Sharefarmer Danielle Hovmand has a request for politicians – could they dial back the political ping-ponging?
Danielle Hovmand wants to see consensus that’s practical and affordable.
The Federated Farmers Waikato sharemilker vice chair wouldn’t be working so hard to achieve her dream of farm ownership if she didn’t have faith in the future of dairy.
But she believes farmers – the younger ones struggling to achieve farm ownership in particular – want some longer-term policy stability on issues like land use restrictions, water quality and biodiversity.
“We’ve just seen a Labour Government leave, and we’ve swung to other extreme in terms of industry regulation.
“Will it just swing back again the next time the balance of power changes?”
Hovmand was recently crowned the New Zealand Young Farmers Contiki Local Legend, winning a $5000 Contiki voucher, in recognition of her work on fundraisers and a Foodbank drive.
She wants to see more effort go into building consensus that’s practical and affordable.
“I’m not a hugely political person but I do think we have to reduce this ping-ponging because it creates so much uncertainty.
“With agriculture being so vital to our economy, and with the ageing population at farm ownership level, the next generation need to be able to see a future in it.
“Even for those already farming, there can be a feeling of ‘I don’t want to do anything because a new regulation might come in that completely turns it around, and it turns out it was the wrong thing to do’.”
Hovmand, 28, was raised in Katikati and grew up on her grandparents’ Hereford stud farm nearby. By the time she finished school, she knew she wanted to be a farmer.
Holiday and summer jobs on a Katikati neighbour’s dairy farm in between gaining an agricultural science degree at Massey kicked off her dairy journey.
She moved to Waikato for better dairying prospects and contract milked for three years.
Last season she and her partner Harry Phipps, a builder in Te Aroha, purchased their first herd.
They’re now 50/50 sharemilkers, milking about 250 cows just north of Morrinsville.
“Our generation tends to think we’ve had it really hard, and with the financial climate it might be a bit harder.
“But it has always been difficult,” Hovmand says.
“Finding a business partner, going in with parents, equity partnerships and the like are quite common now.
“We all just need to be more open to those different options to make it happen.”
Federated Farmers has a role there too, she says.
“One is education, such as the series of sharefarming workshops we held around the country recently.”
Hovmand is also pleased Federated Farmers’ advocacy spurred MP Suze Redmayne’s member’s bill that would allow someone to withdraw their KiwiSaver funds to buy a first farm.
It would also open the door for those living in service tenancies, such as farm staff, to use their KiwiSaver to buy their first home without having to live in it straight away.
Danielle Hovmand with partner Harry Phipps
“We just need the legislation to go that step further to allow KiwiSaver funds to be used for purchase of a first herd,” Hovmand says.
“By the time a younger farmer gets to the point of wanting to use their KiwiSaver to buy some land, they’ll probably have been putting money into it for quite a significant time.
“It could easily get them across the line a year or two earlier. I think it could be quite significant.”
Hovmand sees a need to combat negativity with accurate information and looking for solutions.
“I get asked ‘why should younger farmers join Federated Farmers?’.
“I tell them we are the future of the agriculture.
“We need to be sure that we’re involved in creating the kind of industry we want to be in.”
She recommends the Federated Farmers’ free ‘Young Farmers’ membership option.
“I joined the Morrinsville-Ngarua Young Farmers Club when I first moved to the Waikato.
“I lived quite a way of out of town. I didn’t know anyone and it was my way of meeting people.
“Being part of a community is big for me; I think that’s what makes you feel you belong.”
Hovmand met Harry through Young Farmers and it’s still a big part of their lives.
On the Federated Farmers Waikato leadership team, she presents a younger person’s view.
“I also try to gauge from other young farmers what’s concerning them, and what Federated Farmers could do to help them on their journey.
“I like to think it’s working out for both of us.”
Danielle Hovmand wants to see consensus that’s practical and affordable.
