A project investigating the recommended wait times between irrigation and grazing to minimise soil compaction, alongside practical options for this to be integrated into day-to-day farm management, is looking for […]
National
Rural bankers breaking all the wrong records
Farmers are feeling excessive and undue pressure from their banks, according to Federated Farmers’ latest Banking Survey. Conducted in mid-November, the survey also shows farmer satisfaction with their bank is […]
Debt mediation ‘took the fear away’
A couple who have been through farm debt mediation say the process was a huge help and released a lot of pressure. Facing foreclosure last year, dairy farmers Steve and […]
Time to fix our pothole-riddled roads
For rural communities struggling with pothole-riddled roads, run-down bridges and never-ending slips, their challenge to the new Government is ‘show us the money’. “Farmers recognise the Government have a huge […]
Survey underlines case for more rural police
A Federated Farmers survey shows rising rates of rural crime and underlines a strong case for more police resources in rural areas, Feds national board member Richard McIntrye says. Of […]
Re-fencing a godsend for cyclone-hit farmers
When Cyclone Gabrielle blew through, it destroyed more than 16km of fencing on Warren Milligan’s farm in Te Karaka, just inland from Gisborne. He’d worked hard to fence the river […]
Recycled posts boost cyclone recovery
In a win for the environment and cyclone-hit farmers, damaged fence posts are being given a new lease of life instead of being sent to landfill. Cyclone Gabrielle slammed a […]
Gold Standard animal exports back on the table
Live animal exports look set to return, but not without new ‘gold standard’ requirements to protect animal welfare and safety. National, ACT and NZ First all committed during election campaigning […]
Jodiesha Kirkpatrick: young shearer on the rise
By Ben Chapman-Smith, Federated Farmers While most teenagers are winding down for a relaxing summer ahead, Gisborne’s Jodiesha Kirkpatrick is sharpening the combs and cutters for her first crack at […]
NZ’s regulation-heavy approach out of step with competitors
Dairy farmers worldwide are facing similar challenges, but many countries are taking a different approach to New Zealand on how they find solutions. That’s one of Richard McIntyre’s take-home messages […]