A farmer and former Meat Board director has complained to the Auditor General's office about the voting system being used to determine farmer support for a research programme designed to boost sheep and beef farm productivity.
The Government has committed more than $30 million from the Primary Growth Partnership Fund to cover half the cost. Meat companies and banks are also contributing.
But their backing depends on farmers agreeing to fund 30% of the cost through the use of reserve and levy money from Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Sheep and beef farmers are now voting on that and the outcome will be announced at Beef + Lamb's annual meeting on Friday.
But John McCarthy, who farms at Ohakune in the central North Island, has complained about the voting process.
He considers it's undemocratic because Landcorp and meat companies that own stock, are also allowed to vote.
He says the vote should be delayed until the Auditor General's office has ruled on his complaint.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand's chairman, Mike Petersen disagrees that smaller farmers get no say, although he said, said it may be time to review the organisation's constitution.
But in the meantime, it has to follow the voting system that's laid down in company rules.
