Animal ID scheme delay ‘prevents an agricultural INCIS' -  Read more »
Federated Farmers' Adverse Events Trust makes first Christchurch donation - Read more »
Forecast milk price of 66 cents per litre holds steady -  Read more »

Business ignorance is not bliss -  Read more »

Waitaki District Community Outcomes - Waitaki District have contacted key stakeholders to get feedback on their ‘Community Outcomes', including Federated Farmers. Community outcomes seem an innocuous tool for planning a council's goals and spending priorities, but in practice often end up as a mandate for councils to spend more without prioritising within current resources. We all know who ends up paying. Community outcomes also do not reflect the simple fact that for the "nice to haves" to be affordable, the "have to haves" need to be prioritised, nor that usually the best way of increasing a community's economic wellbeing is to leave the money with the farmer.

Dunedin City Council Development Contributions policy - Development Contributions policies usually pass under the farmer's radar until they get a whopping bill for developing the old shed. Federated Farmers is submitting on your behalf to Dunedin City Council's policy. We support the principle of recovering costs from those who create a need for further development rather than paying through the teeth every year through rates, where farmers contribute more than they should. However, charges should be reasonable and we're cautious about DCC using this as an additional revenue gathering tool rather than an alternative to rates. We also want to ensure the farmer is not charged for activities where farm development creates no greater call on activities, for instance libraries, museums and public toilets.          

Canterbury's NRRP to be operative from 11 June - At the meeting of Environment Canterbury Commissioners on Thursday 26 May, following the successful resolution of appeals, it was decided that Canterbury's Natural Resources Regional Plan (NRRP) will be operative from 11 June.  This follows seven years of intensive effort during the submission, hearing and appeal processes to ensure that the plan will work for farmers. Following hard on the heels of the NRRP will be notification of the revised Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (RPS) on 18 June. The over-arching RPS is particularly important because regional and district plans are now required to give effect to it. The water components of the RPS are expected to reflect the Canterbury Water Management Strategy which hopefully heralds the beginning of a much more collaborative and integrated approach to water management in Canterbury. As with the NRRP process, Federated Farmers will be striving to obtain good outcomes for farmers. For further information please contact Lionel Hume, senior policy advisor, Ashburton.

Gypsy week in Otago - When transferring stock spillage of  effluent from trucks onto roads can be dangerous and inconvenient to other road users. Can farmers please remember to stand your stock before cartage and truckies should put in effluent storage tanks and not overfill them. Remember to empty the waste at one of the seven Otago Regional Council disposal sites around the region. Let's keep Otago's roads safe and clean.

National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme delay - The 1 November 2011 date when mandatory NAIT- Radio Frequency Idenitification (RFID) tagging of cattle was to come into force has been changed to mid-late 2012, subject to the passing of the necessary legislation. Requirements around the tagging of cattle after 1 November 2011 are as follows: 
For cattle movements other than to slaughter: Primary and secondary tags will continue to be required. The primary tag can be either a NAIT RFID primary tag or an Animal Health Board (AHB) bar-coded primary tag.
Cattle being consigned to slaughter: Must be identified with either an AHB approved bar-coded primary tag or an AHB approved bar-coded, "direct to slaughter" tag.

Canada goose will formally cease to be a game species on 9 June 2011 - This is the date the species moves from Schedule 1 to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act. From that date it will be unprotected throughout the country. The government decided that maximising recreational hunting opportunities should no longer be the overriding objective for managing Canada geese. For Schedule 1 species the overriding objective is to maximise hunting opportunities and all goose management decisions are determined by game licence holders. Schedule 5 allows alternative management objectives to be adopted. From 9 June land owners and managers who consider that goose impacts are unacceptable, or will be unacceptable in the future, will be able to kill geese themselves or engage a contractor to undertake a cull. Federated Farmers is working with like-minded parties to ensure Canada Geese numbers are managed and the population is reduced long term.

"Cows and calves - life on a dairy farm" - A new publication aimed at Year 3 - 8 students (about seven to 12 year olds) has been released explaining and showing in full colour pictures dairy farming. The range is from the birth of a calf, her life through the calf shed and then onto the milking shed, where highly nutritious milk is collected and then sent to the supermarket. It also deals with bobby calves, effluent management, vets at work and life for children on the farm. This little 23 page book is really engaging, with language that is suitable for the age range and aims to foster an interest in farming life. It was developed by the Animals in Schools Education Trust, of which Federated Farmers is a member. Class sets are available, together with teacher notes, for $60 for ten plus post and packing or it may be bought as single copies for $6.60 plus post and packing. Another title available is "Cold snap lambs", which is all about sheep. More information and how to order can be found by clicking here.

Hurunui-Waiau Draft Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) - A draft Hurunui-Waiau ZIP (part of implementing the Canterbury Water Management Strategy in the Hurunui District) is currently out for comment.  This document is crucial for all current and potential water users in the Hurunui and Waiau catchments.  It can be accessed at by clicking here.  Topics covered by the draft ZIP include: environmental flow and allocation regimes, water use efficiency, water quality, economic development and water storage.  It is vital that North Canterbury people read the document and provide feedback to the Zone Committee.  Written responses should be emailed to admin@canterburywater.org.nz by 3 June 2011.  For further information please contact Lionel Hume, Senior Policy Advisor, Ashburton.

Federated Farmers Facebook page - If you're on Facebook make sure you ‘like' our page. That way you can post feedback and keep up to date with what is happening in the world of Federated Farmers. Currently we're running our first ever funniest farming video competition. Entries are posted on our Facebook page with the winner receiving an iPad2.

Red Meat Sector Strategy Report released - Beef and Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association have released this document, which is designed to identify and substantiate the areas where the largest gains can be made by the sector; in-market co-ordination, efficient and aligned procurement and sector best practice.  To download a summary or obtain the full report and to submit your views on the strategy, click here.

Gypsy Day - If you are changing addresses please let us know by calling 0800 327 646. If you are employing new staff, Federated Farmers have a variety of employment contracts at a discounted rate for members. For more details, click here to go to our website.

TB Free New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) Annual Conference - The Animal Health Board (AHB) are sponsoring the NZYF Annual Conference on 29 June to 2 July.  For all herd-owners, to assist in controlling the possible spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in New Zealand, here are a few things to remember when moving your cows on Gypsy Day.

• Contact the AHB to update your herd contact details
• Make sure you complete your required TB test prior to moving.
• Herd-owners should ensure their animals have official AHB ear tags if required and complete an Animal Status Declaration form.
• If moving animals from within a Movement Control Area (MCA), a pre-movement TB test must be completed before any stock are moved off the property.

Farmers receiving stock for grazing should also be mindful of introducing TB onto their property. The bottom line is, do not accept animals if the information on the herd's Animal Status Declaration form is incomplete or not provided. To update your details, or for any other TB enquiries, call the AHB contact centre on 0800 4 TB INFO (0800 4 824 636).

AgriAwards - Celebrating the achievements of AgITO's trainees and employers.  AgITO would like to congratulate all of their graduating trainees and AgriAwards trophy winners! AgriAwards are held annually in 17 regions throughout New Zealand. These award nights recognise the successes of our trainees and farmer trainers and we honour our top achievers and reward them for their commitment to training.  AgriAwards are in full swing across the country. Click here to see the dates coming up in your region and check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/agricultureito to see photos of recent events. To find out more about AgITO's qualifications or to enrol, contact your local training adviser today on 0800 691 111 or visit their website at www.agito.ac.nz.

Occupational Health and Safety Policy - More than ever farmers need to take appropriate steps regarding Health and Safety and more importantly to be in a position to show a health and safety policy has been implemented. The new Federated Farmers Health and Safety Policy is the first policy prepared specifically for the rural sector, including hazard and accident registers with examples. It's designed to assist farmers to reduce the risk of accidents, financial loss and loss of productivity through injury and details practical actions for on farm implementation. Fines can now be up to $500,000, with a recent example of a $60,000 fine being imposed on an employer whose employee's fingers were crushed in machinery. Order a copy by calling 0800 FARMING, 0800 327 646.  Members' preferential price is $70 + GST, non members can also purchase the document for $170 + GST.   

Devan are doing deals - If you missed out on their fifty tank special, call Devan and  twist their arm. Your phone call plus Federated Farmers membership number equals one deal you won't see again. Call 0800 5000 26 and quote your Federated Farmers membership number to order. Hurry, there's only fifty available, so get in quick. For further details, click here. 

Winesonline.co.nz - They have new award winning wines from only $7.95. Buy from Winesonline and receive great wines, free chocolates and help support Federated Farmers at the same time. For these great deals and more, go to winesonline.co.nz.

Versatile is Warming Your Heart! Sign up for any of Versatile's 40 great homes and get a free installed heat pump. Hurry - only 30 to give away.  If you haven't already checked out Versatile's fantastic home plans do it today. Plus, visit our website to enter to win one of 30 rugby balls signed by Richie McCaw.  Terms and Conditions apply. Call 0800 VERSATILE or visit www.versatile.co.nz for further details.

Versatile's May mark down - This is your last chance to get outrageous deals on garage kitsets. Single garage kitsets are priced from $4599 and double garage kitsets from $5699. Visit their website to enter to win one of thirty rugby balls signed by Richie McCaw.  Terms and conditions apply. Hurry, this deal is for May only! To find out what other great deals are available, call 0800 VERSATILE or visit www.versatile.co.nz.

Quote of the week - "The more I think about ‘Wellywood' as a sign, the more I like it.  It's more than a play on Hollywood.  It tells everyone this country depends on those wearing Wellingtons, over than those in Wellington."  - Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President