The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), the independent Ministerial advisory committee on animal welfare, is calling for feedback on a new draft code of welfare for dairy cattle. NAWAC has reviewed the existing code of welfare for dairy cattle and is consulting on updated minimum standards and recommendations for best practice. The objective is […]
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Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition Back on Track
The 2022 Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to select the top Māori sheep and beef farm is back on track after having been postponed earlier in the year due to Covid-19 risk. Judging of the entrants in this competition resumes in May, as well as the judging for the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer Award which is run […]
Rural water proposals costly, overly-bureaucratic
Same supply for 50 years for stock, two households and other farm buildings and now I need a “Water Safety Plan”? What are these people smoking!! Family farm six generations – no problems with water. Seems to be overly bureaucratic and will have no practical use but will obviously cost the landowner. There is not […]
Walton farmer says riparian planting pays off for environment – and production
A Waikato dairy farm which began its first riparian planting project 20 years ago now stands as an exemplar for rural land users, backed by science and clever long-term planning. Federated Farmers members Grant Wills and Karo Preston operate ‘Tremeer’, a 244-hectare dairy farm at Walton in the Matamata-Piako district. The farm has been in […]
Federated Farmers – Rabobank survey shows continued strong growth in farm staff pay
Average growth of 13 percent in pay packages in the last two years is another reason for more New Zealanders to consider a career in agriculture, Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard says. The 2022 Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report, released today, shows that since the 2019/2020 survey weighted average incomes in the dairy sector have […]
Former Feds CEO recalled as man of principle, intelligence
The chief executive of Federated Farmers during one of the most turbulent eras in New Zealand agriculture has died. Friends and former work colleagues of Rob McLagan joined family members in-person or on a live-stream for his funeral services at Old St Paul’s in Wellington on April 8. Rob died on 26 March just short […]
Northland teen off to flying start in dairy
A new recruit under the Federated Farmers/Ministry of Social Development ‘Get Kiwis on Farm’ programme is off to a flying start to her dairy career. Macee Latimer, 18, is Northland’s Dairy Trainee of the Year and is heading to the national Dairy Industry Awards in Christchurch next month. “She’s certainly streets ahead of where she […]
Former Feds President Bruce Wills to Chair Ravensdown board
Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer Bruce Wills has been elected the new Chair of Ravensdown as current Chair John Henderson concludes his term on 31 May 2022. The former Federated Farmers national president is excited about the recently evolved strategy of the co-operative which is sharpening its focus on improving farmers’ and growers’ environmental […]
Forest Owners and Federated Farmers mourn passing of Rob McLagan
The pastoral and forest industries are mourning the recent passing of Rob McLagan, who served as Chief Executive of both Federated Farmers and the Forest Owners Association. Rob was CE of Federated Farmers between 1979 and 1993. He then went on to become CE of the Forest Owners Association for eight years between 1997 and […]
Finalists for Canterbury’s supernode accelerator named
Two dozen innovative projects have been named to join an Accelerator programme as part of The Food, Fibre & Agritech (FFA) Supernode Challenge. ChristchurchNZ (CNZ) and the University of Canterbury Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE) are collaborating to present the 2022 Challenge, supporting participants as they bring their innovative ideas on boosting production efficiency and looking after the environment […]