No country for farmers? - Read more »

Farmer confidence dips slightly, farm confidence survey shows - Read more »

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Tax simplification - Thank you to all those who provided us with comments on the IRD's discussion paper, Making Tax Easier. Federated Farmers has submitted broadly in support of the IRD's proposals to simplify the tax system through encouraging electronic interaction and making PAYE a ‘final' tax. However, we were cautious about making electronic interaction mandatory, due to a lack of cost-effective broadband infrastructure in rural areas. Federated Farmers also submitted that the best way to simplify the tax system would be to commit to lower and flatter tax rates as well as putting an end to using the tax system to deliver social assistance. To see a copy of the Federation's submission, please contact General Policy Manager, Nick Clark, by clicking here.

Have your say on regulation - One of Federated Farmers highest priorities is to lobby to see less regulation and better quality regulation. Government has released a discussion document on whether there should be a Regulatory Responsibility Bill, which Federated Farmers supports, but we are keen for feedback from farmers so we can put a strong case for it.  A copy of the discussion document can be downloaded by clicking here and for more information and to provide feedback, please contact General Policy Manager, Nick Clark, by clicking here. We would also like to encourage farmers to let Government know what they think about regulation and the Regulatory Responsibility Bill, so if you want to also make your own comments straight to Government, you can do so by emailing regulation@treasury.govt.nz by 27 August.

Matamata Piako rates - Federated Farmers presented our submission on Matamata Piako rates to the annual plan hearing committee on 8 June 2010. We asked Matamata Piako District Council (MPDC) to introduce a new remission policy for properties affected by adverse events. On application, Council could remit part or whole of the rates charged in any financial year on any land that has been detrimentally affected by an adverse event such as drought, flood, an earthquake or wild fire. Hauraki District has a similar policy in place, but unfortunately they didn't accept any of our great ideas. For more information, please contact Regional Policy Advisor, Rhea Dasent, on 0800 327 646.

Taupo district revaluations - This year is a revaluation year for the Taupo district.  Once Taupo District Council (TDC) knows the value of your property, this information will be used to set your rates. TDC sets rates on land value, so the higher your land value, the more general rates you will have to pay. Federated Farmers reminds members that if you have received a valuation that you disagree with, you can object.  Your Notice of Rating Valuation should have a date that objections need to be in by. Further information on how to object and on the form can be found by clicking here. For more information, please contact Regional Policy Advisor, Rhea Dasent, on 0800 327 646.

Hurunui mix about right? - Environment Canterbury (ECan) commissioners have imposed a moratorium on consent applications to take or use water from the Hurunui River in North Canterbury. This action was taken because of competing demands for water and because of the jumble of planning processes currently underway. The intention is that the moratorium will allow time for the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) to become established, for the regional and zone committees (being set up to govern and implement the CWMS) to become engaged with water management issues in the Hurunui catchment and to collaboratively decide how the CWMS will be implemented. The ECan commissioners have stated their intention to use a collaborative approach, consistent with the CWMS, to deal with a water conservation order application, to amend the Natural Resources Regional Plan after it becomes operative and to deal with the consent applications for a substantial water storage and irrigation scheme. Federated Farmers is actively involved in all three processes. Moratoria are not the key to wise water management or to the implementation of the CWMS, but in the case of the Hurunui catchment, the ECan commissioners have probably got the mix right. For more information, please contact Senior Policy Advisor, Dr Lionel Hume, by calling 0800 327 646. 

Thanks for your help - Many thanks go to the nearly 800 farmers who responded to the July 2010 Farm Confidence Survey. The results were released on Monday and they generated lively debate. As time goes by the survey will provide an invaluable snapshot of farmer opinion. If you would like to download a copy of the results from this survey and the earlier editions, please click here. The next survey will be conducted in January 2011.           

OCR up to 3.0 percent - On Thursday the Reserve Bank lifted the OCR by 25 basis points to 3.0 percent. While this increase was widely predicted, Federated Farmers remains concerned that the recovery is patchy and weakening. We also fear that a strong exchange rate could put at risk the much needed rebalancing of the economy in favour of the tradable sector. The Reserve Bank seems to be taking this on board with its accompanying statement, noting that the outlook for economic growth has softened somewhat and that the exchange rate's recent appreciation is inconsistent with this softening. Significantly, it also said that the pace and extent of further OCR increases is likely to be ‘more moderate' than previously forecast. The NZ Dollar dipped somewhat in immediate response to the announcement.

Another trade surplus - A trade surplus of $276 million was recorded in the month of June according to Statistics NZ's Merchandise Trade Statistics. Exports were up 17.1 percent compared to June 2009, while imports were down 1.6 percent. Dairy products had the biggest increase over June 2009, up $244 million or 44.2 percent. For the year to June 2010 exports of $40.6 billion exceeded imports of $40.0 billion, a $639 million surplus. Both export values, which were down 5.5 percent, and import values, down 13.3 percent, are significantly lower than for the year to June 2009, but exports in particular appear to be recovering strongly. Most of the recent strength in exports can be put down to dairy products, forest products and crude oil. 

New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarships - Applications for the New Zealand Nuffield Farming Scholarships close on Friday, 27 August 2010. Consider applying yourself or encouraging an associate and take the opportunity to experience global food production, the camaraderie of the fellow Nuffield scholars and the chance to provide future leadership to New Zealand agriculture. For more information, please click here.

Pioneer Seeds Quick-Maturing Grain Variety Trial Competition - Federated Farmers Waikato Grain & Seed chairperson, John Hodge, and his wife Margaret have just won the Pioneer Seeds Quick-Maturing Grain Variety Trial Competition. Congratulations also goes to one of our committee members, Bruce Bateup, who won the overall section.

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.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand farmer meetings - B+LNZ (previously Meat & Wool New Zealand) is holding a nationwide series of meetings to update farmers on their plans for the coming year and to receive feedback. The dates and locations of the meetings can be downloaded by clicking here.

Collision of Land Use, a one-day forum on a matter of importance - The future of New Zealand deserves robust debate. Should it lie in perception, natural capital value or profit?  Will decisions made on the landscape be driven by emotion, science or economics? The basis for the discussion is valuing our ‘natural capital' assets and could provide an insight into the way forward. Want to find out more then register to this forum to be held on 23 August at AH1, Massey University, Palmerston North. For further information, please contact Jacqueline Rowarth by clicking here or Sandra Dunkinson by clicking here.

Rural Butchers Conference and AGM - The 2010 Federated Farmers Rural Butchers Conference and AGM is to be held at the Rendezvous Hotel, corner of Mayoral Drive and Vincent Street, Auckland on Saturday, 25 September. An agenda is currently being developed and will be sent out in the near future, but we can announce that it will include a field trip on the afternoon of Friday, 24 September. Registration forms will also be sent out shortly. As usual, members will need to arrange their own travel to and from the conference. If you are interested in attending this event, please contact David Burt, by clicking here or by calling 0800 327 646.

Cooperative education seminar - The New Zealand Cooperatives Association is holding a cooperative education seminar in Wellington on 19 and 20 August entitled Mutuality at Work - Ensuring a Successful Cooperative Business. It will be looking at what makes a member-owned cooperative or mutual business sustainable, one that serves more than a single generation of members. This surely is a topic which will be of interest to you. Click here for more information.

Horticulture training - Interested in moving into the horticulture industry? Open Polytechnic has a number of starter courses which can 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. 

Winesonline.co.nz - A fresh selection of award winning wines have just arrived at Winesonline.co.nz. To see these and some great old favourites, visit www.winesonline.co.nz today.

Fancy a free Solahart panel? - Yes, when buying a GreenGlo Saver mains pressure tank you get a free Solahart panel and a free solar controller. This is an amazing offer, why wouldn't you go solar when you can go for free. For more information, please click here or call 0800 769 377.

XCM Group Ltd - Contact XCM Group Ltd now to get your team into a great uniform.  All Federated Farmers members receive an extra 5 percent off and for the month of August as well as one free cap per player in the sports team. For more information, call 03 365 2146 or visit www.xcm.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 - "Dairy pollution arch critics the Greens were invited but said they were too busy." Dominion Post Over The Fence columnist, Jon Morgan, tells of how the Green Party's diary was too full for Horizons region dairy farmers.