Farmers urge proactive attitude towards drought - Read more »

Lift in milk powder prices will lift confidence - Read more »

Farmers welcome discussions - Read more »

New Zealand goes where 26 other global alliance members don't - Read more »

State of the art milk plant proposed for Darfield - Read more »

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

Personal Grievance Law needs fixing - Federated Farmers has submitted on Government's review of personal grievances. Employment law should be fair and flexible for all, but we're not convinced the current law achieves an appropriate balance. Based on member feedback we think there is a particular problem around personal grievances where the scales are tipped too much in favour of the employee with the system being too costly and too stressful, especially for small employers. Many thanks goes to all those who have provided comments and accounts of their own experiences. To view the Federation's submission, please click here.

Pondering Tasman's Plan Change - Tasman District Council has notified Plan Change 17 and variations 68-70 which relate to the use of beds of rivers and lakes. This Plan Change has implications on farm in relation to things like how you can graze stock in paddocks with unfenced waterways, how you cross waterways with stock and vehicles, farming near waterways that might be considered significant and extracting gravel from riverbeds for use on the farm. Submissions on this plan change are due on 26 April 2010. For more information, please contact Anna Mackenzie on 03 357 9452 or click here to email.

Commodity prices at record highs - The ANZ Commodity Price Index posted its thirteen consecutive monthly rise in March, lifting 1.8 percent from February. The index has reached a new record high, eclipsing the previous peak measured in July 2008. Beef and lamb prices continue to hit fresh highs, lifting 6.8 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively. However, wool prices fell 3.0 percent from last month's high and dairy and venison prices both eased 1.2 percent - although with the Global Dairy Trade increasing 20 percent at its April event, this will likely push dairy commodity prices back up in April. Although the NZ Dollar also strengthened in March, there was also a record high for index when expressed in the NZ Dollars, increasing 0.4 percent in March to exceed its previous peak reached in August 2008.

NZDIA Federated Farmers Leadership Award winners - Congratulations to the following Federated Farmers Leadership Award winners from the 2010 regional New Zealand Diary Industry Awards. The winners are, for Northland Geoff and Kristie Colson, for Auckland/Hauraki Hayden and Ellisa  Slack, for Waikato Hamish and Lisa Lile, for Bay of Plenty Fraser McGougan, for Central Plateau Dean and Amanda Benson, for Taranaki Greg and Hannah Topless, for Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua Kyle and Virginia Marshall, for Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Clarence and Elise Stolte, for West Coast/top of the South Mark and Debbie van Beek, for Canterbury/North Otago Hayden Dorman and Jessie Chan, for Otago Mark and Andrea Shore and for Southland Scott and Chantal Hindrup. The prize for this comprises of free registration to one of our leadership courses, valued at $1,000.

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.

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 - The Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council are running a forum on creating a climate for success in a dryland environment  on Tuesday, 20 April 2010. It will be held at Silver Fern Farms' Arran Station, Fraser Road, off SH2, Takapau. The event will be chaired by Sam Robinson and speakers will include Professor Jacqueline Rowarth, David Horne and David Gray of Massey University, Alec Mackay and Grant Douglas of Agresearch, North Canterbury farmer, Lyndon Matthews and  Angus Mabin of Silver Fern Farms. The event will start at 1.00pm, with tea/coffee from 12.30pm, and will conclude with a BBQ. If you wish to attend, please RSVP before Friday, 16 April 2010 to Julie Thompson by clicking here. To find out more information, please contact Gillian Mangin by clicking here.

Wool Partners International roadshow meetings - Wool Partners International (WPI) is to hold a series of meetings throughout New Zealand in April. The meetings will cover what WPI is doing to grow demand for New Zealand strong wool and New Zealand market managers from the USA and the United Kingdom will speak about the direction of the international market. Space at each meeting is limited, so we encourage you to register your interest early by emailing info@woolpartners.com or phoning 0800 946 000. The dates and locations of the meetings can be found by clicking here.

Dealing with dairy farm effluent - Employers, make the most of this valuable resource. Improve your whole team's awareness of what effluent is and what to look out for on farm with Agriculture ITO's ‘Dealing with Dairy Effluent', one-day workshop. For more information, contact your local adviser on 0800 691 111 or click here.

Want the specialist skills needed to run a successful Maori business? - Open Polytechnic's Diploma in Maori Business provides the skills needed to manage Maori business in a variety of industries and is supported by leading figures from public and private business. 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.

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.

Bag a vino bargain - Winesonline offer you 14 quality wines all at under $10.00 and many are award winning wines. Have a look at these and all their other great wines by clicking here.

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.

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 - "Before Al Gore, there was the Flintstones". Don Nicolson on climate change politics, part 2.