There will be countless hours of debate and numerous meetings in draughty country halls before the viability of the red meat sector is turned around, but farmers can initiate some change now, according to the authors of the latest report looking at its problems.
The man leading the development of the red meat sector strategy, Deloitte partner Alasdair MacLeod, estimates up to $360 million in extra income could flow back to the sector over five years from three fundamental changes, and he said change could start now.
He told about 100 farmers and industry participants in Gore last week that benefits would accrue from farmers aligning themselves with a meat processor, writing a business plan, and sourcing more information to enhance or support farm production.
The report's authors are seeking feedback for the first phase of the two-part strategy, which is built around three changes it estimates could release $360 million in income to the sector.
Those changes were: streamlining livestock procurement to exclude middle-men so accurate market information flows back to farmers; consolidating in-market activity among exporters; and improving on-farm performance.
The second or growth phase of the report will look at improved market access, better use of scale to drive value and margins, adding value and differentiation to products to attract premium pricing, and further development of farming systems.
He warned the practice of having processors compete for livestock and then for market share with the end product, was not sustainable.
"I'm telling you that you can't have both and a sustainable industry."
But change could start now, he said.
"Individual farmers have the power to make change and to influence the future of red meat."
Mr MacLeod said farmers could start influencing the fortunes of the sector by aligning themselves with a processor with whom farmers had similar values.
He accepted that was already done in southern New Zealand where farmers were largely aligned to processors.
A survey of farmers revealed 30% had a business plan, a figure he said compared well with small to medium business owners, but it should be higher.
Such plans should be written down so they are committed to memory and provide a blueprint of where farmers are taking their business.
There needed to be renewed efforts to lift poorer performing farmers.
"The red meat sector is critically important to the New Zealand economy. If you look at its average performance it is respectable, but the big issue is that it is unevenly spread."
Top-performing sheep and beef farmers could run any small to medium enterprise business, but his survey revealed many farmers would like to have more knowledge on how to run a business.
Those top-performers could explain their goals, focus on what they could control, seek information from a variety of sources, benchmark their activities and manage their costs.
A telling statistic from his research revealed that 60% of red meat farmers would like to invest in their farms, but less than 40% said they could.
"There is a much higher appetite to invest than there is ability."