Richard McIntyre may be standing for the DairyNZ board, but his commitment to Federated Farmers’ advocacy work is as strong as ever.
With just under a year to go in his role as Federated Farmers dairy chair, McIntyre has thrown his hat in the ring to contest the 2024 DairyNZ director elections.
“This is the last of my three years as Federated Farmers dairy chair and I’ve been looking at how I can keep adding value for New Zealand farmers,” he says.
“The more I’ve thought about it, the clearer it’s become that the DairyNZ board table is the place where I can make a real contribution and difference for farmers.”
McIntyre wants to reassure farmers that his work for Federated Farmers won’t be affected if he does get voted onto DairyNZ’s board.
“We’ve got some important work underway with the rural banking inquiry and long-term changes to immigration settings that I’m determined to see through to the end.
“There will be a process I’ll need to go through with Federated Farmers, and any conflicts will need to be carefully managed, but I don’t see any major issues.
“At the end of the day, both organisations are funded by farmers and should be working hard to deliver real value and results.”
McIntyre says the two organisations have very different roles to play as part of ‘Team Ag’, but they still need to work constructively together in a well-coordinated way.
“Many farmers are really struggling this season with increased costs and reduced incomes. It’s putting a squeeze on their profits and family’s budgets.
“There are also some serious long-term challenges that need to be addressed when it comes to filling gaps in our workforce and meeting environmental standards.
“Farmers are quite rightly looking to DairyNZ for practical solutions that will improve productivity, increase profitability and reduce environmental footprint.”
The Horowhenua sharemilker says he’s standing for DairyNZ because he doesn’t feel those needs are currently being met as well as they could be.
“I’d like to see DairyNZ really reconnect with farmers and focus on the areas where they can add the most value: their core functions of research, science and extension.
“Farmers are sick of seeing duplication of effort or conflicting messages across different organisations, particularly when they’re picking up the tab for it.
“There’s also a real desire in our rural communities to see more genuine grassroots farmers sitting around our agricultural boardroom tables.”
McIntyre believes being a sharemilker still on a progression pathway to farm ownership is another strong point of difference for him.
“I think having a sharemilker sitting around the board table would bring a very fresh perspective to the organisation,” he says.
“Often those who put their names forward for these roles are at a stage in their career where they’re looking to step back from the day-to-day running of the farm.
“I’m a little bit different in that I’m still relatively young, working my way up through the dairy industry, and looking to further my farming career.
“I’ve still got dirt under my fingernails and know my way around the inside of a cowshed.”
McIntyre has held several governance roles outside of Federated Farmers, including stints as the chair of the NZ Dairy Industry Awards and deputy chair of Fish & Game.
He’s also completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme and a term as a DairyNZ associate director.
“I know what good governance looks like and how to get the best out of an organisation,” he says.
McIntyre also says he’s keen to leave the door open – once his term as dairy chair ends in June next year – to a return to Federated Farmers’ leadership.
“Federated Farmers are an outstanding organisation who do so much for our rural communities and farming families, often quietly behind the scenes.
“No matter where I go, Federated Farmers and that genuine connection to grassroots farming will always be in my blood.”
Farmer voting for the two positions on DairyNZ’s board of directors will take place during September and October, with the successful candidates announced at DairyNZ’s annual general meeting on October 22.
Federated Farmers, New Zealand’s leading independent rural advocacy organisation, has established a news and insights partnership with AgriHQ, the country’s leading rural publisher, to give the farmers of New Zealand a more informed, united and stronger voice. Federated Farmers news and commentary appears each week in its own section of the Farmers Weekly print edition and online.
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