A new President, vice-President and CEO have taken the helm at Rural Contractors NZ after an annual conference this week that highlighted compounding challenges in meeting capacity constraints which are likely to impact on some farmers and crop production. Waikato contractor Helen Slattery stepped up from vice-President to replace Southland’s David Kean who’d given 12 […]
National
Mātaitai reserves– implications of customary fishing areas
By Elisha Young-Ebert, Senior Policy Advisor – North Canterbury Province Federated Farmers occasionally notifies its members when the Ministry of Fisheries has received an application for a Mātaitai reserve on a waterway and invites those who live near the proposed reserve to make a submission. The Federation notifies its members as a service to any […]
Test your smart farming idea with Rural Professionals Fund help
The Rural Professionals Fund, established in 2020 by the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, is now accepting applications for a second round of funding to support projects that could benefit farming communities. This is a unique research fund, specifically designed for farmers and farm advisors, to enable them to rapidly test smart ideas […]
At last – a paper that recognises climate and nutrition, with GWP* thrown in too
By Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers President and climate change spokesperson Very recently a scientific paper was put out looking at the greenhouse gas and nutritional impacts of replacing meat in the average diet. The paper Lifetime Climate Impacts of Diet Transitions, with input from a number of very well respected scientists across a range of fields, found that the emissions […]
Urban Kiwis and Farmers Share a Vision for Sustainable Food Production
When it comes to sustainable food, what matters more? What we’re buying. Or where, and who, we’re buying our food from? New research from @ourlandandwater suggests that urban Kiwis see supporting farmers directly with their dollar as the strongest sustainable food choice they can make. The study found that town or country, Kiwis have mostly […]
Ruralco scoops double win in gender diversity awards
In what is traditionally perceived as a conservative, male-dominated industry, Ruralco has shattered stereotypes winning the 2021 Gender Diverse Organisation Award. The team at Ruralco are extremely proud that more than 60 per cent of their people represent gender diversity across all levels within the organisation. Board Chair, Jessie Chan – a Federated Farmers member […]
Govt’s response on farm workforce crisis totally underwhelming
By Jason Herrick, Southland Federated Farmers Sharemilker Chair Farm staff shortages in Southland and around the country are getting worse. While the government finally bowed to dairy industry pleas and announced border exemptions for 150 management and 50 farm assistant positions, the sector was already under severe workforce gap pressure. The super-busy calving season begins […]
Seymour: Forget trying to kiss and cuddle your enemies
Some people are never going to be convinced New Zealand farmers have a sound story to tell about environmental stewardship. Forget them. That was one of the messages from ACT leader David Seymour as he and Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard delivered a thought-provoking and sometimes humorous guest speaker double-act at the Feds Manawatu-Rangitikei AGM […]
NZ falling behind on alternative protein opportunities
Emerging proteins may be a disruptor for our current farmers and growers but they’re also a major opportunity, Food HQ chief executive Abby Thompson says. She’s the co-author, with Food HQ’s business development manager Amos Palfreyman, of the report Emerging Proteins in Aotearoa New Zealand: What will it take for the sector to thrive?, launched […]
Beef + Lamb NZ launch employment hub
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched a new on-line ‘Employment Hub’, a one-stop ship for farm owners and managers to assist them as employers. “Farmers have told us that they are struggling to employ and retain staff with unclear entry points, limited employment experiences and little to no support during this process,” Jeremy Baker, […]