One of these four catchment groups was the Thomson’s Creek Catchment Community Group in Central Otago. The Thomson’s Creek Catchment Group was set up in 2019 to primarily address the freshwater health and water quality issues identified within the catchment. Thomson’s Creek is situated near Omakau in Central Otago and runs from nearby hills into […]
community
Escalating women leaders
“To be a good leader, you have to first know your ‘why,’” says Ravensdown shareholder and Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) Escalator programme graduate Donna Cram. “For me it is to connect people across agricultural communities using values-based communication to empower collaboration.” Donna, a dairy farmer at Wylan Dene farm near Awatuna in South Taranaki, was […]
Beekeepers’ message to Kiwis this September: Love bees? Plant trees (when you can)!
Beekeepers are calling on bee-lovers across New Zealand to take what actions they can to improve the health and resilience of Kiwi bee populations this September for Bee Aware Month. Apiculture New Zealand, the national body representing beekeepers and honey producers, is asking Kiwis to Feed the Bees by planting bee-friendly trees and plants this […]
Motueka couple show the way for RDA Haystack Challenge
Federated Farmers (and some hungry horses!) thank those farmers who have supported the Riding for the Disabled ‘Haystack Challenge’. As described in the last FedsNews, Federated Farmers has teamed up with the national organisation that provides interaction with horses for children and adults with physical, intellectual, emotional and social challenges. The 50 RDA groups around […]
Ten reasons why we love to farm
By Bernadette Hunt, Vice-President Federated Farmers Southland In the face of constant news about all the challenges farmers face, I’ve been asked several times lately why farmers do what we do. So this morning, as I walked up and down the tractor lines of an oats paddock looking for weeds (one of arable farming’s more […]
Sharing a farm with the public
Kate Scott, a Federated Farmers member, is the co-owner of remote Rees Valley Station, near Glenorchy. Thousands of people visit her farm each year. Late last year she talked to the Walking Access Commission/Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa about why she and her family support public access and what it’s like to have a stream of tourists on […]