Build dams not cycle lanes - Politicians need to get off their bikes, use some common sense and look at building dams not cycle lanes Federated Farmers president, Don Nicolson said this week. Don said it's not complex - dams store water and cycle lanes don't. Water grows grass and grass produces food, which New Zealand can sell to the world to pay the nation's bills. Water storage is an investment and response to the current financial crisis. New dams will enable farmers to farm New Zealand back to prosperity. Mr Nicolson called on all political parties to think seriously about water storage when considering any infrastructure spending plans. Read more »

Dam good job - Federated Farmers congratulated a group of South Canterbury pioneers recognised for a dam project that benefited the whole community. The Opuha Dam water storage project won both the Supreme Award and Commercial and Industrial category at the Canterbury Region Resource Management Awards 2008. Judges said the project contributes to the sustainable management of resources by taking water and using it in a way that enables people and communities to provide for their social and economic wellbeing. Federated Farmers life member and chairman of South Canterbury Farmers Irrigation Society, Tom Henderson, said the award was an acknowledgement of farmers' stewardship when using a water resource. Mr Henderson said it's not rocket science; storing water when it falls and releasing it when it is required benefits everyone. Read more »

Manifesto launch - Media and political party agricultural spokespersons have been invited to attend Federated Farmers Manifesto launch on Tuesday at Wellington Railway Station. The Manifesto is designed to communicate to whomever forms the next government, the policy positions farmers need to ensure New Zealand remains a first world nation. Decisions on important issues such as emissions trading, resource management, taxation, employment, water, biosecurity and local government funding, could mean the current recession does not descend into a depression. The manifesto launch will be officiated by Don Nicolson, president of Federated Farmers with Philip York, Federated Farmers' economic spokesperson. The manifesto will be available on Federated Farmers website from Tuesday morning.

Renewable energy and the RMA - Federated Farmers has opposed the move for central government to over-ride local council decision-making, in a submission on the Ministry for the Environment's National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation. Essentially, the policy statement seeks to provide direction to local councils to make it easier for renewable projects to gain consent.  Generally, Federated Farmers does not support national policy statements unless it can be shown it applies equally to all local authorities.  Circumstances for renewable energy projects vary widely depending on their geographical location. The level of support or opposition will also vary widely from community to community. Federated Farmers thinks decisions should be left to local councils with no overriding direction from central government.

Appreciating Jim - Federated Farmers has praised the Minister of Agriculture & Forestry and Leader of the Progressive Party, Hon Jim Anderton MP, for communicating agriculture's importance to the economy during Monday's leaders' debate on TV One. Federated Farmers says that while agriculture contributes 65% of everything New Zealand sells to the world, its importance has been surprisingly absent from the election campaign. With only a small part of the world's surface capable of intensive agriculture and with 80 million mouths joining the human race each year, food production is critical with world food reserves at only 35 days. What Federated Farmers wants is politicians to appreciate that New Zealand's future is in the production of food.  Read more »

More from Jim Anderton on Campbell Live »

Breaking news - See Federated Farmers in the news this week.

In range - The Tararua Federated Farmers executive along with policy advisor, Julie Ireland, met with Horizons last night to discuss the proposed Lower Manawatu Flood Protection Scheme. For those not familiar with the local geography, Tararua is on the other side of the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges from the scheme. Farmers in Tararua are concerned about how much of the $40 million dollar project they will have to pay as indirect beneficiaries and water contributors.

Fenced in - Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers attended a mediation to try and resolve issues relating to urban growth in the western part of the region. Environment Bay of Plenty has proposed a policy in its Regional Policy Statement that establishes a ‘ring fence', limiting where urban development can take place, which some developers have opposed. Federated Farmers is making sure the final policy will not have an adverse effect on rural productive land.

Flexibility on coast - The Whakatane branch of Federated Farmers attended the Whakatane District Council hearing on the coastal hazards section of the district plan this week. Federated Farmers submitted on the proposed set of policies and rules for areas considered to be at a higher risk from erosion and flooding along the coast. Federated Farmers is trying to make the rules more flexible for farm buildings; making sure farming remains a permitted activity in the area.

Confidence slumps - The National Bank Business Outlook Survey released this week is grim reading. A net 42 % of respondents now expect general business conditions to deteriorate over the coming year. That's a massive 44 point turnaround from September and is the largest one month fall in the history of the survey. The number of people in the agriculture sector expecting business conditions to deteriorate increased 30%. 

General advice

Harassment at work - A recent case at the Employment Relations Authority highlights the importance of employers following up on accusations by employees of harassment in the workplace. In one case an employee said she was bullied by a foreman and raised the issue with management. No action was taken to stop the bullying. Although the man denied bullying, the evidence given by a witness to the hearing was to the contrary. The employee who alleged bullying resigned and lodged a personal grievance for constructive dismissal. In other words, the employer had failed to address her concerns and so she had no action other than to resign. The employee was awarded $7,500 for her grievance, $12,000 for unjustified dismissal and $13,000 as a contribution to lost wages. Make sure you follow up on accusations of harassment by your employees, so you don't find yourself in a similar position.

For further employment advice call 0800 327 646.

Sponsors advice

Protect your ears - If you have to shout to make yourself heard the noise level may be damaging your hearing. Unfortunately, once your ears are damaged by exposure to noise, they can't be repaired. Apply the three-step approach to noise hazards: replace noisy equipment with something quieter; remove the source of noise to somewhere it won't affect you; reduce the impact of noise by limiting the time you are exposed to it or by wearing earmuffs. It is also a good idea to get plenty of quiet time at the end of the day and get your hearing checked regularly. Find out more information on preventing noise-induced hearing loss » 

Employment Training

Learn more about performance management and getting the best out of your staff. See below for the location of the next week of employment seminars.

The cost to members is $30 for more information, 0800 327 646.

Leadership training

Become a Federated Farmers of New Zealand leader by attending one of our two leadership courses in November and December.  For more information call 0800 327 646 or speak with your local provincial president. Spaces are limited so be in quick.

Rural jobs

Employment - Looking for a job or trying to find someone then make your first stop a visit to Federated Farmers website.  You can both advertise for employees or see what is available. Read more about rural jobs. Call 0800 327 646 if you have trouble logging on to the Federated Farmers website.

Special discounts

Hot deal - Westpac now makes renewal of your Federated Farmers membership even easier. If you have a Westpac credit card and belong to the Westpac rewards programme - hotpoints® - you can use your hotpoints to pay for your Federated Farmers membership. If you're not already a Westpac cardholder and would like to find out how you can be, call Federated Farmers on 0800 327 646. To find out more about special discounts for members call 0800 327 646 or log in the members area for special discounts.

Meet the candidates South Canterbury - The Fairlie Branch of South Canterbury Federated Farmers will be hosting a public ‘meet the candidates' evening on Wednesday 5 November. The venue is the Fairlie Community Centre and the meeting is scheduled to start at 7.30pm. Candidates who have confirmed their attendance include sitting MP, Jacqui Dean and current Minister David Parker. Boundary changes mean that the Fairlie area is now in the Waitaki electorate, rather than Aoraki (South Canterbury), so this meeting gives everyone an opportunity to meet with their prospective parliamentary representatives.

Meet the candidates Southland - Southland president, David Rose, has organised a ‘meat' the candidates meeting for the Invercargill electorate. It is being held at the offices of Federated Farmers, 70 Forth Street, on November 6 at 7pm.  Confirmed speakers are: Eric Roy MP, National; Lesley Soper MP, Labour; Ian Carline, Act; and Craig Carson, Greens. The theme is "what will your party do to grow the primary sector's value to the New Zealand economy?"

Be there or be square - One Plan dairy farmers are encouraged to attend a best practice effluent management field day hosted by Federated Farmers. The field day on November 6 is at Massey University's No 4 dairy farm, between 10am and 1pm and includes a barbeque lunch. The good news about this day is that it will not be about telling farmers about how bad they are performing or that they need to do better. It is all about offering you possible and creative solutions with practical ideas that will fit farm situations. If you need more information call Andrew Hoggard, 06 328 9677 or email: ajhoggard@farmside.co.nz.

Waikato farm field days - Federated Farmers, DairyNZ, Environment Waikato, and Fonterra have teamed up to offer detailed and practical effluent management advice at a series of field days around the Waikato region. The focus of the field days for farmers in the Waikato and Hauraki Coromandel provinces are: boosting farm profits, improving nutrient efficiency and creating a sustainable dairying operation. Each field day will start at 10.30am and finish at 12.30pm, to be followed by a barbecue lunch.

Dairy awards open - The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are calling for entries for the 2009 competition. There are three competitions: the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year. The competition encourages best practice, the sharing of excellence and also identifies and promotes the dairy industry's future leaders.  Federated Farmers is one of the sponsors of the awards. Entries close in early January. Entry forms are available from the awards' website: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Information on awards - The Manawatu Dairy Industry Awards launch and information evening is on 12 November at the Rongotea Tavern at 7.00pm.

NAIT update  - The National Animal Idenification and Tracability governance board have arranged meetings around the country to update farmers on NAIT. An overview of NAIT will be given, with prototype demonstrations. On-farm implications will be discussed including current providers, tagging and NAIT costs. The meetings also provide an opportunity for farmers to ask questions.               

Quote of the week - "When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers therefore are the founders of human civilisation." Daniel Webster