by Macaulay Jones, Federated Farmers Policy Advisor Federated Farmers says the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement provides a much- needed qualitative show of support for the rules-based international trading framework. In mid-February, Andrew Hoggard, the National President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, appeared before the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee as […]
Help for farmers to know their greenhouse gas numbers
A new guide and tools have been released to help farmers with measuring, managing, and reducing agricultural greenhouse gases. He Waka Eke Noa: The Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership has developed two information sources to help industry bodies and farmers understand their agricultural greenhouse gas emissions: Greenhouse Gases: Farm Planning Guidance, and The Greenhouse Gases […]
Positives in climate change report but methane’s different warming impact still not accurately accounted for
Federated Farmers is very concerned the Climate Change Commission’s draft advice to the government on emissions budgets puts a much bigger ask on methane-emitters – largely farmers – to make up for a lack of action on those sectors emitting carbon dioxide. This is due to the terms of reference given to the Commission by […]
Get up to speed on the minimum wage
With the adult minimum wage increasing on 1 April 2021, it’s timely for farmers and others in the agricultural sector to ensure employees are paid at the correct rate. Erin Anderson, an Associate with Norris Ward McKinnon (Federated Farmers legal partners), outlines the obligations…. An employer must pay its employees at least the relevant minimum […]
Animal welfare front of mind for trucking industry
by Nick Leggett, CEO, Road Transport Forum OPINION: Live animals trapped in a truck for six hours in Auckland’s summer heat is not acceptable in anyone’s view. Sadly, this is what happened in the most recent Covid-19 Level 3 lockdown when the road border crossing could only be described as a shemozzle. This highlighted a […]
Economic Week – March 26
by Nick Clark, Federated Farmers Manager General Policy Housing tax shakeup The big news for the week was the Government’s much anticipated housing package aimed at tilting the playing field in favour of first home buyers over speculators and investors. It came after a surge house prices surged (up 22.8% for the year to February […]
Linda and Evan Potter named National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing
Federated Farmers members Evan and Linda Potter, of Central Hawke’s Bay hill country property, Waipapa, (sheep, beef and deer) are the new National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing and the recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy. The announcement was made on Thursday at the National Sustainability Showcase at Te Papa in Wellington, attended by all of […]
High five to the essential services workers everywhere
There’s so many people to thank on Essential Services Day. When Federated Farmers and many other agencies and organisations in the Team Ag/primary industries ‘family’ came up with the idea of saluting all those others who worked through last year’s Covid-19 lockdown, enabling us to continue producing top quality food and fibre, we soon realised […]
Feds proud to back NZ Dairy Story
Sip that fresh glass of New Zealand milk, cut a wedge of our cheese, and know the farmers behind it are world leaders in animal welfare and climate change. And unlike producers in many other nations, they do it without direct, free-trade distorting subsidies. Federated Farmers is proud to endorse the messages in The New […]
Whio winging their way to Arthur’s Pass
The release of 17 hand-reared whio (blue duck) into Arthur’s Pass National Park later this week is a significant first, and one of a number of whio releases planned across Aotearoa over the coming months, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. The whio – the rare whitewater river-loving native duck that Federated Farmers has championed in […]