Ian Jackson, of Waimate, said during the association's annual conference at Balclutha yesterday one of the major issues faced by farm foresters was the Forest Owners Association's (FOA) compulsory levy proposal.
The FOA has more than 119 members, mainly large-forest owners who account for two-thirds of the forestry estate. The association needs the agreement of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association's more than 2200 members, who represent less than a third of the estate, to have a referendum on the levy proposal.
The levy would be compulsory on all harvested timber, and the FOA plans to have it in place by July next year. A referendum will be held in November.
Outgoing NZFFA president John Dermer, of Feilding, said the group was the only organisation representing small growers.
He hoped some of the levy funding would be used by the FOA for some of the many programmes the Farm Forestry Association was involved with.
Another issue farm foresters faced was the lack of training available through tertiary providers. Mr Jackson said neither Telford, a former rural polytechnic, nor Lincoln University offered farm forestry courses.
"Farm forestry is important to any kind of farm, even dairy farms."
Mr Dermer said farm foresters also had an "incredible wealth" of knowledge across many areas, as its members had all kinds of backgrounds.
The NZFFA was formed in 1957 and its members are spread over 27 branches throughout the country, with more than 2000 members.
The association estimates its members own or manage upto 100,000ha of forest.
The association's 56th annual conference is being held in South Otago this week. The first two days were based at Telford, near Balclutha. Field trips will cover the wider South Otago area from today to Sunday.
More than 200 people registered for the conference and field trips, which a 15-strong committee planned for about two years.
