New DairyNZ research shows farmers can identify ways to increase efficiency and reduce environmental footprint – but there will be challenges for some. The Greenhouse Gas Partnership Farms research project worked with farmers to identify and model how their farms might reduce both nitrogen loss and greenhouse gas emissions. “Making these gains will be the […]
Dairy
Dairy Industry Opportunities with a Guarantee
By chair of the Sharemilker Farm Owners’ Section, John Numan The Sharemilker farm owners’ section of Federated Farmers and the Sharemilkers’ section frequently review the Federated Farmers employment contracts used for Contract Milkers, Lower Order Sharemilkers and Herd Owning Sharemilkers. As anyone who has used them will know, unfortunately, the contracts are lengthy as they […]
Top Māori dairy farm finalists announced
Three dairy farms spanning Hauraki and Eastern Bay of Plenty are the finalists in this year’s coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced at Parliament today. They are Pouarua Farms of Ngātea, Tataiwhetu Trust south of Whakatāne, and Tunapahore B2A Incorporation of Ōpōtiki. “These dairy farms are shining examples of the long-standing commitment of […]
NZ Dairy is ready for a decade of change, opportunities
In his address as Chairperson to the Federated Farmers Dairy Council in Wellington on Tuesday, Wayne Langford canvassed where he thinks the sector is heading and what challenges are coming over the horizon… We are entering a new era for New Zealand dairy, in a decade where the world will never see change as fast […]
White paper sets out pressing regenerative agriculture research priorities
A new white paper says there is significant overlap on the continuum of practices between mainstream and regenerative agriculture. Among its conclusions is that there is a pressing need for scientific testing of the limited evidence and anecdotal claims being made by regenerative agriculture practitioners and proponents. Lead author Dr Gwen Grelet, a senior researcher […]
Independent M.bovis review is opportunity for learning
Federated Farmers is pleased the government is committed to finding out what more can be learnt from the country’s handling of the biosecurity response to Mycoplasma bovis. The Ministry for Primary Industries announced today it will conduct an independent review into the M. bovis response. The disease was first detected in New Zealand in 2017 […]
Time for agriculture to promote the true benefits of farm jobs
By Chris Lewis, Federated Farmers employment spokesperson OPINION: Farmers would have been largely unsurprised by the recent dip in unemployment figures. The almost 800 jobs advertised in the dairy industry pretty much every week since Covid-19 reared its ugly head is a clear sign that New Zealanders are not out there clamouring for work, or […]
New leader for Climate Change Ambassadors
Award-winning dairy farmer Fraser McGougan has been appointed chair of the DairyNZ Climate Change Ambassadors. Climate Change Ambassadors are leaders for climate change action on dairy farms. They help communicate the challenges and opportunities dairy farmers face in playing their part to address climate change, alongside the rest of New Zealand. “The 13 ambassadors are […]
Feds survey shows farmer confidence has bounced back
Farmer confidence has bounced back to where it was pre-Covid19 but attracting and retaining staff remains a headache, the latest Federated Farmers Farm Confidence Survey shows. Of the nearly 1,100 farmers who completed the Research First survey in the second week of January, a net 5.5% considered current economic conditions to be good. That’s a […]
Waitangi Day – top seven employment tips you need to know
This year, Waitangi Day falls on Saturday 6 February and is observed on that day or Monday 8 February. Here are seven items you need to know about rights for employees and obligations for employers. Mondayisation for Waitangi Day As Waitangi Day falls on a Saturday this year it means that that this holiday is […]