Federated Farmers of New Zealand
1,150 posts | 7 images
New Zealand's leading rural sector organisation, Federated Farmers of New Zealand represents 17,000 member farmers and rural families throughout New Zealand. A network of 24 provinces, together with associated area networks or branches, provides a locally based, democratic organisation that gives farmers a collective voice nationally and within each province.
A report in the New Zealand Herald, highlighting the state of New Zealand’s inland waterways, has Federated Farmers asking for greater action on the sources of bacterial contamination.
229 views
The High Court’s quashing of a conviction for accessing a computer for dishonest purposes, highlights the importance of sticking to Federated Farmers’ Herd Owning Sharemilking Agreement.
152 views
A simple text message confirmed amazing news that Hawke’s Bay deer farmers and Federated Farmers members, Tim Aitken and Lucy Robertshawe, are Marks & Spencer 2012 Farming for the Future Champion of Champions.
261 views
Federated Farmers welcomes the new Primary Industry Training Organisation (Primary ITO), following the formal merger launch yesterday of the AgITO and Horticulture ITO. This follows July’s merger of the Seafood ITO and the NZITO (meat and dairy sectors).
1,239 views
Federated Farmers is joining what could be New Zealand’s best ever scavenger hunt. Fronted by Swazi’s Davey Hughes, farmers are being given a great opportunity to not only find an Isuzu D-Max Ute, but if they do, they get to keep it.
422 views
Federated Farmers has brokered what could be its last meeting before the mutant calf issue ends up before the Courts and/or the Commerce Commission.
177 views
Federated Farmers believes quantitative easing now would be incredibly bad for New Zealand.
177 views
Federated Farmers Grain & Seed Industry Group welcomes the news that Solid Energy has received a bid to buy its Agribusiness division as a going concern.
198 views
Federated Farmers Rotorua-Taupo is applauding the work of farmers and the wider community, which has seen Lake Rotorua improve beyond the target set by Bay of Plenty Regional Council in its regional water and land plan.
91 views
After the second consecutive district plan success against Transpower’s ‘buffer zones’, this time in Waimate District, Federated Farmers is calling on Transpower to call off its expensive lawyers and instead read the writings of its own Chief Executive.
320 views
Federated Farmers applauds the research team at AgResearch for a global breakthrough on hypoallergenic milk, which could add value to new milk based exports, so long as it clears regulatory and safety approvals.
164 views
Federated Farmers is pleased to see evidence the Remote Schools Rural Broadband Initiative is reaching remote rural communities, including the children at Kereru School in Hawkes’ Bay who are the first school to be connected this week.
134 views
A Kiwi deer farming couple could be crowned 2012 Marks & Spencer Farming for the Future Champion of Champions.
770 views
The high Kiwi dollar has cost Fonterra’s farmer-shareholders around a billion dollars in lost revenue. Yet its result, in a week of job losses, should remind everyone the exceptional opportunities New Zealand has with food.
217 views
Federated Farmers today confirmed that it has filed an appeal in the High Court regarding the Environment Court decision [2012 NZEnvC182] in Andrew Day and Others v Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council. The council is also known as Horizons Regional Council.
158 views
With local government spending increasing 119 percent in less than ten years, Federated Farmers has used its submission on the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill, to call for local government to be refocused on local government.
334 views
CHRISTCHURCH — Federated Farmers’ Adverse Events Trust (registered charity no.
405 views
Federated Farmers Dairy wants to clarify its position on semen supplied by LIC bull, Matrix, to farmers, leading to a number of calves being born deformed.
192 views
Adverse weather is not the only thing threatening sheep farmers.
161 views
CANTERBURY — Federated Farmers applauds the decision of Local Government Minister, the Hon David Carter MP, to extend the Environment Canterbury (Ecan) Commissioners term for a further three years to 2016.
386 views
nstead of improving the environment, the Environment Court’s decision on the Horizon Regional Council’s (HCR) controversial One Plan will be bad for everyone in the Horizons region.
185 views
Federated Farmers Gisborne is disappointed the Wairoa to Gisborne rail line is to be mothballed under KiwiRail’s Infrastructure and Engineering Business Plan. The Federation now challenges the Government to increase road funding to support the region’s exporters.
147 views
The 0.4 percent fall in merchandise export volumes for the March 2012 quarter, has Federated Farmers questioning if government, at all levels, understands the need for spending and policy restraint.
135 views
Under its Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Federated Farmers is supporting the Ministry in a major animal welfare case involving dairy cattle on the West Coast.
139 views
Without the incredible honeybee, two-thirds of the food we take for granted would almost vanish, making life as we know it impossible.
288 views
The hard work of Tauranga’s Pahoia School for Bee Week 2012, has brought praise from Federated Farmers.
490 views
Federated Farmers is highlighting how everyone can make a difference to whether bees are healthily ‘fat’ or sickly skinny.
192 views
By reaching Bluff in the 12 years since the Varroa Mite was first confirmed in Auckland, one of the world’s worst bee threats is close to completing its colonisation of New Zealand. “Has Varrora had an impact on New Zealand? Absolutely,” confirms John Hartnell, Federated Farmers Bees chairperson and a major exporter of bee products.
137 views
Honey bees, so vital to every New Zealander, are just 500 grams from a disaster warns Federated Farmers. That could be in the shape of just one infected jar of honey entering the country from Australia.
153 views
After 24 burgers were delivered for a joint lunch with the Forestry Owners Association, the Board of Federated Farmers has given its thumbs-up to McDonald’s Serious Lamb Burger.
453 views
Federated Farmers will continue to work with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), to ensure New Zealand’s farmers have the highest levels of practicable rules around animal welfare.
99 views
The fight against Transpower’s proposed transmission buffer zone rules has paid off.
347 views
Federated Farmers is fizzing with excitement as lamb becomes a permanent fixture on the McDonald’s menu; both as a marquee burger and as a healthy wrap.
112 views
Federated Farmers is happy with the proposed simplified rules for operating agricultural vehicles on roads announced today by the associate Minister of Transport.
103 views
Initial reports following the eruption of Mt Tongariro is that thankfully, it has had minimal impact on farm pasture or stock drinking water. Four farms have been contacted in different geographical parts of the Hawke’s Bay and they are yet to report ash.
579 views
Federated Farmers is welcoming Beef+Lamb NZ’s Economic Service confirming declines in the national sheep flock and beef herd may now be at an end. It also confirms the North Island has become the dominant island for both sheep and beef.
156 views
Trust is a vital requirement to work in farming and Federated Farmers Manawatu-Rangitikei is frustrated at reports Ewen MacDonald has admitted to arson, sabotage and the needless killing of calves on neighbouring farms.
118 views
Federated Farmers is saddened Colin Armer has resigned with immediate effect from the Fonterra Cooperative Group’s board.
143 views
Federated Farmers congratulates John Wilson for being named Fonterra Cooperative Group Chairman-elect.
127 views
With the amending bill to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) completing its final parliamentary stage yesterday, Federated Farmers is warning Fonterra supplier-shareholders they need to actively back constitutional changes due in November.
138 views
With the Official Cash Rate due out on Thursday, farmer confidence at the beginning of the 2012/13 season has plummeted in Federated Farmers latest Farm Confidence Survey.
129 views
New Zealanders will be able to size up the President of Federated Farmers for themselves this Saturday, with Country Calendar featuring the farm and work of Bruce Wills.
141 views
Local government reforms designed to focus councils on core activities must proceed, according to Local Government Forum chairman, Michael Barnett.
111 views
Farmer anger in South Canterbury is growing towards subsidised KiwiRail costing jobs at the largely ratepayer owned Port Timaru. This comes after Fonterra Cooperative Group announced it will use rail to centralise all South Island freight on the Port of Lyttelton.
190 views
If the $840 million sale of TelstraClear to Vodafone gets regulatory approval, it could strengthen the financial case for an enhanced rural broadband offer by Vodafone.
124 views
This year is shaping up as a bumpy one for the international dairy industry, with the worst U.S.
174 views
WHANGAREI — Federated Farmers continues to oppose attempts by state owned enterprise Transpower to use district plans as a way to grab more rights over land hosting electricity poles and pylons, without paying compensation to landowners.
487 views
Federated Farmers is convinced the independent and robust Sapere Research Group review into the entry of Psa will lead to significant improvements at the border.
158 views
Bruce Wills’ final column in the Sunday Star Times, which came to an end Sunday, after 2 ½ years.
194 views
The New Zealand Emissions Trading scheme (ETS) has taken a big step towards forward, yet remains the harshest treatment of any agricultural production system on earth.
167 views
At a gala event last evening in Auckland, supported by Vodafone and Beef+Lamb NZ, Progressive Meats Managing Director, Craig Hickson, was named 2012 Allflex/Federated Farmers Agribusiness Person of the Year with Dr Doug Edmeades named as the Ravensdown/Federated Farmers Agri Personality for 2012.
149 views
Speech by Bruce Wills, President of Federated Farmers, to Federated Farmers National Conference at the Crowne Plaza, Auckland Today, I am going to take a look at where we might be in the year 2020 and touch on some challenges ahead.
165 views
Speech by Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson, to Federated Farmers 2012 National Conference in Auckland Welcome to the Meat and Fibre AGM for 2012.
141 views
AUCKLAND CITY — Speech by Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson, to Federated Farmers 2012 National Conference in Auckland Good morning fellow dairy farmers.
285 views
With 66 percent of Fonterra shareholder-suppliers backing Trading Among Farmers (TAF), Federated Farmers is calling on the cooperative to unite.
172 views
Federated Farmers National Board member, Anders Crofoot, has been appointed to chair the Stakeholder Council that will oversee the merger process between the Animal Health Board (AHB) and the National Animal Identification & Tracing (NAIT) scheme.
141 views
With only a few working days before Fonterra Cooperative Group's 10,500 shareholders decide upon its Trading Among Farmers (TAF) proposal, Federated Farmers is imploring all shareholders to vote.
175 views
KAIKOURA — In its submission on the Kaikoura District Council’s (KDC) long term plan, Federated Farmers has opposed plans for an aquatic centre, costed between $14.4 and $18.7m over the next two years, and a $4.4m civic office complex.
555 views
Federated Farmers is joyed by Fonterra Cooperative Group signing a conditional offer to purchase the milk processing assets of New Zealand Dairies. If approved by the Commerce Commission and with that company in receivership, it will deliver certainty to affected farmer-creditors.
336 views
In National Fieldays week the Situation & Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) forecasts the farm gate contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), by the Primary Industries, will grow by almost 67 percent between 2009 and 2016.
161 views
Federated Farmers welcomes significant changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill following the Primary Production Select Committee. With the Bill due back in the House shortly, Federated Farmers questions why there are no legislative safeguards around Fonterra’s proposed Shareholder’s fund.
293 views
Federated Farmers Sharemilkers’ and Sharemilker Employers’ Sections, with the assistance of DairyNZ, have jointly released “Ensuring a viable progression path in the dairy industry”.
154 views
On Thursday, a farmer-led Canterbury Water Forum will challenge environmental preconceptions about farming typified by the front page of today’s Dominion Post.
109 views
In the biggest decision for Fonterra Cooperative shareholders since Fonterra was formed eleven years ago, voting packs that will define its future started arriving in the post yesterday.
188 views
Thousands of farm animals and hundreds of households will be on the move in Gypsy day, as farms change hands and sharemilkers take up new contracts from Thursday, 31 May.
118 views
Federated Farmers believes observations by the World Wildlife Fund for nature highlights how the environment needs everybody working together, town and country united.
100 views
Federated Farmers is saddened to see Fonterra Shareholders’ Council chair, Simon Couper, has resigned effective immediately.
133 views
Federated Farmers believes tighter tax rules around livestock valuations have been well-signalled.
152 views
Hard on the heels of the Land & Water Forum report, Federated Farmers has taken the lead by convening a farmer-led Canterbury Water Forum. Taking place at the Ashburton Trust Events Centre on 7 June, it gives all farmers a chance to see what the future holds.
173 views
Federated Farmers welcomes the settlement, subject to worker ratification, that will see AFFCO back in full production.
162 views
The government’s moves to increase the ratio of children to teachers will have an adverse effect on rural children’s education and potentially put workers off taking jobs in areas with reduced teacher numbers in schools, states Federated Farmers education spokesperson Jeanette Maxwell.
763 views
The second payout revision downwards by Fonterra Cooperative Group in just over two months, is the reason why Federated Farmers warns farmers to budget conservatively. It is estimated this revision will see around $500 million less come into the economy.
137 views
Water has been a divisive issue for New Zealanders, but as one of 60 stakeholders and five iwi to agree with the Land & Water Forum’s second report, Federated Farmers is looking to move forward.
139 views
Federated Farmers of New Zealand and the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) have today announced that they will both apply for membership of international agricultural advocacy body, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).
246 views
Federated Farmers is willing to contribute towards a major new study into whether coroners' recommendations are being acted upon.
165 views
The New Zealand Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC) will be using a webcast, streamed live, to launch their new educational program, New Zealand Needs Fertiliser and Plants Need Food.
175 views
Federated Farmers Gisborne-Wairoa has thrown its weight behind a campaign to get the Napier-Gisborne rail line repaired.
135 views
Federated Farmers will back the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in whatever it must do to eliminate the threat of Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni).
153 views
After a prolonged battle, including the Minaret case in the Land Valuation Court, New Zealand’s High Country farmers welcome the passing of Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Act in Parliament, clarifying that pastoral lease farm rents are to be based on pastoral rather than landscape values.
136 views
With gloomy trade news almost daily, farmers are likely to revise their farm budgets downwards. Given pastoral agriculture spends around $13 billion on goods and services each year, this has implications for both the provincial and national economy.
141 views
TIMARU — Federated Farmers has joined CRT in welcoming Chevron New Zealand’s decision to re-open its Timaru Storage Terminal. From the third quarter of 2012, an additional 20 million litres of fuel storage will be available in the lower South Island.
995 views
Federated Farmers did not hold back when critiquing the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill before Parliament’s Primary Production select committee yesterday. For a copy of the Federation’s submission, please click here.
220 views
With ‘cow pooling’ in the spotlight following TV One’s Sunday programme, Federated Farmers Rural Butchers believes it has a role to play in reconnecting the public to their food.
223 views
Using Overseas Investment Office (OIO) figures provided under the Official Information Act, Federated Farmers has found urban expansion and carbon forestry potentially pose bigger threats to agriculture than the sale of the former CraFarms to Shanghai Pengxin.
155 views
World wide demand for milk products remains steady despite a 9.9 percent price index fall on the GlobalDairyTrade online market.
122 views
Federated Farmers national president Bruce Wills attended a meeting in Invercargill yesterday with the Federated Farmers Southland executive to resolve a provincial leadership issue.
73 views
The announcement that the government has contracted providers for the last of its Rural Broadband Initiative to deliver fast internet connections to rural schools, hospitals and libraries, is a welcome step toward getting rural New Zealand on the information super highway, Federated Farmers telecommunications spokesman Anders Crofoot says.
101 views
umberjacks’, the primary industry downunder is upbeat and fizzing.
142 views
Ten North Island Federated Farmers provincial presidents, board members Ian Mackenzie and Anders Crofoot and Federated Farmers national president Bruce Wills met in Taumarunui over Easter to discuss how hill country farmers can viably manage their unique environmental challenges.
113 views
While Federated Farmers has welcomed consultation on the next set of proposed amendments to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), it is concerned about the accessibility of consultation venues.
127 views
SOUTHLAND — Federated Farmers opposes Environment Southland’s Plan Change 13 because it takes a sledge hammer to one land use type and is unlikely to result in any water quality improvements.
306 views
Far from being a promotional ‘stunt’ claimed by its rivals, supermarket Nosh has signed a bottling agreement to sell two litres of milk for $2.49. Federated Farmers believes this exposes supermarket ‘home brand’ milk margins of well over 40 percent.
271 views
Federated Farmers looks forward to submitting on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (DIRA) that has passed its first reading.
163 views
Federated Farmers looks forward to constructively working with the new Ministerial team covering portfolios formerly held by the Hon Nick Smith.
95 views