Federated Farmers Dairy Chairman, Lachlan McKenzie

As this is the first Dairy Alert for the year, compliments of the season from the hills of Rotorua.

Last year I spent time in China, Japan and Vietnam. Dating as far back as records go, three crops of rice have been grown on the land there year in, year out and still the yields remain good. Reflecting on this it puts New Zealand's position into perspective. Geographically, New Zealand is a young country with high, steep mountains that will continue to erode and form plains and deltas. Although New Zealand has nothing to compare with the Pearl or Mekong deltas, its waterways are some of the cleanest in the world. Our agriculture is modern and efficient and produces enough food to feed almost one percent of the world's population. 

Unfortunately, we have sections of our society that do not recognise our efficiency and comparative advantages.  New Zealand has plenty of water, but in certain areas of the country we need more water storage. 

On another note, some regional councils are developing the view that they know how to farm better than farmers.  In their opinion farmers should have to apply for a permit to farm. This is being discussed in the Manawatu where farmers may have to get resource consent to dairy farm.  This is a sign that farmers are not being recognised as experts in efficient land and resource management which, of course, they are.

The topic of efficient resource management will be covered in the Federated Farmers Dairy farm field day on February 26^th (please see details below).  The public will also have a chance to see dairy farms in action during Federated Farmers Farm Day on 1 March (see notices).

As Chairman of Federated Farmers Dairy, my focus for the coming year will be on:

• ensuring farmers are permitted  to continue the implementation of  new and efficient ideas
• maintaining our sustainable dairy industry and
• working on improving the perception of the dairy industry while effectively representing the goals and aspiration of Federated Farmers' members.

Farm field trip

Federated Farmers Dairy will visit a Waikato farm on Thursday 26 February.  This field trip is open to all those interested in dairy farming. It will include demonstrations of new technology designed to help with effluent and irrigation management. Life in the farm lake will also be investigated, and a DairyNZ Farm Enviro Walk will take place.  The two day combined Federated Farmers Dairy Council and the Sharemilkers' Section Council meeting will conclude that afternoon. Please click here for a registration form under the 'What's New' section for the Federated Farmers Dairy Council meeting, Sharemilkers' Section Council meeting or to register your interest in attending the farm visit only.

Sharemilking news

Chairman of the Sharemilkers' Section, Jeff Bolstad, would like to remind both sharemilker employers and sharemilkers to honour their sharemilking contracts.  The interesting economic environment that dairy farmers now find themselves in has the potential for contract breaches.  Federated Farmers recommends you bring in a third party when things become difficult so that the problem does not escalate.  For advice about sharemilking conciliation, or for assistance with finding a suitable sharemilking conciliator, contact Federated Farmers on 0800 FARMING or to email please click here. To contact the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute call 0800 4AMINZ, send them an email or visit the Institute's website by clicking here.

Federated Farmers Dairy was blown away by the 132 responses it received for the November Dairy Questionnaire. A big thank you goes out to all of you who took the time to complete the ‘short' survey.

The results showed a majority of respondents (98%) did not support the current Emissions Trading Scheme. These same respondents were split between having emissions measured and charged on farm, or at the processor level and charged back to the farm.  A majority (73%) of Fonterra-supplier respondents said ‘no' to having outside investors, but ‘yes' (82%) to wanting Fonterra to invest behind borders.  They were also overwhelming in their opinion that farmers must have control of their co-op. 

Click here to download the graphs as a PDF under the 'What's New' section or email Ann Thompson for the full report.

Federated Farmers Dairy Council meeting

The next meeting of the Council will be held at the Tempero Complex at DairyNZ on 25, 26 February 2009.  To register please click here and look under 'What's New'.  An agenda will be posted on the Federated Farmers website closer to the meeting time.

Federated Farmers Sharemilkers' Section Council meeting

The next Council meeting of the Sharemilkers' Section will be held in the Waikato Federated Farmers' Board Room on 26 February 2009.  To register please click here and look under 'What's New'. 

Whakatane news

To all those in the Whakatane District, the local District Council has a "web forum" to gauge opinions on rates-related issues.  This will help them to draft their Long Term Council Community Plan, which sets out future activities and budgets (and therefore rates).  Please click here to have your say. Or to visit the Whakatane District Council website please click here.

Emissions Trading Scheme Review

A special Parliamentary Select Committee has been established to review the current ETS, with comments sought from members of the public on the Committee's terms of reference.  Federated Farmers is working on its own submission to the Committee, which will raise concerns about the technical barriers of agricultural emissions being included in the scheme, and outline what is required to fix the current scheme.  Members are encouraged to do the same by raising their concerns with the Committee over what the current scheme would mean for their own farm business and the future of the industry.  For more information on the review and the committee's terms of reference, see please click here.  Submissions are due by Friday, 13 February 2009.

New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards

Entries have now closed for these competitions, but the dates for the regional events and the names of the co-ordinators are present on the website. To visit the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards website, please click here.

Federated Farmers Farm Day, Sunday 1 March 2009 - Designed for urbanites to 'discover the country', Federated Farmers Farm Day is a major national undertaking. Members wanting to help out on this day please ring your provincial president or Justine or Pearl on 0800 327 646.  So far 11 dairy farms, one goat farm, seven sheep and beef farms, three arable farms, two horticultural farms and two agricultural training centres have signed up to host Federated Farmers Farm Day at their place on Sunday, 1 March. Every open farm will offer guided walks across the paddocks and have some fun interactive ‘farming' activities for people to participate in.  A special Federated Farmers Farm Day will be live within the next seven days but to find out more in the interm, please click here. 

Meat & Wool New Zealand AGM 

The election for two director positions of Meat and Wool New Zealand will take place on 4 March 2009, while its Annual General Meeting, will be held in Gore on 11 March, 2009.  The two vacancies are for the Northern North Island and the Northern South Island electorates

Voters in the two electorates must be on the electoral roll and those not registered need to fill out a voter registration form by Monday 2 February 2009. This can be obtained from the Election Hotline by calling 0508 666 336 or to visit the Meat and Wool New Zealand website please click here.

To be eligible to vote, a livestock farmer must have owned at least 250 sheep or goats or a combined total of these, or 50 beef cattle, or 100 dairy cattle, on 30 June 2008. 

2009 Membership drive

Membership is the lifeblood of the Federation.  If you send a copy of the Dairy Alert to a non-member and they join as a full member, you will both receive $50.  Also, if you know of someone who has great farming knowledge, knows local people and wishes to earn some extra money in the New Year, please suggest they look at becoming a Membership Contractor. For more information about this just call the Federation on 0800 327 646 or email admin@fedfarm.org.nz

Leadership training

Help yourself become a Federated Farmers of New Zealand leader by attending one of our two leadership courses.  Call 0800 327 646 to speak with your local provincial president. Or to visit the Federated Farmers website please click here.

Rural jobs

Looking for a job or trying to find someone? Then visit the Federated Farmers website.  To advertise for employees or see what is available please click here.

Special discounts

Fertiliser - See Ravensdown for New Zealand's leading fertiliser prices - you can have confidence they will look after you with the best prices. For a price list please click here.

More special discounts - To find out more about special discounts for members call 0800 327 646, or log in to the members area for special discounts. 

Employment contracts and agreements - These include: job application forms, leave forms, drug and alcohol agreements as well as time/wage/holiday registers.  Visit the Federated Farmers website to purchase.

Contracts, agreements and leases - Such as: land, stock, contractor; sales and purchase, agreement to grow, log books, access pads and Over Dimension Certificates.  Visit the Federated Farmers website to purchase.

E-contracts, e-agreements, e-leases - Members can now purchase online, electronic Federated Farmers contracts and agreements. Visit the Federated Farmers website to purchase.

Books - For a good reading list or for business related books visit the Federated Farmers website to make a purchase or to browse.

E-books - E-Books are books that are accessible online for your convenience. Federated Farmers offers the opportunity to buy these online. There are a range of informative booklets for employers and employees alike so visit the Federated Farmers website to make a purchase or to browse.

Clothing -  Be proud to be a member of Federated Farmers by wearing the name proudly.  Visit the Federated Farmers website to purchase.

Please remember that if there are any issues you would like to discuss, contact Federated Farmers on 0800 327 646 or contact your local Dairy Section chairman or one of the Executive team as listed below.

Federated Farmers of New Zealand, PO Box 715, Wellington 6140

Tel: 04 473 7269, Fax: 04 473 1081, Website: www.fedfarm.org.nz

Staff Contacts
Dairy policy adviser - Ann Thompson
0800 327 646, 04 494 9191, athompson@fedfarm.org.nz

Travel administrator
0800 327 646, travel@fedfarm.org.nz

Executive Contacts
Chairman -  Lachlan McKenzie
07 332 3440, 021 382 442, lmckenzie@fedfarm.org.nz

Vice-chairman - Willy Leferink
03 307 2666, 021 796 037, legro@orcon.net.nz

Vice-chairman - John Bluett
07 825 9709, azz@xtra.co.nz

Executive - Robin Barkla

07 323 6958, barkla@xtra.co.nz

Executive - Andrew Hoggard

06 328 9677, 027 230 7363, ajhoggard@farmside.co.nz

Sharemilker Representative - Jeff Bolstad

07 884 4127, jkbolstad@xtra.co.nz