Federated Farmers Goats
Representing New Zealand's Goat farmers
The Goats industry group first became associated with Federated Farmers in 2000 when Mohair New Zealand (an Incorporated Society in its own right) was accepted into the organisation as an industry group.
Mohair New Zealand was significantly involved in the promotion of the angora goat and mohair fleece. Increasingly, however, it also found itself advocating for the whole goat farming industry on resource management matters. This work mainly involved submitting for less stringent controls on goat farming in general than were being proposed in a number of district plans being drafted under the (then new) Resource Management Act. Many of the proposals stemmed from an ignorance of modern goat farming techniques and practices among the regulators and it would be fair to say that a sizeable majority of our submissions achieved success once these people were 'brought up to date'.
The expertise of Federated Farmers policy team in assisting in this is immeasurable according to long-standing Goats board member, Ian Pirani. Ian has been involved in many submissions throughout the North Island and maintains that joining wFederated Farmers saved goat farming in New Zealand. He says that without the work Federated Farmers put into submissions, many goat farmers, irrespective of breed, would have been regulated out of business.
The industry group has prepared a draft template, designed as an aid to policy staff throughout the country in formulating and presenting these submissions. This work, benefiting ALL goat farmers is one reason why Federated Farmers National Council approved a name change to Federated Farmers Goats in 2007.
Federated Farmers Goats has an executive committee comprising between six and eight members. Three producer representatives are elected at large and a fibre warehouse representative and registrar/membership officer are appointed at the group's annual conference. Other industry specialists are co-opted for specific purposes (including RMA work).
To contact the exeutive, please click the heading above.
Key challenges and campaigns
Federated Farmers Goats works to a business plan which is reviewed annually at the industry group conference. To see a copy of the current business plan, please click the link below.
News and events
2012 Federated Farmers Goats Conference - Federated Farmers Goats Conference for 2012 will be held in Blenheim on 2 and 3 April. Registration papers and further information will be sent out later in 2011 and will be available on this web site. The conference programme will entail two full days, including some farm trips and visits to Marlborough attractions with the conference dinner being held on the evening of the third. Consequently it is recommended that those attending aim to arrive on (or before) 1 April and leave on (or after) 4 April.
Visitors to Blenheim at that time will also have the opportunity to visit the Creative Fibre Exhibition which is on at that time, leading up to the Creative Fibre Festival on 26-29 April.
The conference venue will be the Heartland Hotel, Blenheim.
Keeping you informed
A major project, completed in 2009, was the production of a DVD and information pack Farm Mohair for Profit. The DVD comprises six sections covering the history, purchasing and farming of the angora goat. It is available by contacting the Goat industry group manager, Bob Douglas, at mohair@fedfarm.org.nz. The DVD is $20 for non-members.
Other useful releases available include:
- Getting Started,a 26 page booklet designed to assist newcomers to agora goat farming. The booklet is $10 for non-members.
- Goat Monitoring project - A series of 5 leaflets summarising the result of this Sustainable Farming Fund research project completed in 2008 with additional funds provided by Mohair New Zealand, the NZ Boer Goat Breeders Association and Meat & Wool NZ. A small charge to cover photocopying and postage will be required from non-members ordering any of these.
- Classing and general preparation of mohair for Sale - A Mohair NZ advisory leaflet
Any of these products can be ordered by contacting Bob at mohair@fedfarm.org.nz.
