Farmy Army joint operation starts Saturday - Read more »
Agriculture outlook hails an agricultural sunrise - Read more »
Farmy Army starts Saturday - Read more »
All Canterbury members, has your farm been affected? -  Read more »
Canterbury June earthquake - Federated Farmers update - Read more »

Of rivers and 1080 -  Read more »
Cycling 1080 -  Read more »

Rural sales up - There was a strong lift in the number of rural property sales in the three months to May 2011 according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand's rural statistics.  There were 364 farm sales, compared to 290 in the three months to April 2011 and 319 in the three months to May 2010.  For the year to May 2011 there were 930 farm sales, equal to the number for the year to May 2010 and up slightly on the 918 sales for the year to April 2011.  The median price per hectare for the three months to May 2011 was $17,199 down from $17,938 for the three months to 2011 and $18,230 for the three months to May 2010.  REINZ believes the rural sector's increasing confidence due to rising commodity prices, is now translating into greater confidence in buying farms.

Rates reliance continues to rise - Council rates continue to rise faster than total revenue, according to Statistics New Zealand's Local Authority Statistics for the March 2011 Quarter.  Operating income was up 0.9 percent in the quarter, with rates up 1.5 percent.  Operating expenditure was up 3.5 percent, almost entirely due to increased purchases and other operating expenditure, up 6.3 percent. The acceleration in spending is due to the Canterbury earthquakes and the new Auckland Council. Operating expenditure for the year ended March 2011 was $7,382 million, up 5.8 percent on the previous 12 months.  Meanwhile, operating revenue for the year ended March 2011 was $7,092 million, up 7.7 percent on the previous 12 months.  Of that total, $4,495 million was raised from rates, up 9 percent on the previous 12 months.  Rates made up 63.3 percent of total revenue, up from 62.6 percent for the previous 12 months and continues a concerning trend over the past several years where councils' reliance on rates has been growing.  Five years ago rates revenue was 56.1 percent of total revenue. 

Dairy prices down - Average prices of dairy products fell from a three-month high in Fonterra's latest online auction this week, as commodity prices and equity markets weakened on doubts about the pace of the United State's economic growth and Greece's debt woes. The GDT-TWI Price Index fell 2.6 percent to US$4,324 a metric tonne. That follows a 4.5 percent gain in the previous auction two weeks ago.

Rabobank Agribusiness review - Prepared by Rabobank's specialist Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) division, the New Zealand and Australia Agribusiness Review provides monthly commentary on the region's economic and agricultural conditions. As a snapshot of the food and agribusiness sectors, the review includes recent price and market trend data and analysis and covers a range of topics. Click here to read the latest copy.

Southland - Venture Southland (VS) are receiving nearly $3.4 million of funding from Southland's councils, and around $387,000 from the Community Trust of Southland. That's big dosh, but VS is not subject to the same reporting and accountability requirements the region's councils are. They are subject to scrutiny from your Federation though and we have submitted on their recent draft Action Plan looking primarily at what they're doing, who is funding it and whether it is good use of the region's funds. Key recommendations for funding include a review of the costs recovered through user charges, especially for spending that is aimed at boosting commercial revenue.

New teams - Both the Sharemilkers and the Sharemilker Employers' groups held their Annual General Meetings earlier this month.  The new teams can be found by clicking here.

What's the difference between a GROWSAFE and Approved Handler Certificate?  - There's a lot of confusion about the certificates you need to purchase and apply agrichemicals. You may have heard that you need only an approved handler certificate, which is not true. The reality is that while an approved handler certificate covers you under the HSNO Act to purchase agrichemicals, your regional council also requires a GROWSAFE® certificate to use the product. To find out more about agrichemical training, or to complete or renew a GROWSAFE® Approved Handler Certificate click here, or phone 0508 GROWSAFE (0508 476 972). 

Water measuring seminar - This will be held on Wednesday 22 June, between 1.30 pm and 3 pm at the Cromwell Sports Club on Barry Avenue.  Topics include; water measuring regulations, implications for water users,  measuring options and future proofing, certification and verification. For more details contact Bruce Monaghan on 0800 474 082 or bruce.monaghan@orc.govt.nz

Fountain for Arable Research (FAR) - As part of FAR's winter roadshow they are holding a number of meetings. Topics will be based around the results from their latest research plus you will have the chance to have your say on the future direction of FAR. For more details, click here.

Owaka catchment field day - To be held on Tuesday 28th June from 1 pm - 3.30 pm at the Hartvigsen's property on  1837 Owaka Valley Rd. Topics will include recent water quality results, options for improving water quality, the new catchment programme and the chance to see how a dairy farmer manages the environment.  Afternoon tea will be provided, for more details contact Alice Webster, the Otago Regional Land Resources Officer on 0800 474 082 or email alice.webster@orc.govt.nz

Break barriers to productivity and win with AgITO training - In conjunction with National Fieldays, AgITO has a special offer designed to help you break barriers. Visit them at the Fieldays, register for a free on-farm skills assessment and if you sign up yourself or one of your team for AgITO training before 30 July, you'll go in the draw for one of five chances to win back your training fees. Plus, just by registering your details you'll also go in to win an AirNZ Mystery Weekend break for two. (Terms and conditions apply) Come and see AgITO at site PF18 at National Fieldays till 18 June. It's an opportunity not to be missed. To find out more, see www.agito.ac.nz or call us on 0800 691 111.

FMG Mystery Creek Fieldays competition - Visitors to FMG's Mystery Creek Fieldays site this week have the chance to enter a competition to win a 12 month lease of a new Holden Colorado LT 4wd Manual, which will be supplied complete with towbar and deckliner, on road costs including 20,000km road user charges. The prize includes the 10,000 service cost and vehicle insurance. The prize winner will be contacted at the conclusion of the Fieldays. In addition, visitors to FMG can chance the mechanical bull ride where the three longest rides each day win petrol vouchers thanks to Farmlands, Craigs Investment Partners and FMG.

Wines online - Mt Vernon and Double Cove are two export labels from a well known Marlborough winery. Wines online have been given a small quantity of both that are surplus to their last consignment.  Both award winning wines are from $9.95. To see these wines and many others go to www.winesonline.co.nz.

Versatile Homes and buildings are warming your heart - Sign up for any of Versatile's forty 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. Terms and Conditions apply. Call 0800 Versatile or visit www.versatile.co.nz for further details. 

Devan - Devan Plastics have a great Fieldays special, get 30,000 litre and 25,000 litre tanks at Fielday prices, plus receive a free water level indicator.  This deal is available exclusively to Federated Farmers members till 17 June.  Call 0800 5000 26 for more details or go to www.devan.co.nz.

Application for employment forms - Federated Farmers have revised the employment application forms. They now include additional questions which request greater detail from those seeking employment in the rural sector. This provides prospective employers with more information on which to accurately assess an applicant's suitability for the position. For example, questions regarding any previous legal issues or convictions, status of drivers, or firearms licenses and a declaration stating correct completion of the application form.   These application forms come in a pack of 10, members are able to purchase a pack for $50 + GST and non members for $150 + GST. Simply call 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646) to place an order.

Quote of the week - "You're a non-violent organisation, right?", Labour MP Stuart Nash looks for assurances ahead of a meeting with Federated Farmers this week.