Importance of water storage a highlight in Agriculture Outlook Report - Read more »

Farmers welcome MTAS recommendation - Read more »

Federated Farmers complaint against Michael Laws - Read more »

Farmers propose re-rating rates, following Colmar Brunton poll - Read more »

Federated Farmers advocates for farm safety - Read more »

Trespass unacceptable - Read more »

Southland and Otago farmers - ‘take me to your leaders' - Read more »

Agribusiness Person of the Year in association with Ravensdown, Agri Personality of the Year and Agriculture's Cream of the Crop, all at Federated Farmers 2010 National Conference - Read more »

To view the full list of media releases or to view any other publications, click here.

Rates report card - Farmers, remember to complete and return the rates report card which was inside your copy of the Autumn National Farming Review. Responses are flooding in, but we want as many as possible so please take a few minutes over your morning coffee to fill it out and drop it into the mail - free post. Many thanks to the hundreds of people who have already returned their report cards!

1080 threats on the West Coast - If members feel they are being intimidated or threatened by 1080 activists on the West Coast or other regions they are encouraged to contact the Federated Farmers 0800 number on 0800 327 646. As an organisation we take any personal threats very seriously and would like to know the extent of the problem. We can also offer support as necessary. Please phone 0800 327 646 or email mross@fedfarm.org.nz for support or advice.

Fonterra shareholders need to vote - Fonterra is asking all its shareholders to vote in the 30 June ballot on the cooperative's capital restructure. Federated Farmers believes that Government needs to see that farmers control the destiny of their cooperative and one way they can do this is by voting. If you are a Fonterra shareholder, please vote. Participation in the vote is crucial, no matter how many cows you milk.

Anti ETS rally - An anti ETS rally, organised by the Climate Realists group, is to be held in Wellington next week. The event will include several speakers including John Boscawen MP of ACT. While this protest has not been organised by Federated Farmers, we feel it is highly worthwhile to go along and support the rally if you can. The rally will begin at 12.30pm, Tuesday, 22 June 2010 in Civic Square, Wellington. For more information, please go to www.climaterealists.org.nz

Check your load - KiwiRail is urging farmers to check their loads, after a farmer left a trailer loaded with straw in the path of an on-coming train in Marlborough yesterday. KiwiRail isn't exactly sure what happened, but think that the trailer came adrift at a private railway crossing. Luckily there was no injury, but there was some damage to the signals installation. Federated Farmers would like to reiterate KiwRail's reminder and ask all farmers to check that trailers are securely attached before they leave the farm.

More tax changes coming - Government is now consulting on proposals to make the tax system less complex, faster and more certain. The proposals seek to reduce business compliance costs and are part of a plan to encourage the vast majority of taxpayers to interact with the IRD electronically rather than by paper. For businesses and employers, for example, new payroll software would manage a range of PAYE tasks, including the employer monthly schedule. People interested in viewing the proposals or commenting on them can click here for ore information. We would also be interested in your views, including on the pros and cons of electronic interaction, so we can make a submission click here.

2010 Agricultural Field Days - The opening of the 2010 Agricultural Fieldays in Hamilton on Wednesday included presence of many of the Federated Farmers executive and members showing their opposition to the ETS by wearing bright orange vests and wigs. The vests had messages such as ‘NO ETS' and ‘Extra Tax Stinks'. The Waikato Times even had a picture that said a thousand words, regarding police surveillance, of ordinary farmers sticking up for their farming futures. Prime Minister, the Hon John Key, also acknowledged the anti-ETS group in his opening speech. An on-stage protest presentation later that afternoon was ‘farmers talking to farmers' where a crowd gathered to hear local Federated Farmers members as well as National Board member, Lachlan McKenzie, and Act Party MP, John Boscawen, informing relevant details about the ETS to the audience.

Kaikora Annual Plan hearing - North Canterbury Farmers attended the Kaikoura Annual Plan hearing this week to discuss the inequities in a rating system where 3 percent of residents are paying 37 percent of the rates. While our suggested improvements were considered in part, Council set out that it could not make the changes we suggested in the current year's Annual Plan. With Local Government elections coming up it is little wonder Council does not want to do anything that might upset the other 97 percent of ratepayers. However, this still does not address the problem rural landowners paying more than their fair share of rates. Federated Farmers will be seeking to meet with the new Council to discuss the rating system after elections in time to make sure appropriate changes can be made for next year.

Protecting indigenous vegetation in the Queenstown Lakes district - Otago High Country farmers Richard Burdon and John Aspinal, along with Federated Farmers regional policy staff, met with the Department of Conservation, Forest and Bird, iwi and Council staff to discuss the protection of Indigenous vegetation on private land. Council has a responsibility under the RMA to identify alpine environments and vegetation that may be considered nationally ‘significant' and have been directed by the Environment Court to undertake this process. The key messages on behalf of the district's farmers are that any process should be low cost and sensible, should only be undertaken if necessary and should be undertaken at the same time as the tenure review process if appropriate to ensure costs and disturbance to the farmer are minimised. First and foremost Council needs to ensure it engages with the landowner, after all much of the significant indigenous vegetation that exists on private land is there because a farmer has made the decision to protect it.

North Otago highway concerns - Federated Farmers North Otago Provincial President, Ross Ewing, has written a letter on behalf of the province to the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to highlight the damage to Waitaki District roads and to ask for the NZTA to undertake an assessment of the causes of the flooding on the Highway network around Oamaru. Ross wants the NZTA to reduce the risk of further flooding, including ensuring the ability of the road to drain during flooding as required and assessing whether the height of the road at key flood-prone points is sufficient. North Otago farmers also want the NZTA to provide further funding assistance to Waitaki District Council to fund the repair and maintenance of the roading network where local roading was used as a result of highway network closure.

Rates increases too high in Southland district - Federated Farmers National Board member, David Rose, acting Provincial President, Peter Phiskie, and regional policy staff took a seat at Southland District Council's table to voice farmer's concerns about the double digit rates increases they are facing this year. These increases are a result of increased Council spending, the district re-valuations and outcomes from the roading cost allocation model. While Peter and David supported Council's concerns around the cost of road maintenance and the need for more central Government funding they made it clear that non-core services needed to be cut, or at the very least funded fairly to take the burden off the farmer. A good first step is for Council to continue to take at least 29 percent of rates from a uniform charge. For more information on what we submitted please contact David Cooper on 0800 327 646.

MAF paints a positive picture - New Zealand's agricultural and forestry exports are recovering as the impact of the global recession lessens, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) Situation and Outlook for New Zealand Agriculture and Forestry released this week. According to MAF, dairy production is forecast to grow strongly over the coming years as the industry recovers from drought. Forestry products are also expected to increase as a result of strong demand, but the outlook for meat and horticulture is more mixed.  For more comments, click here.

Farm sales edge up in May - In the three months to May, 319 farms were sold according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand's (REINZ) May Rural Market Report. This was an increase on the 288 sold in the same period last year but less than half the 745 sold in the three months to May 2008. The national median farm sale price rose to $1,035,000 for the three months to May 2010, fractionally up on $1,000,000 for the three months to April 2010, but still down on the median of $1,150,000 for the three months to May 2009 and well below the median of $1,860,000 for the same period in 2008. REINZ is blaming bank lending policies for what it considers low sales volumes and values, rather than farming returns which it thinks are looking positive and should be supporting more sales activity and higher prices. For more information, click here.

Farm input costs fall - Sheep and beef farm input costs fell 3.5 percent for year ended March 2010, according to Meat & Wool New Zealand's report; Movements in Sheep and Beef Farm Input Prices 2009/10. The overall fall was driven by decreases in fertiliser prices (down 16.1 percent) and interest rates (down 11.8 percent). However, fuel prices were up 9.6 percent, Local Government rates were up 6.2 percent and prices for feed and grazing up 5.7 percent. While the drop in input prices will be a relief, it comes on top of several years of large increases well in excess of inflation in the wider economy. Looking ahead, the impending ETS will further push up the prices of electricity and fuel and given time these increases will flow on to the prices of other inputs to a greater or lesser extent. Click here for more information.

Council spending moderating? - Total local authority operating expenditure spending is up 3.8 percent on the same quarter last year, according to Statistics NZ's Local Authority Statistics for the March 2010 Quarter. This is a much reduced rate of growth compared to the previous decade when annual spending growth was regularly over 8 percent. Similarly, operating revenue is also up 3.8 percent on the same quarter last year, again a reduced rate of growth compared to previous years. However, on the downside, rates revenue grew by more than operating revenue, by 6.7 percent. Over the past several years rates revenue has grown at a faster rate than total expenditure and this trend appears to be continuing.  Federated Farmers is submitting on the Local Government Act Amendment Bill, which is intended to focus councils on core spending, get them operating within a defined fiscal envelope, and improve accountability and transparency, and we are keen to see lower rates as a result. Click here for more information.

Federated Farmers feed list - The Federated Farmers feed lists, which include both feed wanted and feed available, can be accessed via the 0800 DROUGHT line (0800 376 844) or by clicking here. The drought line and feed lists are available to both members and non-members of Federated Farmers.

Meet policy advisors in Dargaville - Federated Farmers is holding a public meeting in Dargaville to discuss local issues on at 1pm Monday, 21 June at the Dargaville Club, 53-55 Victoria St, Dargaville. Come along and listen to regional policy advisor, Rhea Dasent, who will be speaking on the Kaipara District Plan, how it will affect farming and what Federated Farmers can do about it. Federated Farmers senior policy advisor, Richard Gardner, who has recently been working on the Auckland super city reforms, will speak on Local Government structure in Northland.

Lunch with the Prime Minister - There is to be a lunch with the Prime Minister, the Hon John Key, on Friday, 25 June as part of the Federated Farmers National Conference ‘One Event'. We would like to thank Woosh Wireless Limited for their sponsorship for this event. The Prime Minister's luncheon is a ticket-only affair, so if you are interested in attending please contact Kimberley Wadsworth clicking here or by calling 0800 327 646

Federated Farmers National Conference ‘One Event' 2010 - The Federated Farmers National Conference ‘One Event' 2010 will be held from Wednesday, 23 June to Friday, 25 June 2010 at Ascot Park Hotel, Corner Tay Street and Racecourse Road, Invercargill. The AGM's for Federated Farmers National Council, Dairy and Meat & Fibre will take place over the three days.  Federated Farmers would also like to invite members to attend the Federated Farmers Dairy and Meat & Fibre joint cocktails, proudly sponsored by Silver Fern Farms and joint dinner, proudly sponsored by Alliance Group Limited, on Wednesday, 23 June from 6pm. To register, please contact Kimberley Wadsworth by clicking here or calling 0800 327 646.

National Conference Plenary Day - The Federated Farmers Plenary Day is to be held on Thursday, 24 June and will encompass a vast range of guest speakers including the Hon Phil Goff, the Hon David Carter, the US Ambassador to New Zealand, David Huebner, Rod Drury, Executive Officer, Xero, Rod Inglis, Chairman, Woosh Wireless Limited and Don Elder, Chief Executive Officer, Solid Energy. Later that evening the Federated Farmers Awards will be held and we would like to thank Ravensdown for sponsoring the Agribusiness Person of the Year award. The following day, Friday, 25 June, there is lunch with the Prime Minister, the Hon John Key. If you are interested in attending any of the events over the three days, please contact Kimberley Wadsworth by clicking here or by calling call 0800 327 646.

Win at National Conference - Federated Farmers would like to thank our sponsors and business partners for supporting National Conference 2010. Several spot prizes including digital cameras, jackets, sports bags, wine and hotel accommodation vouchers will be up for grabs over the three days. Each prize has been kindly donated by our business partners. To be eligible for any of the prizes, you must be there to accept them in person.

Ecology and sustainable environmental management - Learn the basics of ecology and sustainable environmental management with Open Polytechnic's Certificate in Environment and Sustainability. The certificate introduces basic environmental concepts. For more information, click here or call 0508 650 200. Remember, Federated Farmers members get a 20 percent discount. Click here to download an enrolment form.

Sick of wet feet and want to support your local school? - Try the innovative WinDry gumboot dryer. Use WinDry to solve your problem of cold, wet gumboots and at the same time donate money to rural schools though sales of WInDry. If your rural school wishes to participate contact www.windry.co.nz

Totalspan Fieldays special - Who can save you 15 percent on all kitset buildings? Totalspan can!  June only!  We can build them too, from consent to completion!  Call 0800 TOTALSPAN (868 257) or visit www.totalspan.co.nz.

Hawke's Bay wines - This week Winesonline offers you quality, awarding winning wines from one of Hawkes Bay's most iconic vineyards at only $8.95. These wines and many others are exclusive to Winesonline, so click here to check our the selection.

More member benefits and offers - To view special discounts exclusive to Federated Farmers members, please call 0800 327 646 or click here to log onto our members only area.

Need staff? - If you need staff or are looking for a job, visit www.ruraljobs.co.nz

Need a contract? - If you need a contract or free legal or employment advice, simply call 0800 327 646.

Contracts, agreements and leases - These include land, stock, contractor, sales and purchase, agreement to grow, log books, access pads, Over Dimension Certificates and employment. Remember, it's a legal requirement to have an employment contract for EVERY employee so if you don't have a current employment agreement, then order one now. Contracts, agreements and leases are available in both electronic and hard copy formats for your convenience. To purchase, call 0800 FARMING or click here.

Quote of the week - "Get me that cake!" Senior policy advisor, Nigel Billings, makes Trevor Mallard's birthday ever with an early morning birthday present.