Federated Farmers says today’s announcement of a free trade deal between the United Kingdom and New Zealand is great news for consumers and farmers in both countries. “The United Kingdom is walking the talk when it comes to promising a truly global Britain,” Federated Farmers National President Andrew Hoggard says. “We congratulate the New Zealand […]
Feds asks farmers to get vaccinated
Federated Farmers is calling on farmers and growers to remember the critical link between vaccination rates and maintaining growth in the New Zealand economy. Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says Feds has taken a little bit of stick from a handful of members about the organsiation’s promotion of the need for as many people as possible to get vaccinated. “We got told to ‘stay in our lane’ and to stop […]
Helping Feds tick faster, louder, stronger
By Leigh Catley Within weeks of starting his new role as Federated Farmers’ chief executive three years ago Terry Copeland knew he was going to have a serious strategic development challenge on his hands. Terry came to Feds from the top job at New Zealand Young Farmers, so he understood the forces that weigh on […]
Feds’ worst fears realised on drinking water reforms
Federated Farmers is profoundly disappointed to see the Water Services Bill reported back to the Parliament with the definition of a “water supplier” unchanged. “The government has now signed itself up for the enormous task of tracking down every single source of drinking water in the land and making them belong to a register if […]
Feds wants Overseer fixed despite scathing report
The foundations of New Zealand’s farm environment management system have been rocked to the core by the release of today’s report into the effectiveness of farm nutrient modelling system Overseer. Federated Farmers has been fighting against the use of Overseer by councils to define regulations for nutrient management on farm for more than a decade. […]
Are we barking at deaf sheep?
Groundswell’s tractor and tradie national protest on July 16 left many Federated Farmers members asking … what happens next? Did anyone actually hear the farmers’ messages, or are the folks in government circles in Wellington too much like deaf sheep to pick up on what a 50-town protest was trying to say? The protest was […]
Feds says we’ll need more people, more money to take on climate challenges
Federated Farmers believes the final Climate Change Commission report released today will need to be backed up with significant investment in improving access to science and technology on farm, and the people needed to operate it. Back in February Feds was relatively upbeat about the report and the challenges it posed for New Zealanders, and […]
Norwood raises healthy 100k for Farmstrong
Norwood’s third annual charity golf tournament and fundraising auction has raised $100,000 for award-winning rural wellbeing programme Farmstrong, significantly exceeding sums raised in previous years. All 92 golfers played 18 holes in teams of four at Wairakei Golf + Retreat, Taupo on Wednesday 12 May. The golf tournament was followed by a formal dinner and […]
Farmers bankroll Budget’s big spending
Federated Farmers wants New Zealand’s farmers to pat themselves on the back for making it possible for the country to afford the Budget announced by the Government today. In his speech to present the Budget Minister of Finance Grant Robertson acknowledged the financial carnage predicted by the Government last year did not eventuate. “And that’s […]
2021 Peter Snow Memorial Award goes to Kerikeri GP
Kerikeri GP Dr Grahame Jelley is the 2021 recipient of the Peter Snow Memorial Award. The award was announced at the National Rural Health Conference at Wairakei Resort in Taupō on Friday. The Peter Snow Memorial Award honours Dr Peter Snow and his contribution to rural communities as well as recognising an individual for their […]