The farmer group campaigning for meat industry reform wants an acknowledgment from the Government that the sector is in deep trouble.
John McCarthy: just asking for help. Photo: MIE
Meat Industry Excellence has asked Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy to convene a summit to address what it describes as a crisis.
The group hasn't had a response from the minister yet, but his office says he'll be discussing the meat reform issue when he addresses Beef + Lamb New Zealand's annual meeting in Feilding on Friday.
It says he'll be emphasising that any proposals have to come from the industry itself, and not be imposed by the Government.
Meat Industry Excellence chair John McCarthy says it's not asking the Government to impose anything, but to help.
He says it's not in the national interest to turn New Zealand into a giant dairy farm, with more and more land devoted to intensive dairying.
