Stayer Of The Year Award - To our very own president, Don Nicolson, for being just like his horse, winning in the long run. For those with a betting disposition, his horse is called Sabicraft.

Forced Into Seeing It Our Way Award - Environment Canterbury, who had to pay costs of $65,000 to the Bank Peninsula Branch of Federated Farmers and Christchurch City Council. The Environment Court awarded costs after a tortuous battle lasting more than ten years. Federated Farmers hopes the regional council has learnt a valuable lesson on behalf of its ratepayers.

Best Dressed Award - Charlie Pedersen, who returned well attired from his break to Europe after relinquishing the presidency. Charlie was almost unrecognisable in his funky new black and white square glasses but hasn't yet been brave enough to sport his expensive, Italian, skinny ties. He confesses he is afraid people will think they come from the back of the wardrobe, not Italy in 2008.

About Dam Time Award - To South Canterbury farmers being recognised for the Opuha Dam project that has enabled significant areas to be put into production, creating positive environmental and economic benefits for the region. This water storage project, with a ten year operational record, won both the Supreme Award and Commercial and Industrial category in the Canterbury Region Resource Management Awards 2008.

Recommended Reading Award - Golden Bay Dairy chairwoman, Michelle Riley, wins this one for taking the Fonterra Annual Report along to her local book club meeting. She is one multi-tasking, committed-to-the-cause lady.

T150 Commitment Award - Goes to Meat and Fibre representatives from Ruapehu, Annie Carmichael and from the Waikato, Andre de Haan. After receiving their T150 singlets at the November Meat and Fibre conference the pair turned up at the cocktail function dressed to impress and with plenty of flesh on display. Andre sported black singlet with tweed jacket and Annie was chic in belted open blouse, with T150 proudly displayed over her chest.

Think Local, Forget Global Award - Goes to Russell Norman MP and the Green Party for their anti New Zealand agricultural election campaign that failed to recognise if farmers in New Zealand reduced food production, more food would be produced by less efficient farmers from all around the world. Federated Farmers suggests the Green Party thinks global if they really want to save the world.

Seen The Light Award - To Progressive Party leader, Jim Anderton, who worked especially hard on his relationship with the Federation in the run up to the general election. Jim became the farmers advocate and is now a man onside.  

Tourism Award - To Roger and Barbie Barton for waiting several hours for one hot and flustered Japanese journalist who got lost within 800 metres of their farm.  After watching drenching of rams for an hour the journalist asked if the sheep were pregnant!

Age And Stage Award - Goes to Federated Farmers longest serving staff member, Kevin Geddes. After 18 years in the job Kevin says he is at the age and stage where it is time to go part-time although that could be debated. He will do three days with the Farmers Federation and has a new role, as of March 2009, as national vice-president of the Royal Federation of New Zealand Justices. The Justices Federation is the umbrella organisation of the 29 Justice of the Peace Associations in New Zealand.

Drink To That Award - To new Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, who is right behind the Federation's Let's Bank It - Water Storage campaign.

Prompt Payment Award - Federated Farmers received its first membership subscription remittance form this morning from Te Awamutu farmers, Rowena and Geoffrey Peake. Members should have received their 2009 renewals in the post. There is a new option for payment this year, renew and pay for your subscription online.

Export way out of recession - State-led economic tinkering has almost led New Zealand into an economic abyss. If New Zealand needs an economic miracle we have one. It's called agriculture.  Read more »

Open Farm Day - Federated Farmers will hold the inaugural New Zealand open FARM DAY on more than 25 farms throughout the country at the same time, on the same day, March 1, 2009.  Read more »

WTO knockback not good - Getting the WTO Ministerial Meeting back on track is the single biggest diplomatic priority for New Zealand right now."  Read more »

Water storage is one of the ‘magic bullets' -  "If there is one magic bullet guaranteed to transform the New Zealand economy it is water storage," says Federated Farmers water spokesperson, Hugh Ritchie.  Read more » 

Immigration meeting - Federated Farmers vice-president, Frank Brenmuhl and Dairy vice-chairman, Willy Leferink, met with Dr Jonathan Coleman, the new Minister of Immigration on Thursday to discuss improving the process for farmers employing overseas workers. Specifically, Federated Farmers asked for "Dairy Farm Assistant" to be added to the Immediate Skills Shortage List, so as to help facilitate the employment of migrant workers.

Dry and desperate - Federated Farmers Bee chairman, John Hartnell, says, like their fellow farmers, Canterbury beekeepers are desperate for rain to save the clover pasture base from which the bees harvest both honey and pollen. He says beekeepers are hopeful forecasted rain over the weekend arrives as promised and is sufficient to put a bit of life back in to pastures. A crop failure this season delivered on top of the varroa mite's arrival in greater Canterbury region would be a double blow for commercial beekeepers.

Endosulfan - From 16 January 2009, it will no longer be legal to import, manufacture, or use endosulfan and formulations containing endosulfan in New Zealand. The prohibition is the outcome of a formal reassessment of the chemical by The Environmental Risk Management Authority. All unused and partially-used stock of endosulfan must be disposed of by 17 January 2010. Go to ERMA's website for more information.

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

Charges for stock droving overturned - Manukau City Council has decided that there is to be no fee for the issuing of a "driving stock on road" permit. Earlier, the Council had rejected a recommendation by the Council's Environmental Hearings Committee following the hearing of submissions that the proposal to charge farmers $280 for the permit should go ahead. Federated Farmers representatives, Phil York and Richard Gardner, presented to the full council meeting, telling that that everybody, including farmers, had a basic right to use the road. They also told the committee that the level of the fee would deter those farmers that might need a permit from applying. After considerable debate the council voted ten to five that the fee should be "nil". A great win for Auckland members.

Information on energy - Board spokesperson for energy, Phil York, with representatives from South Canterbury, Otago and North Otago provinces of Federated Farmers met with Transpower on Tuesday in Timaru. President of South Canterbury Federated Farmers, David Williams, stressed the need for more information about compensation, valuation methodology and access issues. He said disclosure of this information is crucial so that relationships could be improved.

Water order opposed - Federated Farmers has opposed the application by Fish and Game, and the New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association, for a Water Conservation Order on the Hurunui River in North Canterbury. The application is aimed at protecting the trout fishery and recreational canoeing opportunities on the Upper Hurunui River. Federated Farmers believes if granted, the order would severely limit the development of rural water infrastructure, including irrigation, in North Canterbury. There is already sufficient protection of the Hurunui River via Canterbury's Proposed Natural Resources Regional Plan and via administration by the Department of Conservation. Most of the environmental values for which protection is sought, would co-exist with water infrastructure development. It is inappropriate that the applicants are now seeking to override those processes with a Water Conservation Order. 

Dark clouds - According to the latest Agri Economic Report from Westpac global demand for primary products is being dented by the world economic slump and prices are falling. Agriculture will be somewhat cushioned by the huge market, central bank and government response to the economic developments. More volatility in product prices seems certain, but the outlook varies by product. Read more »

Business confidence shot - According to the National Bank Business Outlook survey, a net 22 percent of firms expect worse times for their own business over the year ahead, a record low. The agricultural sector is the most pessimistic about the general economy but in contrast is less pessimistic when it comes to their businesses.

Commodities down - According to ASB, commodity prices fell across the board over the past week. Dairy, sheep and beef prices all fell. Both skim milk and whole milk powders have fallen by over 7.5 percent in USD terms and now sit at lows, last seen in January 2003. Beef prices fell in Kiwi dollar terms, but actually strengthened marginally in the US market. New Zealand lamb schedule prices have eased recently.

Employment advice

Probation period warning - Employers should be aware of the new 90 day trial period. There are nine points to consider.

• A probation period is not automatic for new jobs in small businesses. It only occurs if the employer and employee agree to it.
• The trial period will need to be in the Employment Agreement.
• 90 days is a maximum, and it can, by agreement, be less.
• All employment rights such as good faith, non-discrimination, non-harassment, holidays, leave and OSH are maintained during a probation period. It is only if you dismiss an employee for non-performance, misconduct or redundancy during the trial period that they will not be able to take a personal grievance. If you dismiss someone because they are pregnant (for example), you can have a grievance brought against you. The dismissal itself does not have to fall within the 90 day period of the trial period.
• The employer must give the employee notice of termination. There is no minimum notice period in the legislation, it simply says that the employer must "give the employee notice" - so it appears short or immediate notice of termination will be within the law. The amendment only protects employers from unjustified dismissal claims. Employees can still bring personal grievances for sexual or racial harassment unjustified disadvantage, discrimination, duress and failure by an employer to comply with the continuity of employment provisions in the Employment Relations Act or in the Employment Agreement.
• There can be only one trial period per employee. An employer can not have a trial period for an employee who has worked for them previously.
• If an employee leaves a benefit to take up a job which is terminated within the 90 day probation period, there is no stand down returning to the benefit.
• While small businesses (less than 20 staff) make up 97 percent of enterprises, they only employ 31 percent of employees. This means the Act will affect employers with 19 or less staff.
• The law only applies to new employees, and can not affect any existing employee in their current job.

Safety advice

Update your safety charts - The 2008/09 edition of the New Zealand Guide to Farm Safety is now available from Pro-Visual Publishing. To order your copy email: enquire@provisual.co.nz or visit: www.provisual.co.nz.

Training

Estate planning - Learn how do you grow and protect the farm asset in the present, and plan for the ultimate transfer of the farm business and associated assets to the next generation in the future. Federated Farmers of New Zealand and Guardian Trust are hosting informative, question-and-answer style estate planning seminars that will provide you with a valuable introduction to the topic from their experienced and knowledgeable estate planning experts. The cost to members is only $40. To find out when there is one in your area or to register for a seminar in February or March call 0800 327 646 or visit Federated Farmers' website.

Special Discounts

The Country Channel - Sky has launched a new channel for the rural sector on channel 99. The Channel runs a six hour programme block daily and includes local and overseas material. The key local programme - Farmgate is scheduled to screen at the most appealing times for farmers, 7.30am, 1.30pm and 7.30pm. Farmgate includes daily segments on rural news and weather presented by Mark Leishman as well as a financial and market report and a rural newsmakers segment with Jon Stewart. Each week is a series of segments including: the Federated Farmers report, an extended weather outlook and The Bull Pen, where Phillipa Stevenson chews the cud with other rural journalists. The Country Channel website is updated daily and after being screened ‘Free to Air' in the month of October, it is now subject to a $14.50 per month subscription which is fully tax deductible for businesses.

Online special discounts - To find out more about special discounts for members call 0800 327 646 or log in the members area of Federated Farmers' website.

Rural jobs

Job stop - Looking for a job or trying to find someone then make the first stop a visit to Federated Farmers website.  You can both advertise for employees or see what is available. Read more »

Dairy Council date - Federated Farmers Dairy Council is in Hamilton on 25 and 26 February, 2009. The programme and the line-up of speakers will be announced closer to the time. For more information, contact Eva Johnston, ejohnston@fedfarm.org.nz.

Rural Support Trusts - Many parts of country are going through a concerning dry period. Farmers who need support are reminded that Rural Support Trusts continue to operate. See who the contact is in your area.

Lake team building trip - Members, families and farm staff from Gisborne/Wairoa and Hawkes Bay provinces are encouraged to come along to a weekend at Lake Waikaremoana on 13-15 March 2009. This inter-provincial team building weekend will be jam-packed full of adventures. Make your own booking at the lake motor camp by ringing Colin and Gladys Adams 06 837 3826 or emailing misty@lake.co.nz. If you have questions or want to be part of the bunk room facilitates ring Tania Kerr, provincial secretary, 06 834 9604 or provincial communications coordinator, Ali Undorf-Lay, 0800 327 646.

Federated Farmers Goats Conference - A reminder that registrations for the Federated Farmers/Mohair NZ Conference being held in Melbourne close on Monday 15 December. Yes just three days time. Return your forms to the Federation's Dunedin office. The conference will take place on 17-18 February with an optional four-day tour to the Australasian Goat Show in Horsham  on 19 to 22 February. Full details, including registration forms, can be found at on the goats section of Federated Farmers' website.

No Federation Christmas card this year - Federated Farmers is making a donation to the Rural Communities Trust in lieu of cards. Formed in 1982, the Trust helps people in rural communities whose lives are impacted by rural isolation. If you wish to also make a donation, please call 0800 327 646.

Christmas hours - The Federated Farmers 0800 advice-line will be closed between Wednesday 24 December 2008 and Monday 5 January 2009.  An emergency contact number will however be listed on the 0800 line over this period.

Fonterra suppliers - The capital requirements in Fonterra have undergone serious changes over the last couple of months and cash flow on the farm is also under serious pressure.  Therefore, it is really important to know your options to meet your share requirements at the end of the season and in to the future. You will need to think seriously about these issues over the Christmas break.  Do you want or need to change your share option?  If so, you will need to apply in advance. For one of the options (the three year option) registration is required by the 31 January 2009 and then you will need to apply in February. For more information go to the Fencepost website, contact your Fonterra representative or ring the call centre 0800 656 568 for advice and more information.  You can also contact Fonterra through their website.

Goodbye from the editor - The rumours are true. A shoulder tap to work in the office of Agriculture Minister David Carter was an opportunity Communications Manager, Kara Tait couldn't refuse. So, so long, Merry Christmas and have a happy and prosperous 2008. Next edition of Flash February 6, 2009. New editor David Broome.