Federated Farmers of New Zealand
1,166 posts | 8 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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World wide demand for milk products remains steady despite a 9.9 percent price index fall on the GlobalDairyTrade online market.
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Federated Farmers national president Bruce Wills attended a meeting in Invercargill yesterday with the Federated Farmers Southland executive to resolve a provincial leadership issue.
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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.
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umberjacks’, the primary industry downunder is upbeat and fizzing.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Federated Farmers looks forward to submitting on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (DIRA) that has passed its first reading.
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Federated Farmers looks forward to constructively working with the new Ministerial team covering portfolios formerly held by the Hon Nick Smith.
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Fonterra Cooperative Group's half year results mean it could be on track to break the $20 billion revenue barrier; corporate New Zealand's equivalent of the four minute mile.
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Federated Farmers looks forward to submitting on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (DIRA) that is of significant importance to New Zealand's economic future.
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With an increased focus on innovation, another way to generate greater export returns is to do things a lot smarter.
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Federated Farmers is saddened by news of Sir Paul Callaghan's untimely death at the age of 64.
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Most North Island farmers have got off fairly lightly after a second severe storm event in a single month.
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Federated Farmers welcomes the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's (PCE) report, Water quality in New Zealand: Understanding the science, which puts the responsibility for cleaning up our rivers and lakes on all New Zealanders, not just dairy farmers.
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Federated Farmers welcomes the initial thrust of Local Government Minister Nick Smith's planned local government reform, but urges him to also tackle funding reform to help councils focus on reducing spending, rates and debt.
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The weather is forecasted to be an absolute stunner all over New Zealand this Sunday March 18, so grab your gumboots and head to one of Federated Farmers six Farm Days.
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Federated Farmers is concerned Transpower is attempting to use councils' district plan processes to nationalise up to 42,000 hectares (ha) of private property.
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Fonterra Cooperative Group's 2.3 percent revision downward of its milkprice forecast for the 2011/12 season, demonstrates the trade exposed nature of our primary industries.
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Bruce Wills is the President of Federated Farmers.
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TASMAN — Federated Farmers is delighted the environmental work of its Golden Bay provincial Dairy chairperson, Sue Brown, has been recognised in the inaugural NZ Landcare Trust Awards.
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WAIKATO — Waikato District Council (WDC) attack on Federated Farmers for offering advice to Franklin farmers who will be affected by its incoming Stock Movement Bylaw is misguided.
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Federated Farmers has joined other groups in welcoming the Government's $8 million commitment on behalf of taxpayers to help clean up fresh water bodies.
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Confirmation the former MAF will become the Ministry for Primary Industries is incredibly positive.
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WAIKATO — Franklin farmers in the Waikato District should understand the new Stock Movement Bylaw, but there is no rush for affected farmers to try gain permits until at least 1 July, despite being urged to apply now by the council's general manager of roads and projects, Ian Gooden, in a recent press release.
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An opinion editorial on local authority debt by Bruce Wills, President of Federated Farmers, a version of which was published in the Sunday Star Times.
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Recent releases by Statistics NZ, including Overseas Trade Indexes and New Zealand's Overseas Merchandise Trade for January 2012, point to a bumper export performance led by New Zealand's farm system, largely due to a wetter summer which allowed many regions to increase productivity.
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TARANAKI — The weather bomb that struck the west coast of the lower North Island has affected a number of farms.
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Federated Farmers has conditionally backed changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) and Raw Milk Regulations. Its submission stresses that any change to the DIRA for Fonterra’s Trading Among Farmers (TAF) hinges on supplier-shareholder endorsement.
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Shearing’s equivalent of the Rugby World Cup kicked off in Masterton today with 500 shearers and woolhandlers participating in the 52nd Golden Shears.
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To combat rural crime and stock rustling, a recent meeting in Gisborne was an important step forward in Federated Farmers and the Police’s collaborative approach.
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WELLINGTON — Federated Farmers Wairarapa invites families in the Wellington region to experience a working sheep and beef farm that is a regional park.
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Following a particularly dry summer in southern New Zealand, Federated Farmers will reopen its Feed Information Line following indication some farmers could run short of feed.
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Research by the University of Otago, calling into question the consumption of honey, ignores the most important factor; the choices people make.
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Following the leak of a confidential letter to Sir Henry van der Heyden, Fonterra Board members, Fonterra Shareholders’ Council Board and Federated Farmers’ own Board, Federated Farmers has sent the letter to all members of Federated Farmers Dairy.
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Since Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was confirmed in England on January 23, Federated Farmers has been in contact with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for assurance of its biosecurity preparedness.
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Following Federated Farmers Dairy Council last week, the Federation’s Dairy executive and Fonterra Cooperative Group’s Board are to meet.
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Federated Farmers is opposing the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s moves to create buffer zones of up to 32 metres either side of electricity transmission lines.
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Federated Farmers welcomes moves to improve how government ministries involved with border security operate together, but the emphasis must be on effectiveness, not just efficiency, Federated Farmers vice-president William Rolleston said.
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Speech by Bruce Wills, President of Federated Farmers, to the 2012 Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) annual conference, Hamilton It is my pleasure to give you an overview of farming today and address the topic of whether New Zealand is sustainable in a global market place.
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Speech by Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson, to Federated Farmers 2012 Dairy Council in Palmerston North on 16 February 2012 Dear representatives, observers and other interested parties.
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PALMERSTON NORTH — Speech by Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson, to Federated Farmers 2012 Dairy Council in Palmerston North on 16 February 2012 Dear representatives, observers and other interested parties.
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A High Court decision that will see Ministers revisit the sale of the former CraFarms could improve investment certainty in the long run.
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The choice between the carrot or the stick approaches to improve the quality of New Zealand’s water is the focus of the report of 2011 New Zealand Nuffield scholar, Nicola Waugh.
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New Zealand agriculture must embrace long term relationships with our Asian customers, in particular China, says 2011 Nuffield Scholar David Campbell of Canterbury.
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An electronic national identification for 11 million cattle and deer is one step closer with the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) Bill in Parliament’s Committee Stage.
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Reports a Pak ‘n’ Save in Auckland has joined boutique supermarket Nosh in selling milk for an equivalent price of one dollar a litre, supports Federated Farmers view that attention needs to focus on supermarket margins.
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Reports a Pak ‘n’ Save has joined boutique supermarket Nosh in selling milk for an equivalent price of one dollar a litre, supports Federated Farmers view that attention needs to focus on supermarket margins.
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Federated Farmers is concerned the Green Party has misinterpreted the Treasury’s Briefing to Incoming Minister (BIM) as applying to Biosecurity.
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WAIRARAPA — With James Cameron stating to the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) that he not only intends to make New Zealand home, but that he intends to farm the two properties he has purchased, Federated Farmers believes it unlocks a titanic opportunity.
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While the Farm Toll, or the number of agricultural deaths has fallen from 19 in 2010 to 15 in 2011, Federated Farmers is committed to bring it down still further.
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Federated Farmers believes Overseas Investment Office (OIO) rules must be applied without fear or favour.
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A moult cull of Canada Geese in Canterbury has finished.
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None of the proposed changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act will reduce the retail price of milk.
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HAWKE'S BAY — Federated Farmers is celebrating Hawke’s Bay Regional Council securing $1.67 million from the Irrigation Acceleration Fund, for the Ruataniwha Plains Water Storage Project Feasibility Study.
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Federated Farmers mid-season Farm Confidence Survey, conducted in January 2012, reveals farmer confidence in the general economy has turned negative for the first time since July 2009.
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Federated Farmers is calling time on the supply of regulated raw milk to independent processors already receiving it.
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The media response to sheep shearing’s potential as a Commonwealth Games demonstration sport, if not the Olympics, has gone international.
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Greater competition to the Southern Cross Cable, currently the only international submarine internet cable linking New Zealand to the world, should spark innovation while cutting internet costs.
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A 10.8 percent increase in the sale of new quad bikes is strong indication that farmers are focussing on productive investment.
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With shearing sports backed by SPARC, Federated Farmers believes it has potential to become a demonstration sport at the Commonwealth Games, if not the Olympics.
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Federated Farmers is full of praise for John Hartnell, who has been named a finalist in the 2012 New Zealander of the Year Kiwibank Local Heroes Award.
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With upwards of 35 millimetres of rain recorded on one farm in the last 24 hours, Federated Farmers is optimistic that immediate drought-like pressure may ease.
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Following a Statistics NZ publication, Off the sheep's back, Federated Farmers is bullish that the ‘sheep’s back’ has potential to again become a major export.
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The moderate La Niña weather pattern drying out Southern farms, now carries the risk of hail this afternoon for inland Southland and central Otago.
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With much of New Zealand enjoying good rainfall the current season could be among the best.
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Federated Farmers President, Bruce Wills, has used an opinion piece in yesterday's Sunday Star Times, to push for facts to come into the debate about farming; facts and information easily obtained from farming organisations but especially from New Zealand's rural media.
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CANTERBURY — Federated Farmers wishes to hear from farms that have lost utilities or suffered damage, following the latest Canterbury earthquake.
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While 94 percent of New Zealand welcomes in the festive barbecue season, summer is the ideal time for people to get out into rural New Zealand to discover farming.
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While Federated Farmers is pleased the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved a biological control agent for the noxious moth weed, it believes some aspects of border management lack the same scientific rigour the EPA has demonstrated.
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The plan to trial milk in Northland’s schools during the first term of 2012 comes from the farms of 10,500 farmer-shareholders who make up Fonterra Cooperative Group.
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CHRISTCHURCH — Due to weather, food packing at 10.30am this morning, which was due to take place in New Brighton, has instead been shifted to the PGG Wrightson Wool Store at Blenheim Road, Christchurch.
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Two major announcements today underline how dairy farming is delivering economically and environmentally for all New Zealanders.
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CHRISTCHURCH — This Friday, 16 December, the Farmy Army will conduct its final operation in Christchurch and deliver food hampers to agencies working with Christchurch’s most vulnerable people.
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CHRISTCHURCH — This Friday, 16 December, the Farmy Army will conduct its final operation in Christchurch and deliver food hampers to agencies working with Christchurch's most vulnerable people.
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Federated Farmers (Mohair New Zealand), is pleased with its allocation from the former goat levy.
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Two major announcements today underline how dairy farming is delivering economically and environmentally for all New Zealanders.
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SOUTHLAND — Following a special meeting, Federated Farmers Southland is prepared to work with Environment Southland on environmental policies.
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In the first outcome from the recent Police-Federated Farmers Letter of Agreement, Federated Farmers is asking its members to actively assist the Police in combating the cultivation of cannabis.
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Federated Farmers is more than pleased to see the Hon David Carter appointed the ‘new’ Minister for Primary Industries, with the Hon Nathan Guy appointed as his Associate Minister “It’s very much a case of “David’s back,” but with a new super ministry for primary industries,” says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President.
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With profits of copies sold going to the Adverse Events Trust charity administered by Federated Farmers, the Federation is proud to endorse Dr Katherine Tozer’s beautifully photographed and written Tales from the Back Country.
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Federated Farmers is delighted that John Hartnell, a former National Board member, Chairperson of Federated Farmers Bees and ‘generalissimo’ of the Farmy Army, is a semi-finalist for the 2012 New Zealander of the Year Kiwibank Local Heroes Award.
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Despite the many real issues facing the planet, Greenpeace New Zealand is back on its supplementary feed hobbyhorse.
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With 11,735 dairy farming businesses the basis for one quarter of New Zealand’s merchandise exports, Federated Farmers has started surveying its members about progression and succession within New Zealand dairy farming.
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Federated Farmers believes Fonterra Cooperative Group’s decision to make stock exclusion a condition of supply, is an important environmental step forward.
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With agriculture’s share of exports surging in the latest overseas merchandise trade figures, Federated Farmers has welcomed ANZ’s massive vote of confidence in farming’s future.
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With Beef+Lamb NZ confirming that the 2011/12 lamb crop the second smallest since 1956, Federated Farmers is urging farmers to maximise value from their stock.
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The future of raw drinking milk sales from the farm gate has Federated Farmers stepping back into the fresh milk issue.
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Federated Farmers has joined HortNZ and the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry in an appeal to purchasers of “Buzzy” branded Strawberry Mini Grow Kits.
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Policies by the Green and Labour parties for ‘resource rentals’ could not only close down arable farms, it could see most forced to convert to dairy in order to stay economical.
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