An independent biosecurity conducts authority? - Read more »

Castlepoint Station book, by an American in the Wairarapa - Read more »

Foreign land sales complex, so farmers need the detail - Read more »

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

Submission to Hauraki District plan - Federated Farmers has submitted to the proposed Hauraki District Plan. One particular rule in the Plan required landfills in the rural zone to get resource consent. Federated Farmers raised concerns that farm dumps and offal holes might be captured by this rule. Dumps and offal holes are permitted with standards in the Waikato Regional Plan and should also be permitted in the rural zone by the District Plan. You can download and read the complete Federated Farmers submission by clicking here.

Otorohanga planning maps - The proposed Otorohanga District Plan is now open for public submissions until 26 November 2010. Members are strongly advised to check the planning maps to see if any special policy areas are mapped over their farm, because different rules will apply. Policy areas to look out for are outstanding landscapes, landscapes of high amenity and coastal policy areas. Members are also reminded to return the survey so we can incorporate your views into the Federated Farmers submission. For more information, please contact Regional Policy Advisor, Rhea Dasent, on 0800 327 646.

Stream fencing offer from Horizons Regional Council - Are you a dairy farmer in the Tararua District? If so, you are eligible for a special offer from Horizons Regional Council. Register your interest in the subsidy and you could get 50 percent of your stream fencing costs reimbursed. If you team up with your neighbours, and approach Council as a group, you could be eligible for a subsidy of 75 percent of your stream fencing costs. To register your interest in a stream fencing subsidy, call Horizons Regional Council on 0508 800 800 and ask for Ruth. Registrations close on 30 November 2010.

Food and Government pushes up inflation - The consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.1 percent for the September 2010 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. The September quarter rise in consumer prices reflects higher food prices and higher central and local government charges. The CPI rose 1.5 percent for the year to the September 2010 quarter, the lowest annual increase since the year to the March 2004 quarter. The increase in GST from 1 October is likely to push the CPI up to close to 5 percent by next year but it should then recede back to around 2 percent by the end of 2011.

Dairy prices dip - Dairy commodity prices slipped at Fonterra's online auction this week.  The globalDairyTrade weighted index was down 2.5 percent from the previous auction, the second decline in a row, following a fall of 1.3 per cent a fortnight ago. The average winning price overnight was US$3,506 (NZ$4,708).

Wool Partners Cooperative grower roadshows - A series of meetings for wool growers is being held around the country between 26 October and 19 November. The schedule of meetings can be found by clicking here.

Castlepoint, coastal station and settlement, by Alex Hedley, Peter and Nan Laing - The positive face of farming immigration is being celebrated this Labour Weekend, with Federated Farmers Wairarapa provincial president and former New Yorkers, Anders Crofoot and his wife Emily, launching a book about their iconic hill country Castlepoint Station. Federated Farmers would like to extend an open invitation to all members and non-members to attend the launch. The book launch is to be held at 4pm on 24 October, 2010 (Labour Weekend Sunday) at the Old Woolshed, Castlepoint Station, Jetty Road, Castlepoint. For a general AA Map, please click here.

Land and Water forum report consultation meetings - The next Land and Water Forum report consultation meeting is to be held in Palmerston North on Thursday, 28 October from 7pm to 9.30pm at the Kingsgate Hotel, 110 Fitzherbert Avenue, Palmerston North. For more information, visit www.landandwater.org.nz.

Tui night out - Federated Farmers Tararua is inviting farmers to join Federated Farmers President, Don Nicholson and Chief Executive, Conor English for a well deserved night out. On Wednesday, 10 November from 6 - 10pm, the Federated Farmers Tararua executive will be hosting a dinner and drinks at the Tui head quarters in Mangatainoka. Tickets are $10 and include a BBQ dinner and up to three beers, but get in quick there are only 200 tickets available. For more information, please contact Federated Farmers East Coast Field Officer, Andrea Beagley on 027 551 1673 or email her by clicking here.

Auckland/Hauraki NZDIA launch event - The first round of NZDIA launch events begin in a couple of weeks. The Auckland/Hauraki launch event will be taking place on Wednesday, 10 November from 10.45am at the Hayward's Farm, 72 Kaihere Road, Ngatea. This is a great opportunity to see what the awards can do for you and your future career in dairy farming and hear from the previous winners. For more details please contact Gavin or Sally Roden on 09 235 7012.

Hawke's Bay/Wairarapa NZDIA launch event - The first round of NZDIA launch events begin in a couple of weeks. The Hawke's Bay launch event will be taking place on Tuesday, 16 November from 7pm at the Sawyers Arms Hotel, State Highway 50, Tikokino and on Thursday, 18 November from 7pm at the Gladstone Inn, Gladstone. This is a great opportunity to see what the awards can do for you and your future career in dairy farming and hear from the previous winners. For more details please contact Matt Gibson on 06 374 9119.

2011 Goats Conference - Federated Farmers Goats will be holding its annual conference in Central Otago from 21 - 23 February 2011. The venue will be the Centennial Court Motor Inn in Alexandra. The first day (Monday, 21 February) will comprise an optional sight-seeing tour, including farm visits. The conference and AGM will follow the normal format on 22 - 23 February. It is anticipated that registration details will be mailed to members and posted on the Federated Farmers website, before the end of October. In the meantime, those considering attending the conference may wish to check flight details in and out of Queenstown - there are some very attractive offers available at the moment.

Employment workshops - Federated Farmers will be holding its highly important employment workshops throughout October and November 2010 and then again in February and March, 2011. The major topics covered will include the 90-day trial period, discipline and dismissal, ACC claims, best practice, holidays and leave. The cost per workshop is $35 for members and $60 for non-members. The South Island workshops will be held on Monday, 1 November in Amberley and Cheviot, Tuesday, 2 November in Kaikoura and Blenheim, Wednesday, 3 November in Tapawera and Takaka, on Thursday, 4 November in Reefton and Moana and then in Hari Hari on Friday, 5 November. The final workshops for 2010 will be held on Monday, 22 November in Taihape and Ohakune, Tuesday, 23 November in Taumarunui and Cambridge, on Wednesday, 24 November in Morrinsville and Ngatea and then in Pukekohe on  Thursday, 25 November. For more information on attending a workshop and to find out workshop dates and venues, please click here, call 0800 327 646 or email events@fedfarm.org.nz.

Free agrichemical handling course - Open Polytechnic and GROWSAFE® are offering a free, one-day course in handling and using agrichemicals. The course is a step towards an introductory GROWSAFE® certificate and an approved handler certificate, which will allow you to legally buy and use agrichemicals. 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.

Managing dairy effluent makes good sense - This month, Agriculture ITO has released a new course in Effluent Management Planning, designed to help dairy farmers gain the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure they have an effective effluent management system in place on their farm and that their staff know how to use it. Participants will learn how to maximise the use of effluent for pasture growth, reduce the risk of costly mistakes and meet the highest standards of dairy farm effluent management. This is good for the farm, the industry and for the environment - the benefits of attending are clear. This course complements Agriculture ITO's Dealing with Dairy Effluent programme. Effluent Management Planning is targeted at farm managers, sharemilkers and owners. Courses in Effluent Management Planning are beginning nationwide this month, so to enrol, or find out more, contact your local Agriculture ITO training adviser on 0800 691 111 or visit www.agricultureito.ac.nz.

Leasing land or stock? - Federated Farmers has you covered with written agreements, click here to purchase yours and remember, members save over $125 per purchase.

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.

Only 40 days left - Remember, you only have 40 days left to take advantage of Accuro Health Insurances' great 90 day offer Accuro Health Insurance is giving to Federation members only is valid until 30 November 2010, as well as a minimum 5 percent discount. For a quote, click here and login to the members only section of the website, or call 0800 222 876 for more information.

Award winning wines for under $10 - Winesonline has more a dozen wines for under $10, including whites, reds and rose. To check out the selection under $10 and heaps of other bargains visit www.winesonline.co.nz.

Federated Farmers makes employment easy - Purchase applications for leave, applications for employment and employment agreements simply by clicking here and access free access to employment and legal advice by calling 0800 327 646.

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 - "To be a successful farmer one must first know the nature of the soil." Xenophon, Oeconomicus, 400 B.C.