Transport changes good news for farmers - Read more »

New Zealand went country for Federated Farmers Farm Day - Read more »

Canterbury deserves better - Read more »

It's all go for Farm Day - Read more »

Farm Day draws a great crowd - Read more »

Power outage doesn't dampen Farm Day - Read more »

Farm Day a great success - Read more »

Only one more sleep 'till Farm Day - Read more »

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

Daylight saving ends Sunday, 4 April - Officially, New Zealand Daylight Saving ends at 2.00am on Sunday, 4 April when clocks are put back one hour. Under the terms of the Time Act 1974, where the hours worked by any person on that day are less than the hours that would otherwise have been worked, the pay and allowances of that person for those hours must be the same as for the hours that would otherwise have worked.

Banking Ombudsman - Federated Farmers has written to the Banking Ombudsman asking that its terms of reference be amended to increase the current $200,000 monetary limit on claims and to enable the Ombudsman to consider complaints relating to banks' commercial judgment and interest rate policies. The Federation supports the Banking Ombudsman Scheme but many farmers have raised concerns about how they are being treated by their banks, so we think there should be greater transparency around and scrutiny of banks' decisions. We have also suggested that the public needs to be made more aware of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme and what it can do to help resolve consumer complaints. For more information, please contact Nick Clark by clicking here.

4,000 visitors at Farm Day - The number of visitors in attendance this year was a great effort and we would like to extend out sincere thanks to all farm day hosts, helpers and provincial executives for making the day such a success. Across the country, despite rain in some areas, we had positive feedback and strong affirmation that the Federation is on the right track. Congratulations go to Kieran Stone and team at the Lincoln University dairy farm in North Canterbury who topped 600 visitors.

Hauling ‘em in - An excellent possum haul has been taken from the Akatarawa area, north of Upper Hutt. It's the first pest control operation to be undertaken in the area, as the Animal Health Board (AHB) continues to eliminate bovine TB from infected wildlife and decrease infection rates in cattle and deer. Over the entire operational area, covering about 4,000 hectares, AHB contractors hauled in more than 13,000 possums. Post-operation surveys have also revealed landowners are delighted with the work and are looking forward to the operation's second phase due to begin later this year.

Undercover Kids - We are happy to announce the three winners of the Totalspan Undercover Kids bus shelters for rural children. They are Kuranui School in the Waikato, Ahititi School in Ahititi, Taranaki and Riversdale Primary School in Riversdale, Southland. We would like to say a very big thank you to Totalspan who agreed to donate an extra three bus shelters for rural children in Federated Farmers name.

Additional measures for those wanting to produce raw milk products - The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has recently posted on its website the additional requirements that dairy processors will have to comply with if they wish to manufacture, store or transport raw milk products. It expands and provides further clarification of the high level outcomes outlined in the Animal Products (Raw Milk Products Specifications) Notice which can be found by clicking here. The Code of Practice includes information about good hygienic practice and the extra measures necessary when producing raw milk products. To read the Code of practice: Additional Measures for Raw Milk Products, please click here.

Views sought on transmission infrastructure - Federated Farmers is surveying its members on Transmission infrastructure. The Public Works Act requires compensation to be paid for new transmission lines or for existing lines to be upgraded such that injurious affection occurs. Federated Farmers is negotiating with Transpower and Government to improve compensation arrangements for farmers with transmission infrastructure on their land. To help with our advocacy efforts we would like to know more about the scale of the issue and existing compensation arrangements. This is a very important issue for affected land owners, but we are keen to hear from you even if you don't have transmission infrastructure on your land. Please be assured that information and views received will be treated in strict confidence. If you are a member and want to take part in the survey please reply to the email you will have received yesterday.

Pikelet overload - An unofficial world record of cooking 2500 pikelets in one day was made at the North Otago farm day, which was part of the Totara Estate Harvest Home Festival. Children had a chance to trace their food from wheat grains to welsh beauties and then shake the cream into butter.

A reminder about homekill - If they wish, farmers are entitled to homekill (slaughter and butcher their own animals themselves) on their property for consumption by their family/household or their employees. However, the meat must not be traded (this includes barter, supply as part of a service, public prize or reward etc) or sold. To do so risks action by regulatory authorities such as the NZFSA and also potentially puts at risk the reputation of official rural butchers. The requirements around homekill can be found on the NZFSA website by clicking here. Farmers can also contact a listed homekill service provider to carry out this function. A list of Federated Farmers Rural Butcher members who provide this service can be found on our website by clicking here.

Thanks Southland DC, but farmers need more - Federated Farmers Southland Local Government spokesman, Doug Fraser, welcomes Southland District Council's decision to reduce the costs of roading, attributed to the district's dairy farmers, from 33 percent to 31 percent, a saving of roughly $300 on average per dairy farm. But Doug believes they can and should do better, commenting that between the already high district wide rates increase, reduced use of Uniform Annual General Charges, the effects of district revaluations and a flawed roading cost allocation model, Southland's farmers, especially the dairy sector, are facing significant rates increases this year. While we appreciate the steps already taken by Council to mitigate the effects of these factors, we think they owe it to their farming ratepayers to do better. The easy answer is to make better use of Uniform Annual General Charges and this is one of the solutions we'll be proposing in our submission to this year's draft Annual Plan.

Northland - Gumboots weren't necessary at Bruce and Julie Patton's dairy farm in Whangarei, where visitors got to learn how farmers are dealing with the Northland dry. We've already had some great feedback and are all very appreciative for all those who helped out during this very trying time.

Auckland - An easier route was offered this year at Brian and Dianne Duder's Clevdon dairy farm when visitors found they could hitch a ride on a tractor and trailer. A wide range of people had a great day out in the Auckland countryside.

Hauraki-Coromandel - Lighting up was seen in a positive light by children coming to Mike and Sandra Morrison's sheep and beef farm near Thames, where they had a chance to kit up like a bee keeper and smoke the hive.

Waikato - Curious fruit salad cows drew people to the Mitchell family's dairy farm on the outskirts of Hamilton. The cows, Fonterra tanker and bee display gave people lots of food for thought.

Bay of Plenty - Big numbers in the Bay bettered last years record, as Bay of Plenty Farm Day hosts the McLeod family managed to pack even more visitors through their Papamoa dairy farm's gates.

Rotorua/Taupo - Casting the fly and checking out the anatomical differences between a bull, cow and calf were all on the agenda at the Rotorua/Taupo Farm Day at Neil Heather's Angus stud.

Hawke's Bay - The clouds came down but spirits stayed high at Maraetara, the Holt's Bay View sheep and beef farm, as visitors, including Rural Delivery, got a taste of farm life in the Bay.

Gisborne/Wairoa - The journey of wool and an organic citrus orchard were just some of the interesting things to see at Wairakaia Station, Muriwai, the diverse farming operation run by the Graham and Faulkner families.

Ruapehu-Central North Island - Great steaks and fruits of the vine were showcased at Taumarunui on Don Buchanan and Cherie Riches Piedmontese stud. The first vintage complimented the story behind their prize winning steaks.

Taranaki - Despite the cold weather, high country tales from author Christine Fernyhough and fun farm activities drew people out to the Carvers sheep and beef farm near Hawera.

Tararua - Going below the grass was the challenge at Kim and Keith Reily's Woodville dairy farm, where children were given special didactical glasses and encouraged to look at worms and nitrogen nodules on the roots of plants.

Wanganui - Doubling last years numbers was an unexpected achievement at Alan, Jeanette and John Davison's Wanganui dairy farm.

Manawatu/Rangitikei - A sheep's eye view was given to children visiting the Palmerston North sheep and beef farm of Brian and Stu Waters as they experienced mustering, shearing and drafting first hand.

Wairarapa/Wellington - Throwing a fleece was one of the practical activities that visitors attempted to master at the Tarathahi Agricultural Training Centre Farm Day.

Nelson - Catching a ride on a giant Clydesdale or vintage tractor to check out the enduro cows was a popular option at the fun and informative Nelson Farm Day, at the Marshall's Brightwater dairy farm.

Marlborough - Sheep were the stars at Gary and Jo Barnett's Tuamarina mixed cropping property with visitors counting sheep, watching shearing demonstrations and seeing dogs at work.

West Coast - Enthusiasm abounded and gumboots were hurled at the West Coast's Farm Day at the Robb family's Gladstone dairy farm.

North-Canterbury - The initial challenge was finding a park at the Lincoln Dairy farm as more than 600 people took up the opportunity to learn more about cows, irrigation and science. The calves were a massive hit with the kids while adults learnt about soil in a giant hole, complete with a scientist!

Mid-Canterbury - Stories about cowpats dodged, calves patted, bees watched and puppies played with will be buzzing through the classrooms of Mid Canterbury's schools after a successful day out at Andy and Tricia Macfarlane's Ashburton dairy farm.

South-Canterbury - A bird's eye view was on offer at Andrew Palmer and Sharon Collett's dairy farm, allowing visitors to take to the skies in a helicopter or stay grounded with a ride on a vintage tractor.

North Otago - Pikelets were the bee's knees in North Otago. Visitors were fascinated by the secret lives of bees and our Farm Day farmers produced close to a world record number of sweet pikelets at the Totara Estate Harvest Home Festival.

Otago - Counting sheep and meeting an alpaca were highlights for children at Waiora farm near Mosgiel. Making it home without a puppy would have been the biggest highlight for their parents!

Southland - Pigs and puppies were patted and swedes crunched as visitors got a taste of rural life at Grant and Sharon Hubber's Oporo Flat sheep farm in Southland.

Trade - For the month of February 2010 merchandise exports were down 3.6 percent to $3.3 billion, according to Statistics NZ's Merchandise Trade Statistics. Meat and edible offal, casein and mechanical machinery and equipment led the fall in exports. For the year ended February 2010, exports were $39.5 billion, down 7.5 percent compared to the year ended February 2009. However, with imports falling by 16.8 percent, there was a big drop in the annual trade deficit from $5.2 billion to $347 million.

Debt - Reserve Bank credit statistics for the month of February 2010 show that agricultural sector debt was $47.2 billion, up 0.2 percent on January. Although agricultural debt was 7.0 percent higher than in February 2009, growth in debt has ‘flat-lined' since August last year. Meanwhile, debt to non-agricultural businesses was down 7.8 percent for the year and total household debt was up 2.7 percent for the year.

Federated Farmers North Canterbury AGM - There was a great turnout to the Federated Farmers North Canterbury AGM yesterday, with around 60 members, staff and Mainpower personnel attending the field trip to the Kate valley rubbish dump and Tiromoana conservation area. All were amazed by the technology and monitoring of a modern landfill dump and adjacent conservation area, as well as by the workings of the proposed Mt Cass wind farm. In official matters, Neil Stott was elected the new provincial president for North Canterbury, succeeding Chris Sundstrum. Dugald McLean was voted in as vice -president, while Murray Rowlands was elected the new Grain & Seed chairperson and James Bourke was elected to the position of Sharemilkers' Section chairperson.

Undercover Kids - The Totalspan Undercover Kids Bus Shelter Programme is about to give away more bus shelters to schools with rural bus routes. These shelters are a godsend to rural kids, providing them with greater safety and visibility as well as much needed protection from the elements. This year there will be one round of applications with the aim of approving 100 shelters. Applications close on Friday, 30 April with successful applicants being announced in mid-June. For more information or to download an application form please click here.

Get in quick - We're hosting our next round of leadership courses in June. The level one, Getting Your Feet Wet course runs on from Wednesday, 16 to Thursday, 17 June and Shining Under the Spotlight, our advanced course is to be held from Wednesday, 7 to Thursday, 8 July. Places are very limited and eagerly sought after so if you are interested in attending we encourage you to get in quick. For more information, please contact Ali Undorf-Lay by clicking here.

NZDIA Central Plateau - Congratulations to the below New Zealand Dairy Industry Central Plateau regional winners for Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manger of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year. The 2010 Central Plateau Sharemilker of the Year has been awarded to Larry & Maria Perrott, who also take home the Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award. The 2010 Central Plateau Farm Manager of the Year winners are Rhys are Pen Bullock and the 2010 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year award has gone to Brady Mitchell.

NZDIA West Coast/top of South - Congratulations to the below New Zealand Dairy Industry West Coast/top of South regional winners for Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manger of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year. The 2010 West Coast/top of South Sharemilker of the Year has been awarded to Chris and Donna Murphy, who also take home the Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award. The 2010 West Coast/top of South Farm Manager of the Year winner is Maria Carlson and the 2010 West Coast/top of South Dairy Trainee of the Year award has gone to Andrea Harvey.

NZDIA Canterbury/North Otago - Congratulations to the below New Zealand Dairy Industry Canterbury/North Otago regional winners for Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manger of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year. The 2010 Canterbury/North Otago Sharemilker of the Year has been awarded to Jeremy and Rebecca Duckmanton, who also take home the Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award. The 2010 Canterbury/North Otago Farm Manager of the Year winners are Hamish and Natalie Davidson and the 2010 Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Trainee of the Year award has gone to Angus Thomas.

NZDIA Otago - Congratulations to the below New Zealand Dairy Industry Otago regional winners for Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manger of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year. The 2010 Otago Sharemilker of the Year has been awarded to Nathan and Debbie Erskine, who also take home the Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award. The 2010 Otago Farm Manager of the Year winner is Gareth Furguson and the 2010 Otago Dairy Trainee of the Year award has gone to Blake Korteweg.

NZDIA Southland - Congratulations to the below New Zealand Dairy Industry Southland regional winners for Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manger of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year. The 2010 Southland Sharemilker of the Year has been awarded to Stefan and Annalilze de Plessis, who also take home the Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award. The 2010 Southland Farm Manager of the Year winner is Don Moore and the 2010 Southland Dairy Trainee of the Year award has gone to Adam Coley.

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.

Creating a climate for success in a dryland environment - MAF, Hawke's Bay Regional and Silver Fern Farms are hosting a forum to consider options for improving the productivity of dry hill country in Hawkes Bay. Topics to be covered include managing dryland pasture systems, the potential of browse shrub blocks and diverse pasture species and the benefits of soil carbon. Speakers include Professor Jacqueline Rowarth of Massey University and Alec Mackay and Grant Douglas of AgResearch. The forum will take place from 1.00pm on Tuesday, 20 April 2010 at Silver Fern Farms' Arran Station, Fraser Road, Takapau. The forum will finish with refreshments and a BBQ. To RSVP for the event, please contact Ian Millner by clicking here. Please RSVP by Thursday, 15 April.

Employment Bulletin - By now you should have received your copy of the new Employment Bulletin newsletter via email. The Employment Bulletin will be a bi-monthly publication aimed to keep you informed on topical and relevant employment issues, similar to what was posted in this section of the Friday Flash. Federated Farmers understands the importance of keeping you covered when it comes to employment matters and thought that dedicated employment newsletter would do the trick. Enjoy!

Horticulture training - Interested in moving into the horticulture industry? Open Polytechnic has a number of starter courses which can that will get you started. The qualifications can lead to a variety of work options or to higher horticulture qualifications. 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.

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.

Ben & Mark, Boys of the High Country - Christine Fernyhough's true story of two boys who live on one of New Zealand's largest high-country stations, with stunning photographs by John Bougen is now available for sale on the Federated Farmers website. Federated Farmers have it for the special price of $30 for members (non-members $36.99). Ben & Mark, Boys of the High Country is destined to become a New Zealand classic and would make a beautiful gift. We have a limited number so get online, by clicking here and order yours today.

The Road to Castle Hill: A High Country Love Story - Christine Fernyhough's first High Country tale is now available on the Federated Farmers website. Warm and humorous, this inspirational book tells the story of a woman bold enough to do what many urbanites dream of: embark on an entirely new life and throw herself into a considerable challenge. Federated Farmers have it for the great price of $38.50 for members (non-members $45.50). Beautifully illustrated, The Road to Castle Hill is also a celebration of New Zealand's high-country way of life. We have a limited number so get online, by clicking here and order yours today.

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- "It's hard soar like an eagle, when you're working with turkeys". Anon.