He is a former president of Otago Federated Farmers, was involved in the initial startup of the WAI Wānaka catchment group and the Freshwater Improvement Fund which was linked to the catchment group.
What is your utopian view for the future of the farming sector? What makes a good rural community and what advice do you have for your younger self?
As the Irish say, may the road rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains falls soft on your fields.
A utopian view of farming would certainly have to include the weather. Every good rural conversation starts with it. Is it dry enough for you, is it wet enough for you?
Good rain or crap weather?
We cannot change the weather, what we get and when we get it, but we must be able to change our systems to cope with what and when we receive. The weather is important, but not the most important thing.
True utopia would be for those of us who work the land to be recognised and rewarded. It’s not just about the hours of work or the conditions that we endure. It’s about the communities we build, the volunteer hours that support those rural communities, and the money and time that is spent to make them better for following generations.
Approximately three million hectares (26.5%) of New Zealand’s remaining native vegetation is on sheep, beef and dairy farms. Much of this has been protected either formally or informally through on-farm management. Countless kilometres of fencing and planting are being done to protect waterways. Seldom is this recognised.
And the reward for this? It should certainly be better than last season. Costs are up and revenue down. Beef + Lamb New Zealand estimate that farm profitability is at a 15-year low with many farms making a cash loss.
A utopian view would give our farms a decent return on capital so that investment in the environment, production and our in rural communities, can continue.
There is not one rural school, church, ambulance station, or community hall, that hasn’t been built on the generosity of the rural community that it serves. Where on-farm profitability is lacking so too is the investment in communities.
We in rural New Zealand must therefore continue to support and show kindness to each other. These are the fundamentals of a good rural community. Connections that we make reinforce and strengthen our communities. The closer communities are, the better off, the individuals within the community are. This is where catchment groups play an important role today, like farm discussion groups’ in the ’80s and ’90s. Many of these community groups were initially set up for water quality, but are now looking at farm diversity options, community welfare and wider environmental and social opportunities.
Keep an eye out on your neighbours and they will look out for you. You don’t always have to get along but it’s amazing how a dozen eggs, the lending of a farm implement (they break it, they buy it), or a simple cup of coffee and a chat will be repaid a thousand times over when your time of need arises.
And what advice for my younger self?
I have no regrets, (well, maybe, there was that one time ... ). Get involved. It’s a great chance to get off farm, interact with other like-minded people and realise that you can make a difference.
Rely on, and trust, your partner. Two heads are always better than one and what looks like good idea to you upon discussion may seem slightly ludicrous. Talk, share your goals and disappointments and work together, even if you have different roles.
Be aware of your own health. Taking a weekend off for relaxation is far cheaper than fixing the mistakes you make because of fatigue. Share family duties, as the most important legacy you build up is the next generation.
Set goals, both personal and professional. Each year try something new. Some will work and some will not, and you don’t need to be the first to do anything, but you probably shouldn’t be the last if it looks successful.
Get advice. Free advice is available from many of your trusted rural professionals. Other advice you should pay for and don’t skimp on this. The ultimate decision is with you and your partner.
Strive for profit. (I was never very good at this one). Budget and review constantly. Profits accumulate as do losses. Profits give you options that losses do not. In striving for profit some losses may occur but do not make a habit of them.
That is my utopian advice to better our rural communities for my younger self. I didn’t mean to preach, and would I listen anyway?
— Phill Hunt, Sheep and beef farmer, Maungawera, Otago.
