Ministry for Primary Industries – media release The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has renewed funding for two successful programmes training farmers, growers and other rural people to manage pressure and adapt to change. The Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) has been allocated $339,000 to expand its popular ‘Know Your Mindset. Do What Matters’ and ‘Our Resilient […]
government
I’m waiting by the phone…
We are very disappointed with the decision from the local body commission. Having lost the rural representation that has been the founding part of forming the Gisborne District Council. When the smaller councils amalgamated it was with the understanding that the dedicated rural voice would not be lost. Well, it has only taken 30 odd […]
Andrew wraps the week…
Andrew Hoggard with an update on He Waka Eke Noa. “We’ve been pushing for changes that we want to see, that we think make the farm level a better option than what it currently is. But it’s still too early to tell whether we’re going to get this thing in a good enough place that […]
NZ-UK Free Trade Agreement significant boost for red meat sector
The signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and the UK represents a significant boost for New Zealand farmers and exporters with lamb and beef eventually allowed quota and tariff-free access into the UK for the first time in decades. Under the FTA, New Zealand’s beef and sheepmeat exports to the UK […]
Good news to wake up to for farmers and growers
The early morning signing of a free trade deal between the United Kingdom and New Zealand means farmers and growers can wake up with a smile this morning. Federated Farmers national president and trade spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says with the world the way it is right now, this trade deal gives us reason to be […]
NZ’s “world leader” status will disappear without access to technology
Federated Farmers is deeply frustrated to see the European Union has approved the methane-reduction feed tool Bovaer® for use by its farmers. “Despite consulting on the issue two years ago, there is still no sign of our government stepping up and getting on with approving this technology for us to use as well, and therefore […]
Push continues for land use ‘fair and even playing field’
Federated Farmers believes new requirements announced today for overseas investors buying New Zealand farmland for forestry are encouraging but are only step one of a suite of changes required. “For years Feds and other organisations have been calling for a reversal of rules that exempt overseas buyers intending to convert our farmland into forestry from […]
Thumbs up from Feds on rural broadband capacity upgrade
The announcement of a big push to upgrade capacity on congested rural broadband networks gets a big thumbs up from Federated Farmers. “Every year Feds surveys members on broadband and cellphone coverage in rural areas, to gather data on the worst blackspots and inform our advocacy to government,” Federated Farmers NZ President and telecommunications spokesperson […]
Government support for Māori landowners to invest in growing sheep milk industry
The Government is backing a project to support Māori landowners to invest in New Zealand’s rapidly growing sheep milk industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said today. “We are backing the Māori Agribusiness Sheep Milk Collective, which has ambitious goals to have multiple farms milking about 25,000 sheep and potentially employing more than 100 people by […]
Emissions pricing could put billion dollar hit on earnings, but no hit on global emissions
By Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers President and climate change spokesperson In discussions on He Waka Eke Noa proposals with farmers I’m often asked “how does this all square with the Paris Agreement, and the multiple mentions the text of the Agreement makes on needing to make emissions reductions but not at the cost of food […]