Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan FTA moves - how the world has improved - Read more »

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

Dairy Federation's World Dairy Summit - The Federated Farmers Dairy executive had the real privilege of attending the International Dairy Federation's World Dairy Summit in Auckland last week. The perspective was truly international, with over 2,000 participants from 57 countries all coming together to discuss various aspects of the dairy industry. Topics ranged from policy, trade, environment and farm management, to the health and food aspects of dairy products. The strong message taken from this meeting of people with a shared mutual interest, is that change has to be farmer led and driven. If we as farmers don't understand this, we abdicate those roles to Government and policy people at our peril! Our thanks go to the generous support of AGMARDT and DairyNZ, who covered our registration costs.

Matamata Piako funding offer for land owners - Matamata Piako District Council (MPDC) is offering rates remission or up to 50 percent of the project cost for land owners wanting to protect, manage or enhance a wetland or native bush on their property. An application form and copy of the funding criteria can be picked up from an MPDC office, or printed from the website by clicking here. Federated Farmers encourages land owners to apply - this is a great opportunity that shouldn't be missed.  Applications need to be in by 10 December 2010. For more information, please contact Regional Policy Advisor, Rhea Dasent, on 0800 327 646.

Earthworks in Waipa - Federated Farmers is analysing and commenting on the draft Waipa District Plan. We have already spotted a problem with the rule that requires all earthworks in the Rural Zone to get resource consent, as it would mean even earthworks as minor as excavation to maintain or lay water pipes to troughs, would be captured by this rule. Federated Farmers will be suggesting to Waipa District Council that sustainable management will be better achieved by allowing for normal farming earthworks activities as permitted. For more information, please contact Regional Policy Advisor, Rhea Dasent, on 0800 327 646.

Meeting for farm owners in the Otorohanga District Council area - Federated Farmers Waikato invites you to a meeting for all farmers and landowners affected by the proposed landscape policy areas and indigenous vegetation clearance rules. Federated Farmers Regional Policy Advisor, Rhea Dasent, will be presenting on how the proposed rules could impact on farming and on how Federated Farmers will be submitting on the proposed Plan. The meeting will be held at 7pm Friday, 19 November at the Otorohanga Workingmen's Club, 107 Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga.

Farm output prices rise - Farmers' output prices rose in the September 2010 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand's Producer Price Index. The producers' price index measures changes in prices received by producers (known as output prices) and changes in the costs of production, excluding labour and depreciation costs (known as input prices). In the September 2010 quarter, there was a 6.0 percent rise for livestock and cropping farming (reflecting higher cattle and lamb prices) and a 5.3 percent rise for dairy cattle farming (reflecting higher farm-gate milk prices).  Looking at the year-on-year situation, output prices were up 10.7 percent for livestock and cropping and up 40.4 percent for dairy.

While farm input prices are subdued - The input side of the Producer Price Index showed relatively small increases for farming. In the September quarter, input prices were up by just 0.3 percent for both the sheep and beef and dairy farming groups, while for the year ended September, input prices were up 3.3 percent for sheep and beef and 1.2 percent for dairying.  This data shows a welcome moderation of farm inflation, although it will be important to ensure going forward that suppliers don't ramp up their prices in response to the apparent strength in farm-gate prices.

Farm sales down - Farm sales have fallen to fewer than half the numbers achieved in recent years but the median sale price is up on the same time last year, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) Rural Market Report. In the three months to the end of October 2010, only 147 farms changed owners (and only eight of them dairy farms), a 28.3 percent drop on the 205 sold in the same three months last year and down significantly on the 390 farms sold in the three months to October 2008 and the 582 sales in the three months to October 2007. From $1,012,500 in the three months to September 2010, the national median farm sale price eased back to $950,000 for the three months to October 2010. This is an increase on the median of $875,000 for the same period last year, but still well down on the median of $1,500,000 for the equivalent period in 2008.

Reserve Bank financial stability report - According to the Reserve Bank's Financial Stability Report, released last week, the financial system remains sound, with the global recovery putting banks in a better position to meet future credit demand and support growth. The domestic rebalancing is proceeding with people and businesses focused on paying down debt and reducing spending, but the Reserve Bank acknowledged that the high New Zealand Dollar, relative to the US, is not helpful for getting export led growth. These comments sparked a fall in the Dollar but it remains at elevated levels against the US.

Wool Partners Cooperative grower roadshows - Wool Partners Cooperative has added extra roadshows for wool growers around the country. This new schedule of meetings can be found by clicking here and a reminder that applications for shares must be received by 30 November 2010.

Hill country field day - AgResearch is holding a field day for hill country farmers from 10am - 2pm Wednesday, 24 November at Hope Road, Woodville. The field day will recap key research messages, discuss your questions and hear your needs. There will also be presentations on soil fertility and fertilisers by Alec Mackay, feeding animals and finishing strategies by Tom Fraser, pasture species and browse forage by Syd Easton and Grant Douglas, land evaluation and business planning by Lachie Grant (Land Vision) and Greg Sheppard (Sheppard Agriculture) as well as on parasite management by Dave Leathwick. These presentations will be given at five stops around the Ballantrae. You can arrive any time between 10am and noon and remember to bring your lunch (tea and coffee provided) and a 4WD road vehicle if you can, but no quad bikes please. For further information, please contact Isabelle Vanderkolk on 06 351 8246.

Hauraki-Coromandel provincial meeting - Federated Farmers Hauraki-Coromandel will be holding its provincial meeting at 7.30pm Monday, 29 November in the Ngatea War Memorial Hall supper room. The meeting will discuss DIRA, effluent and dairy issues. For more information, please contact Bev Sanford on 07 869 0080, Kevin Robinson on 07 868 3487 or Ciarán Tully on 07 867 5330. 

Lindis minimum flow workshop - Otago Regional Council is holding a minimum flow workshop from 7 - 9pm on Monday, 29 November at the Tarras Community Hall. Discussion topics include an update on setting minimum flows, groundwater and how minimum flows may affect your water take, potential economic effects, main issues and aims of the wider community and interest groups. Come along and help shape the final minimum flow proposal for your river. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Nikki Penno on 0800 474 082 or at nikki.penno@orc.govt.nz.

Get an understanding of resource management law - Open Polytechnic's Certificate in Environmental Management will teach you about resource management law, other resource use and conservation statutes and the principles of environmental monitoring and management. Remember, Federated Farmers members get a 20 percent discount. Click here to download an enrolment form.

National Certificate in Agriculture, Production Management - Increase your knowledge and advance your career in agribusiness with Agriculture ITO's National Certificate in Agriculture, Production Management (Level 5). This course is ideal for managers, or those aiming for a position managing agricultural production. This qualification will help you enhance the productivity and profitability of your farm and take your career in agribusiness to the next level. Learn how to develop production management action plans and analyse results, manage a feed budget to meet agribusiness production targets and identify and analyse high performance in agribusiness productivity. To find out more, contact your local Agriculture ITO training advisor on 0800 691 111 or visit www.agricultureito.ac.nz.

Out there South: A 4WD adventure in New Zealand's South Island - This book, Out there South: A 4WD adventure in New Zealand's South Island is a fantastic gift choice for any 4WD owner and an extraordinary record of a 4WD adventure through some of the most spectacular country to be found in the South Island, undertaken by leading photographers Chris Morton and Tony Bridge. Federated Farmers members can purchase this beautiful book at the great price of $39.99 (RRP $49.99), as well as free postage. To purchase your copy, contact Pauline at Craig Publishing on 03 548 9009 or at pauline@cpp.co.nz.

Ravensdown Flysafe® - Trust Ravensdown to protect your sheep from flystrike with new Flysafe® Liquid and Flysafe® Spray-On. Call 0800 100 123 for more information.

Get a free Masport BBQ or lawnmower with Versatile - Buy any Versatile fully-constructed double garage (or bigger) and get either a Masport BBQ or Masport lawnmower for free. Hurry this amazing deal ends Tuesday, 30 November. Some terms and conditions apply, so see www.versatile.co.nz for details.

At Winesonline this week - For a great selection of award winning Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, then you must visit www.winesonline.co.nz.

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.

Quote of the week - "Progress might have been alright once, but it has gone on too long". Ogden Nash.