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EQUAL - An On-Farm Dairy Quality Management System
While many people have embraced the Government’s strategy to move away from the “picking winners” syndrome that pervaded the 70s and 80s New Zealand land management philosophy, it appears some find the movement too slow. Hence we hear demands for direct regulatory intervention.
It is fitting, of course, that these calls come from those who do not yet understand the realities of farming in New Zealand. While there are no subsidies available to New Zealand farmers, the playing field is by no means flat! Last year tariff payments cost the dairy industry $500 million. For the average farmer that meant approximately $35,000 each in foregone income!
To keep ahead, we must find the most efficient, cost-effective way to stay in business and continue to improve our game. Unnecessary added compliance costs through ill-thought-out regulatory demands can only halt the forward momentum.
So let’s look at some of the real progress that has been made despite that enormous imposition. Stage one saw the investment of substantial farmer dollars in financing environmentally improved systems for manufacturing plants. (Even though improved performance is an ongoing aim, some of the costs have been excessive, as the processes around the RMA have added unnecessary expense in unwarranted areas. For example the $3 million resource consent costs to upgrade the New Zealand Dairy Group’s factory at Te Rapa, appear far too high.)
Now that these improvements are basically in place, farmers have begun to focus their attention back at the farm level. In doing so, the dairy industry has initiated the development of an industry-wide on-farm quality assurance system. This system builds upon the principles of the “EQUAL - Excellence in Quality Management” programme.
EQUAL can be described as a self-regulatory approach to an industry-wide on-farm quality assurance system that can provide a robust audit component where market requirements dictate.
The programme was conceived by a farmer-led Change Leader Group that has sought sound advice, has secured farmer support, initiated partnerships with key industry players, and has recognised what motivates farmers.
Through the programme the farmer group has initiated a number of innovative approaches to on-farm quality assurance, such as:
- The realities of farm management have been recognised and embraced in the philosophy that considers food quality and safety, animal welfare, health and safety on-farm and environmental management in one package.
- The EQUAL system concept was developed by a team led by dairy farmers Graham McBride and myself, who pooled the talents and drive of a few key motivated representatives from the New Zealand Dairy Group (NZDG), NZ Landcare Trust, Waikato Pesticide Awareness Committee (WaiPAC), AgResearch, Trade NZ and Federated Farmers through Dairy Farmers of New Zealand (DFNZ), to think through a long term strategy for industry involvement. This support has now expanded to include representation from other players such as Environment Waikato, New Zealand Society of Farm Management, AgriQuality New Zealand, Quality Consultants New Zealand (QCONZ), Dairy Meats of New Zealand, Fertiliser Manufacturers’ Research Association, Affco Holdings, Occupational Safety and Health Service and the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
- Farmer “ownership” of any QA system has been recognised as a primary driver for buy-in. Thus farmer involvement in the development and promotion is essential. The EQUAL process looks to influence farmer attitude to QA. We also increasingly recognise this package as an essential risk management tool.
- A farmer reality check is imperative. This is enhanced through the overview role of Peer Review Farmer Teams, which have been established throughout New Zealand.
A summary of the development of EQUAL
Prior to July 1999 (97-99)
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Post July 1999
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Jim Cotman |
Contact for Enquiries
Amber Duncalfe
Editor - RM Update
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 4 894 0710
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
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