The levy ensures continued investment in activities that are highly relevant to farmers, both for current operations and future challenges. Brown emphasized that the vote offers a crucial opportunity to showcase the progress the organization is making and to secure the ongoing success of the agribusiness community. This six-yearly vote is a core democratic process that empowers farmers to directly influence the direction and funding of their industry’s key support body.

As part of the lead-up to the vote, the DairyNZ board and management plan to hold regional meetings with farmers. These meetings are intended to provide a forum for discussion, allowing farmers to ask questions about the levy and gain a clear understanding of its purpose and impact. This outreach is a critical step in building trust and ensuring that the entire industry is well-informed before casting their ballots.

A key piece of data journalism from the article reveals a recent change to the levy. DairyNZ has set a new milksolids levy for the current season at 4.5c/kgMS, a significant increase from the previous rate of 3.6c/kgMS, which had been in place for 16 years. This adjustment equates to an additional $900 per 100,000kgMS for farmers. The article also notes that a portion of the collected funds, up to $14.5 million, is paid to OSPRI for the Tb Free program.