Farmers welcome 27:27:27 tax model - Read more »

33 million woolly walking stores of carbon? - Read more »

Federated Farmers to save the planet one flight at a time - Read more »

Aussie ETS dumped, what now for New Zealand? - Read more »

GlobalDairyTrade result positive - Read more »

Fertiliser co-ops get in the Christmas spirit - Read more »

Aussies throw a big spanner in the ETS works - Read more »

Farmers keen to start Dr Brash's conversation - Read more »

Farming power pylons feasible, report shows - Read more »

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

Rodent glueboard traps banned as of 1 January 2010 - From 1 January 2010 the use of glueboard traps to catch rodents, including mice and rats, becomes an offence under the Animal Welfare Act. The use of glueboard traps for insects remains unaffected. Commercial pest control operators and people employed to conduct pest control on food production premises (excluding retail), are able to continue using rodent glueboard traps until the end of 2014. For more information about glueboard traps, including a copy of the new regulations, please click here.

Kaipara district plan - Federated Farmers is preparing a submission on the proposed Kaipara district plan, which is due on 18 December. One rule says that a separation distance of at least 300 metres will be required between new residential houses, buildings that house livestock and store feed and dairy sheds. Members are strongly advised to check planning maps to see if their property is within a landscape overlay area which will affect what type of rules will apply to the property. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Federated Farmers Kaipara Districts provincial president, Denis Anderson, on 09 434 6551 or regional policy advisor, Rhea Dasent, by clicking here.

Hauraki district plan review - Hauraki District Council is currently reviewing their district plan and Federated Farmers is preparing comments for the draft chapters. Members are recommended to check planning maps to see if their property is within an area of outstanding or significant natural landscape or within an amenity protection area. These landscape overlays could affect what type of rules will apply to the property. To tell us what you think, please contact Hauraki-Coromandel provincial president, John Sandford, on 07 869 0080 or regional policy advisor, Rhea Dasent, by clicking here.

Waipa environment strategy - Waipa District Council is racing to the hearing stage for their environment strategy. Federated Farmers submitted two weeks ago on the strategy, strongly encouraging the district council to adopt methods and incentives that support and promote voluntary actions by landowners. The hearing is to be held at the council chambers in Te Awamutu, where Federated Farmers will be presenting at 10:45am Wednesday, 9 December. Members are very welcome to come along and support us.

Waipa subdivision rules - The Waipa District Council district plan review proposes some possible changes to rural subdivision rules and council would like to hear our views. Some ideas council has, are to increase the long association period to 25 years or removing the entitlement altogether, to increase the minimum lot size to 40, 60 or 80ha (the current minimum is 25ha) or to channel development to main settlements and towards poorer quality soils. If you would like to tell us what you think, please contact Federated Farmers Waikato provincial president Stew Wadey, on 07 888 1808 or regional policy advisor, Rhea Dasent, by clicking here.

Otorohanga district plan review - Otorohanga District Council has released discussion papers on subdivision, land use and development as part of their district plan review. Federated Farmers will be preparing comments and aims to be involved throughout the process. Federated Farmers wants to know if you've experienced any problems with the existing district plan as we would like to put these to council during the review. To update us on any issues you may have, please contact Federated Farmers Waikato provincial president, Stew Wadey, on 07 888 1808 or regional policy advisor, Rhea Dasent, by clicking here.

Getting the inside scoop - Federated Farmers Waikato members had the opportunity to tour the Ports of Auckland and the Auckland Airport facilities on 26 November. Members got to observe first hand the border controls after previously voicing our concerns with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) reduction of staffing levels. All were impressed by how comprehensive both the Ports of Auckland and MAF staff were, as they provided us with valuable information on how imports are dealt with as well as an insight into future initiatives. Members also had the chance to see what biosecurity incursions are dealt with on a daily basis through the Detector Dog Programme and Biosecurity Centre at the Auckland Airport.

Meeting half way - Farmers in the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua regions can be thankful that Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty lodged an appeal on Environment Bay of Plenty's (EBOP) plan change 8. The plan change relates to bores and wells and the appeal resulted in a successful outcome for all parties. The amended rules mean EBOP will get more, and better, information relating to the installation of bores and wells and provide resource users more certainty and consistency.

Calling all shoppers - Federated Farmers Taranaki held a members' only shopping event, after hours at the New Plymouth Harvey Norman on Tuesday. Entry to the event was restricted to Federated Farmers members only and the initiative was extremely well received by the 200 in attendance. Members enjoyed store wide discounts, with some saving over $5000 on their purchases. It was great for members to receive a tangible benefit for their membership, with savings paying their membership for several years to come!

Agribusiness review - Rabobank's specialist Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) division has just released the December issue of the New Zealand & Australia agribusiness review, with commentary on the regions economic and agricultural conditions. If you would like to read the full report, please click here.

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

Hauraki-Coromandel Christmas function - The Federated Farmers Hauraki-Coromandel Christmas function is to be held on Tuesday, 15 December. This year's event will be an aquaculture tour through the Coromandel and the Firth of Thames. The tour will be hosted by Peter Vitasovich, Managing Director of Greenshell New Zealand Ltd. Tickets are $50 per person, which includes bus, boat trip, lunch and drinks. The tour is weather permitting as we plan to go by boat. Please RSVP no later than 10 December to Bev Sanford on 07 869 0080, numbers are limited.

Previous convictions - Under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004, individuals are deemed to have no criminal record if they meet a certain criteria. To qualify for the Clean Slate programme, the individual must satisfy the following:

• Have had no convictions within the past seven years,
• have never been given a custodial sentence,
• never have been ordered by a court during a criminal case to be detained in a hospital due to his or her mental condition, instead of being sentenced,
• not have been convicted of a specified offence (such as certain sexual offences),
• have paid any fine, reparation or costs ordered by a court in a criminal case and
• have never have been indefinitely disqualified from driving.

The Clean Slate programme applies automatically to any questions asked about an eligible individual's criminal record, for example, in an employment application form and any requests for disclosure of information regarding his or her criminal record.

Make next year better - Open Polytechnic is now accepting enrolments for semester one 2010. Open Polytechnic helps over 30,000 people improve their lives and would like to help you too. 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.

Celebrate in style - Whether you call it Champagne or bubbles, Wines Online has everything to make this season festive at prices to suit everyone's budget. Check out these specials and others, by clicking here.

Heat that shed - While the topics of carbon emissions and renewable energy occupy news headlines, Federated Farmers members can enjoy a 10 percent discount and claim a substantial Government subsidy on all Solahart cowshed installations until the end March 2010. To find out more, 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.

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.  

Membership development officers - Federated Farmers is seeking five new membership development officers to work in and around the upper North Island, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, upper South Island and West Coast, Otago and Southland. The roles are on a 12-month contract and will be a key liaison point with current and prospective members and our local provincial executive teams. A vehicle will also be provided as travel is required. If you have a strong and proven sales record, are results orientated and drive to exceed challenging targets, have the ability to build and sustain long term business relationships, have superb communication and organisation skills, a solid understanding of the business of farming and ideally a qualification in Agribusiness or equivalent practical experience then we would like to hear from you. For a job description and to apply, please click here. Applications close 9am Monday, 14 December 2009.

Quote of the week - "But wool is much more than that - you can wear it, walk in it, sleep in it and who knows what else you can do with it". Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson, Bruce Wills, on the endless possibilities of wool.