While most supported the idea of regulation goals in principle, they stressed the importance of trust and respect in the relationship between policymakers, regulators and farmers.
"The competency and respect of those implementing regulations are crucial to achieving better outcomes for both sides," Angela explained.
There were additional concerns about the potential and real impact that market pull has such as rapid, large-scale land use changes, often benefiting a few corporate players, leaving rural communities drained of resources without anything in return.
“Farmers are worried about how regulatory changes could impact their communities. They feel a responsibility as rural and provincial communities are often built around and are very reliant on the health of farming businesses,” adds Angela.
However, New Zealand’s farmers are open to positive change. The Hill Country Futures programme promotes sustainable farming practices like resilient forages, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and waterway management. Her presentation highlighted how many New Zealand farmers are integrating sustainability with productivity, which resonated strongly with the international audience.
“Sharing our work with a global audience was exciting and rewarding,”
“It’s clear that the world is eager to learn from our work as there are similar scenarios in many other countries. It was a privilege to represent the farmers we interviewed and New Zealand hill country farming on the world stage.”
The IFMA Congress provided a valuable platform for B+LNZ to share these learnings, offering insights that resonate with farmers worldwide as the agricultural sector continues to evolve.