What do you think of the Flash? - As member feedback is important to us, we would like to know what you think of the Friday Flash and its content. The newsletter has had a few changes this year and we would like to know whether you like the changes. If you would like more or less of certain content and any other feedback you may have. You can send your ideas via email to Friday Flash editor, Jessie Cameron, by clicking here or discuss them with her by calling 04 494 9181.

Reporting on politics and the environment - Read more »

Anders Crofoot elected NZ Grassland Association President - Read more »

Trading our way up the OECD ladder - Read more »

1,075,000 New Zealanders want rural broadband ‘fair go' - Read more »

Federated Farmers to action Coroner's recommendation - Read more »

globalDairyTrade result encouraging - Read more »

EBOP loses trust and alienates farmers over inspections fiasco - Read more »

Trade Minister to address Meat & Fibre farmers on Wednesday - Read more »

To view the full list of media releases or to view any other publications, click here. 

Big increases for 10K club - The 10K rates club is back in action after a request from Don Nicolson to update Federated Farmers on rates increases. The club records appalling amount of rates paid in an effort to get Government to change the absurdly unfair system of funding councils with property value rates. The urgent need to rescue farms from council costs is once again shown by the examples flowing in. Among them is a 653 ha farm that payed $17,397 to Environment Waikato and Waitomo District Council in 2007 and is now being charged $28,774 for 2009. This increase alone would get the farmer into the 10K club and we would like to hear from anyone else in a similar position. Click here to contact policy advisor Nigel Billings about the club.

Grasslands triumph - Federated Farmers Wairarapa president Anders Crofoot was elected National President of the New Zealand Grassland Association at its AGM on Wednesday in Waitangi. The New Zealand Grassland Association provides a vital forum through which those who are interested in the leading edge of pastoral farming can gain the latest information on recent findings in pastoral research and technology, best practice in pastoral farming, farming trends and opportunities, agricultural issues and developments. Anders also presented a paper at the AGM titled Carbon Credits - Reliable Cashflow?, where he examined our experience with trading carbon credits. Congratulations go to Anders and we pay tribute to retiring National President and long standing Federated Farmers member, Pat Garden. 

Waipa environment strategy - Waipa District Council is currently developing an environment strategy and is holding a public open day at the Te Awamutu council chambers, 12 November from 2pm. Federated Farmers encourages members to go along and talk to councillors. Federated Farmers is currently preparing a submission to the draft environment strategy which is due 16 November. If you have any ideas or concerns about how this will affect your farming, please contact your regional policy advisor, Rhea Dasent, on 0800 327 646.

Kaitiaki zone along rivers - The next working party meeting with Matamata Piako District Council will be held on Monday, 9 November at the Te Aroha councilc. Federated Farmers has been involved in the working party discussing the Kaitiaki (conservation) zone along rivers review. Currently the zone is 20 metres wide from the river banks, but Federated Farmers has suggested the zone be reduced to five metres wide from the banks, similar to the clean streams accord.

Canterbury Water Management Strategy - The Canterbury Water Management Strategy‘s (CWMS) November 2009 strategic framework was released yesterday. Federated Farmers supports the parallel process whereby water infrastructure development will occur alongside environmental protection and restoration. The Federation, along with other primary sector groups and environmental interests, is continuing to work with the CWMS steering group to ensure the strategy targets are fair, practical and achievable. Work is also continuing on other aspects of the strategy, including the terms of reference for governance structures.

Cumulative effects of land use on water quality - Federated Farmers is part of a working party established by Environment Canterbury to address the cumulative effects of land use on water quality and what measures might be required to limit adverse effects. From Federated Farmers perspective, the aim is to ensure any future measures are based on reliable information and a sound understanding of relevant processes and to ensure farmers don't get blamed for problems not caused by them.

Southland's roads just as important as Ranfurly Shield win - As the Stags took the shield last week, another unprecedented event was taking place. Southland District Council and Federated Farmers met with Deputy Prime Minister and Clutha/Southland MP, the Hon Bill English to express their concern about the slashing of funding for Southland roads. Government has proposed to cut the regional share of funding for Southland's roading network, diverting it into fixing Auckland's traffic woes. Southland has one of the biggest roading areas in the country and rates already figure hugely in farmers expenses to fund the network. The net affect of the change is either that rates funding will increase to meet the shortfall or the roading network will not be maintained. Minister English came away with a strong message from the combined groups that simply more central Government funding is required for regional roads.

Fence line fiasco - Queenstown Lakes District Council are developing guidelines to manage the effects of earthworks associated with erecting fences in the rural zone. This is a result of a High Court decision surrounding what is an appropriate level of permitted development in outstanding landscapes in the iconic district. Federated Farmers attended a meeting held this week to help develop the guidelines. While we appreciate the opportunity to work with council to keep the guidelines real, the thought of having to draw up guidelines for the small amount of dirt moved to put up a farm fence turns a fence into a fiasco.

Commodity price update - According to the ANZ commodity price index, price gains were measured over most commodities, on average lifting 4.6 percent in October. International dairy prices rose 8.3 percent during the month, with the indicative dairy price now 44 percent stronger than the low point measured in February. Wool prices improved 7.1 percent and skins lifted 3.5 percent. Smaller increases of less than 1 percent were recorded for venison and lamb. A decline was measured in beef, which is now down 3.9 percent.

Unemployment reaches 150,000 - According to Statistics New Zealand, in seasonally adjusted terms, the number of unemployed rose by 12,000 to 150,000 people and the unemployment rate increased to 6.5 percent during the September 2009 quarter. The number of people unemployed is at its highest level since the March 1994 quarter.

Agribiz - For the latest market update from Westpac's economics team, including the outlook for dairy, beef and lamb, please click here. 

A right royal affair - Next week Federated Farmers Canterbury team will be lathering on the sun cream as do their bit at the Christchurch Show. Thanks to Ravensdown, we will be on its site in full colour on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. All members are welcome to take part in the ‘Trees for Bees' launch and networking session on Wednesday and Thursday from 10.30 to 11.30am.

Generations for the future: helping them help themselves - Federated Farmers North Otago would like to invite all members to a presentation by Federated Farmers Agricultural Personality of the Year, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, on Generations for the future - helping them help themselves. The presentation is to be held on Monday, 16 November at The Homestead, Perth Street, Oamaru from 6.30pm. Drinks and nibbles will be provided. Tickets cost $15 per person. Please RSVP by Thursday, 12 November by clicking here.

NZDIA launch events - The first round of NZDIA launch events begin this week. Launches will be taking place on Thursday, 12 November in the following regions:

• Taranaki, 10.30am, York Road, Midhurst.
• Central Plateau, 11.00am, the Birchall's property, Okaro Road
• Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua, 7.00pm, Rongotea Tavern, 50 Thames Street
• Southland, 7.30pm, Queens Park Golf Course, 215 Kelvin Street, Invercargill

For more information, call 0800 327 646, or click here.

2009 employee remuneration survey - We would like to thank all members who participated in the 2009 employee remuneration survey. Your input helps to keep the survey the industry's leading source of farm employee remuneration information. The printed survey is being compiled now and will be forwarded to all members with the summer issue of the National Farming Review. Congratulations to the following people who won one of the ten $50 petrol vouchers. Graham and Jewel Tower, Jacqui and Richard Robinson, Jim Hall, Ian and Judith Armstrong, David and Janice Rowe, Annette and Rex Hines, John and Tina Hendry, David and Jonathan Brownrigg, Jens and Mini Wulff and Mark and Francis Daily.

National Council meeting - The agenda for Federated Farmers National Council meeting is now available and can be downloaded by clicking here. Federated Farmers National Council meeting will be held from 18 to 19 November at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. The cocktail function will be held in the Deloitte Gallery of the Westpac Stadium on 18 November from 6pm. For more information or to register for either event, please contact events co-ordinator, Eva Johnston, on 0800 FARMING (327 646) or by clicking here. Federated Farmers National Council meeting is sponsored by Westpac. 

Dismissal for medical incapacity - You cannot dismiss an employee based only on absence for medical incapacity without considering the surrounding circumstances. This involves following a thorough process to investigate the circumstances and the affect on your business. Any dismissal, including a dismissal for medical incapacity, must be fair and justified. You should also consider the length of absence from work, whether the position is key and the nature of the illness including likely recovery time, length of service and performance, the employment agreement and the cause of the incapacity, especially if it was work related. For more information, call 0800 327 646.

Dealing with dairy farm effluent - Agriculture ITO workshops help raise awareness of individual responsibility for effluent management in your whole farm team. It's vital that everyone is aware of their role in effluent management. Not only can this help improve farm efficiency and help avoid fines, it can also improve your profitability by better management of a valuable resource. Dealing with dairy farm effluent, it's a key part of best farming practice. Agriculture ITO training is available nationwide, call 0800 691 111 to find out more.

Want to brighten your life and the lives of others? - Open Polytechnic's interior design and decorating courses teach a range of design skills that you can use at home or to start a design career. For more information, click here or call 0508 650 200. Remember, Federated Farmers members get a 20 percent discount. Click here to download an enrolment form.

Marlborough Sauvignon - From Tuesday, Wines Online have quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at hugely discounted prices, with no rural delivery charges. Have a look at our great offers by clicking here.

Rural Trader provides one stop rural shop - Finally there's a website that hosts great range of farming and rural information. Rural Trader has everything from weather reports to advice forums. With the recent addition of a rural-orientated auctions and trading platform, Rural Trader boasts a comprehensive and informative online portal developed specifically for an increasingly web-orientated farming and rural community. For more information, please click here.

Are your staff claiming their tax back? - Contact Margot for an information pack on how your staff can check if they are owed a tax refund. For more information, click here.

More members benefits and offers - To view special discounts exclusive to Federated Farmers members, please call 0800 327 646 or click here to log onto our members only area. 

Ben & Mark, Boys of the High Country - Christine Fernyhough's true story of two boys who live on one of New Zealand's largest high-country stations, with stunning photographs by John Bougen is now available for sale on the Federated Farmers website. Federated Farmers have it for the special price of $30 for members (non-members $36.99). Ben & Mark, Boys of the High Country is destined to become a New Zealand classic and would make a beautiful Christmas gift. We have a limited number so get online, by clicking here, and order yours today.

Contracts, agreements and leases - These include land, stock, contractor, sales and purchase, agreement to grow, log books, access pads, Over Dimension Certificates and employment. Remember, it's a legal requirement to have an employment contract for EVERY employee so if you don't have a current employment agreement, then order one now. Contracts, agreements and leases are available in both electronic and hard copy formats for your convenience. To purchase, call 0800 FARMING or click here.  

Quote of the week - "Its response to the problems it identified was puerile. It was like a small child at kindy pointing and laughing at the kid who knocked over the paint pot," National Business Review reporter Liam Baldwin gives Environment Bay of Plenty a big serve for it's handling of dairy water quality around Lake Rotorua.