The next instalment of our series introducing the new Federated Farmers Provincial Presidents – Chris Dillon, Southland What’s your farming background? I finished Lincoln University in the late ‘90s, travelled and worked in a few different places and ended up back on the home farm near Gore around 2000. We started an agricultural contracting business […]
Local
Resource management proposals positive on consultation, flawed in content
The government should be applauded for a proper consultation process on replacement RMA legislation but Federated Farmers has significant concerns about local democracy being stripped away. Reacting to the release today of an ‘exposure’ draft of the Natural and Built Environments Act, Feds Vice-President and resource management spokesperson Karen Williams said it was pleasing this […]
Gisborne maintenance cutbacks will ramp up fire risk
By Debbie Bidlake, Federated Farmers senior policy advisor The east coast has a lot of forestry and scrub. Both are highly flammable. Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) doesn’t talk about if there will be a big fire in Gisborne, they talk about when – and their inability to control that fire once it takes off. […]
Greg Anderson ready to put time into advocacy
Greg Anderson (South Canterbury) is one of six new provincial presidents elected during the recent annual general meeting season around Federated Farmers’ 24 provinces. We catch up with him on his background and motivation: What’s your background and farming and where do you farm? I’ve lived most of my life in the Fairlie basin. I […]
You’ve heard of pest animals, but what about pest plants?
These introduced species can threaten our region’s natural environment, recreational activities, and primary industries. These plants can be just as harmful to our environment as pest animals. They can outcompete or smothering native plants, dry wetlands and rivers, reduce habitats for native animals, and grow rapidly in waterways. Some of these species are also harmful […]
Fighting for the rural ratepayer
By Nigel Billings and Nick Clark Winter is upon us and Federated Farmers is in the thick of it fighting for hard-working farmers against the rates hordes. It’s a hard battle but one worth fighting. We’re staring down the barrel at a swarm of huge rates rises which will add thousands to many farmers’ rates […]
Hastings Council urged to push ‘paws’ on working dog fee hike
by Rhea Dasent Federated Farmers Regional Policy Advisor Federated Farmers opposes the Hastings working dog registration fee increasing from $48 to $56. While we are pleased that the cost of registering a working dog is heavily discounted compared to town dogs, $56 is still too expensive, especially when there is no discount for subsequent dogs […]
New farmer-led sustainability project launched in Waimakariri
Annabelle and Georgie Stalker are the sixth generation on their family’s Waimakariri farm – their father Richard is now joining dozens of other local farmers in an MPI-funded project to ensure the future of farming under new regulations. The Stalkers are part of a three-year, farmer-led sustainability project launched in the Waimakariri District. The nearly […]
Rein in rates and show some backbone on water plan, ECan urged
Federated Farmers is strongly urging Environment Canterbury to demonstrate financial discipline and stick with current water plans developed with the community, rather than cave in and start a $25 million exercise re-writing them. Feds Mid-Canterbury President David Clark and fellow Ashburton farmer and national board member Chris Allen said the Federation’s Canterbury membership of around […]
Hay you! Will you help Riding for the Disabled’s Haystack Challenge?
Horses need to eat 1.5% to 3% of their body weight every day, depending on their workload and metabolism. If they aren’t foraging much grass, that can mean five or six kilograms of hay a day for an adult horse. It’s not hard to work out that NZ Riding for the Disabled, which has more […]