The future of Beef and Lamb New Zealand is under the spotlight with the official launch of the industry-good organisation's referendum campaign.
The Commodities Levies Act requires farmers to vote to continue new levy orders every six years.
An affirmative vote would enable BLNZ's activities to carry on, while a ''no'' vote would mean it would be wound down.
The 2015 Sheepmeat and Beef Levy Referendum proposal was launched yesterday at the BLNZ farmer council annual conference in Wellington.
Voting opens on Saturday and closes on September 10.
The proposed levy rates from 2016 to 2017 were to remain unchanged at 60c per sheep and $4.40 per cattle beast.
Under the Act, a maximum levy must also be set for the six-year levy cycle.
For sheep, that would be set at 75c per head and beef $5.50 per head.
If farmers wanted more investment in certain areas, then the maximum levy provided flexibility within the next six years.
However, there would need to be strong farmer support for any adjustment from the current levies beyond 2017, chairman James Parsons said.
He encouraged farmers, who must enrol to receive voting packs, to attend regional roadshow meetings this month.
