March 2018
Weather not playing ball
Mark Hooper
Taranaki dairy vice Chair
M: 021 430 558
E: [email protected]
This season, Taranaki seems to be lurching from one adverse event to another.
The only positive for some farms from the big wet, followed by the big dry was very good maize crops, then along came the 'Gita storm' flattening approximately 50% of crops and reducing potentially record yields.
This, along with hundreds of trees down, widespread power outages and significant property damage, prompted the Minister to announce a second ‘Medium Scale Adverse Event’ for the region.
The announcement of such a scenario activates a sequence of events for our partner organisations, the Rural Advisory Group and Rural Support Trust in assessing the impact, providing access to support and implementing a path to recovery.
If you feel you, or anyone you know, has been ‘overlooked’ in this process, contact our office to ensure help gets to where it is needed.
The arrival of Gita on top of already very difficult conditions also prompted the opening of our Taranaki Feed Drive.
Generous donations came in almost immediately from around the country, which has been a great source of encouragement for Taranaki farmers. Again, if you or anyone you know is in need, contact our office for an application and we will endeavour to ensure feed gets to where it is most needed.
March tends to be a busy time on the event calendar as a variety of organisations host seminars, information meetings, roadshows, discussion groups and Fieldays.
Your local Feds team has been active in the event space too, with the Your Rights, Your Responsibilities workshops. These were a follow-up from the earlier 'Take time before you sign' workshops, providing more in-depth information on contracts, employment, drug and alcohol, tenancy and health and safety.
These areas of responsibility are an ever changing space and it is vital to keep informed or at least ensure you are using the very latest contracts available. Never sign photocopied contracts provided by a third party, they will inevitably be out of date. The
current contracts are all available from our New Plymouth office.
Contracts and employment issues are a hot topic at present and some of our Exec team also presented at the recent meeting of the local NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management group (i.e. rural professionals). This generated some good debate and follow-up questions, again highlighting the need to stay informed on these issues.
Coming up, very soon March 23, is our Rural Governance Course. I highly recommend this one-day event. I participated in one of our previous courses and found the time and cost to be a very worthwhile investment.
The opportunity to engage in problem solving activities using real case studies with other like-minded people was fun, informative and stimulating. Presenter Susan Huria, is a very experienced director and excellent facilitator.
This is the only Rural Governance course of its type in Taranaki so get along and support it. Remember even if you are only a director of your own farming company you have certain clear responsibilities and this course will be of great value to you.
Check it out on our Federated Farmers Taranaki
Facebook page for a quick response.
Federated Farmers Taranaki – Out and About
|
|
Your Rights, Your Responsibilities seminar, saw around 50 farmers come and hear from local professionals about a range of topics affecting farmers, such as drug and alcohol policies, tenancy, contracts, health and safety and insurance. |
 |
|
Congratulations to Share Farmer Federated Farmers' Leadership Award winner, Kelsey Espin, pictured here with Taranaki Federated Farmers' President Donald McIntyre. |
 |
|
Federated Farmers' Taranaki Office Manager Jessie Waite recently attended the Future Farms conference, where Damien O’Connor discussed the need to add value to our food products, which are some of the best in the world.
|
Rural Governance Course
Federated Farmers Taranaki is once again offering the Institute of Directors Rural Governance Course for a discounted rate, this March! This course is for those who are involved in ownership and management of farming, or agribusiness, and professionals who advise rural clients.
In this course, you’ll gain insights into the benefits that a board can bring to agribusinesses, and the fundamental responsibilities of a board and individual directors in a distinctly rural context. With a focus on farming safety, it also covers board relationships, robust processes, good decision making, and key elements of board operations.
Content covered
- Governance, legal and regulatory framework essentials
- Board charters, the role of the board, culture and ethics, board composition
- Board protocols, meetings and papers
- Board and management relationships and succession planning
When: Friday, March 23 8.30am – 4pm
Venue: Auld Brewer Mazengarb McEwen – Vivian St, New Plymouth cost: $650 + GST
As a Federated Farmers member, you receive a discount of nearly $400.
Through NZTE, there is also funding available for up to 50% of your course fees.
To register your interest, contact Jessie on 06 757 3423 or email
[email protected]
Policy Update
Lisa Harper
Regional Policy Advisor
The Regional Council is reviewing the Coastal Plan for Taranaki. The Plan’s rules regulate activities on the ‘wet’ part of the coast, below the high tide mark.
But the Plan’s objectives and policies also apply to the broader coastal environment, including parts of many coastal farms.
We’re working through the documents and will be submitting on your behalf. Our goal is to make sure that provisions designed to protect the coast do not unnecessarily restrict normal farming activities.
For example, policies designed to enhance public access to the beach must recognise that the farmer has the right to manage (and restrict if necessary) public access across private farmland.
Of interest, the council is introducing a new zone called the ‘Significant Surfing Area’ between Kaihihi and Cape Roads. The zone includes farmland and the protections provided for surfing are very strict, so we’re working through any possible implications for those farmers.
Get in touch with the Taranaki Feds office, if you have any feedback or concerns. Submissions close April 27.
On the Road
Craig Sole
Taranaki Territory Manager
It's Long Term Plan season with councils amongst other things setting rates. Federated Farmers is gearing up to ensure that farmers interests are represented to all councils as they finalise their proposals.
The high growing cost of local government rates on farmland is a major issue for farmers and therefore a high priority for Federated Farmers. Nationally, policy personnel are reviewing regional plans and in Taranaki we have a dedicated policy advisor working on Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth District, Stratford and South Taranaki District Long Term plans.
2017 was a challenging year, and as your industry good organisation we are working hard with the industry to keep pests and diseases out of NZ and seeking to eradicate them, if they arrive.
Federated Farmers has been deeply involved on the following incursions: Mycoplasma bovis, Velvetleaf, Pea Weevil, Blackgrass, and continues to lobby and work on these incursions.
See ya on the road.
Craig
When circumstances beyond your control lead to a climatic, financial, environmental or personal crisis, the Taranaki Rural Support Trust is ready to help. Their services are free and all calls are confidential. The Trust can assist farming and rural families and their communities. Contact the Taranaki Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254
Diary Dates
March 19
Taranaki Provincial Executive meeting
On Farm Safety
From 6.30pm
March 22
Taranaki Ballance Farm Environmental Awards
Devon Hotel New Plymouth
6pm
March 23
Rural Governance Course – STILL SPACES AVAILABLE
9 Vivian St, New Plymouth
8.30am-4pm
Lunch provided
April 16
SGM – Revision of the rules
On Farm Safety - Stratford
7.30pm
May 18
2018 Federated Farmers' Taranaki AGM
Save
the date for the upcoming AGM. We have arranged several speakers
including Agriculture Minister Damien O' Connor. He will be joined by
National MPs Barbara Kuriger and Jonathan Young with a Q&A to
follow.
Where: Shakee Pear Cafe, 3912, Mountain Road, Cardiff, Stratford from 11am
Taranaki Provincial Executive Committee
President:
|
Donald McIntyre
|
Vice-President:
|
Dale Cook
|
Dairy:
|
Janet Schultz and Mark Hooper
|
Sharemilkers':
|
James Lawn and Matthew Herbert
|
Sharemilker Farm Owners':
|
Brendan Attrill and Othmar Hebler
|
Meat & Wool:
|
Nick Brown and Matt Newton
|
Executive:
|
Bryce Kaiser, Jonathan Ardern, Fiona Howatson, Niels Hansen, Scott Thompson, Julayne Thompson and Jason Rolfe
|
| |
|
Office Manager:
|
Jessie Waite
|
| Policy Advisor: |
Lisa Harper
|
| Territory Manager: |
Criag Sole
|
Thank you to our provincial sponsors
Federated Farmers Taranaki, 15 Young Street, Box 422, New Plymouth 4340
P 06 757-3423 E [email protected]