It has been an intense and enjoyable first week for 2Shakes on the R9 Accelerator as we narrow our focus and gain some momentum.

Highlights have been:

NEW WEBSITE!  We have updated our website, www.2shakes.co.nz, we hope you like it as much as us, and that it turbo charges our efforts to find farmers to talk to, understand and help, as well as letting everyone see what we are trying to achieve.

DO YOU KNOW ANY FARMERS?  

We need to hear from the farming sector to find out what they most want us to work on to make it better for farming businesses. If you have any friends or relatives who could spare 10 minutes to talk to us please give us their contact details, or ask them to complete our ONLINE SURVEY. We have talked to a dozen farmers so far, and have found some clear areas of pain, but we need to talk to many, many more.  

DO YOU HAVE CONTACTS IN ORGANISATIONS DEALING WITH FARMERS & THE ENVIRONMENT? 

We also need to start investigating which organisations are interested in helping improve how NZ’s farmers can become and stay compliant.  We are looking for contacts in Local and Regional Councils, in MFAT, MPI, MFE, Fonterra, Federated Farmers, HortNZ, DoC etc.  If you know someone we could contact please let us know.

KEY QUOTES of the week are
                       “…you shouldn’t have to have a PhD in a foreign language to fill in a form…..”

                        “….last year compliance cost me $50,000 for my farm.  That cost represents a person I could have employed but am spending the money on government compliance instead….”