Four Members of Parliament and a farming conference

Topping the bill for the Federated Farmers 2009 National Conference, being held in Auckland from 30 June until 2 July, will be the Prime Minister, two current Ministers, a former Minister, two Chief Executives, a passionate academic, New Zealand’s foremost agri-economist, an inspirational wool exporter and several motivational speakers.

“First hand knowledge is power,” says Don Nicolson, President of Federated Farmers.

“The Plenary day on Wednesday combined with the Prime Minster’s breakfast on Thursday morning is about informing and educating New Zealand’s farmers.

“It also underscores the many issues Federated Farmers as an organisation addresses off-farm on behalf of all farmers. Issues farmers couldn’t possibly address by themselves.

“Federated Farmers is honoured to have arguably the finest collection of speakers, farmers will have access to all year.

“In turn, it’s a genuine opportunity for those same speakers to see that farmers aren’t down in the mouth but are hungry to get on with the business of farming. The issue we continually struggle against is a weird policy obsession to find a substitute for agriculture.

“Agriculture didn’t become New Zealand’s largest and most important industry by accident. As a country, New Zealand has not leveraged off agriculture to become a knowledge led economy in the one area we have a lot of knowledge about.

“Since agriculture is to New Zealand what Nokia is to Finland, farmers ask where are the host of equally successful support industries in finance, manufacturing, animal remedies and information technology?

“The key role for the Federation is to advocate and lead on issues that benefit farmers. For what is good for us, is fantastic for the rest of the country,” Mr Nicolson concluded.

For 2009, the Federated Farmers One Event National Conference will feature open sessions that farmers and non-farmers are welcome to register for. More information about how to register can be obtained by calling 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646). Speakers include:

WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY (MEDIA WELCOME TO COVER)

8.30am Don Nicolson – President, Federated Farmers of NZ, conference opening

8.45am Hon David Carter MP – Minister for Agriculture

9.30am Hon Rodney Hide MP – Minister of Local Government/Regulatory Reform and Leader of the ACT Party

10.30am Prof Jacqueline Rowarth – Director, Agriculture at Massey University

11.15am Doug Steel – Agri Economist, Westpac New Zealand

12.00pm Hon Jim Anderton MP – Opposition Spokesperson for Agriculture and Leader of the Progressive Party

1.45pm Jamie Fitzgerald – The first kiwi to reach the South pole unsupported on foot.

2.30pm Dr. Paul Reynolds – Chief Executive, Telecom Group

3.30pm Beverley Forrester – Entrepreneurial wool exporter and Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Woman Award finalist

4.15pm Pita Alexander – Director, PS Alexander and Associates

5.05pm Conor English – Chief Executive, Federated Farmers of NZ

7.30pm Federated Farmers 2009 Cream of the Crop Awards

THURSDAY, 2 JULY (MEDIA WELCOME TO COVER)

7.30am Hon John Key MP – Prime Minister’s Breakfast