Fonterra Shareholders' Council - Read more »

Hurunui River moratorium supported - Read more »

Get ready to celebrate the bee - Read more »

The ‘farm toll' is reducing, argues farmers - Read more »

Employment changes welcomed by farmers - Read more »

Federated Farmers backs meat industry strategy - Read more »

Synlait Milk goes east with Bright Dairy & Food Co Limited - Read more »

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

Dam Safety Scheme Review -Government has released a discussion document proposing changes to the Dam Safety Scheme arising from a recently completed independent review. The review has made a number of recommendations, some of which have already been accepted by Government, including increasing the minimum size of dams that will be subject to the Scheme. To view the discussion document and the additional recommendations, please click here. Submissions close on 14 August and Federated Farmers intends to make a submission. To find out what the Federation is submitting on and to have your say, please email Policy Advisor, Matt Scott, by clicking here.

MPs see Horizons One Plan for themselves - Today, Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei President, Gordon McKellar, successfully hosted Members of Parliament and the media onto the dairy farm of Grant and Katrina Barber. The tour highlighted Horizons' proposed ‘One Plan' with the host's farm providing the case study. It also presented farm scale solutions, hopefully furthering MPs understanding of farming and the policy issues agriculture faces. While all MPs were invited, the group included MPs from Labour, including new agriculture spokesperson, Damien O'Connor, Act and National with local and national media also present.

Government and Federated Farmers says no to regulating vet para-professionals - Recently the Federation was lobbied by the Vet Council of New Zealand to support the regulation of vet para-professionals, e.g. vet nurses. It was Federated Farmers view that vet para-professionals did not need to be regulated, using the argument that many of the procedures these people might undertake are already done under vet or farmer supervision or are procedures that farmers carry out themselves. So we are in full agreement with the Minister's directive to dismiss the Vet Council's request. For more information, please contact Ann Thompson by clicking here.

Approved Practice Guide for above-ground fuel tanks - ERMA is proposing to amend the Approved Practice Guide for above-ground fuel storage on farms and consultation is being initiated. The purpose of this Guide is to assist farmers to evaluate above ground farm fuel storage systems, to ensure they comply with HSNO regulations and controls and to ensure hazards associated with fuel storage are managed. In order to assist us with preparing a response to ERMA, we would like to hear your feedback and you can download the Approved Practice Guide by clicking here. Submissions close on 6 August. To find out what the Federation is submitting on and to have your say, please email Policy Advisor, Matt Scott, by clicking here.

Bee Week 2010 - Bee Week, which kicks off next week, 26-30 July, is a special initiative supported by the New Zealand Beekeepers' Association and Federated Farmers Bees. Bee Week focuses on highlighting the value and opportunities that honey bees offer for New Zealand and how vital human intervention is for bees to survive. Bees are crucial for the primary sector, and not only through their role in producing honey, as New Zealand is dependant on horticulture and agriculture making us highly dependent on pollination from the honey bee. So show your support for the bee next week. For more information, please contact Shona Sluys, Bees Policy Advisor, on 03 357 9453 or email her by clicking here.

Ruapehu District Plan - The proposed Ruapehu District Plan is currently out for consultation and it includes a whole host of potential changes for Ruapehu farmers. Federated Farmers Ruapehu is currently preparing a submission, but is also asking members and other farmers to also submit on any issues they feel strongly about. One particular issue is forestry setbacks, of which Federated Farmers believes having reasonable setbacks from neighbouring properties is important to ensure the forestry does not negatively impact upon neighbours. Rural subdivision is another issue and we are keen to hear members' views on the debate between preserving large property sizes to future proof farming and the desire for individual property owners to maximise their profits through subdivision. To have your say either contact Council directly or contact Regional Policy Advisor, Kelly Martyn, by clicking here.

Ruapehu District Council wowed - Federated Farmers Ruapehu and Wanganui recently impressed Ruapehu District Council with their annual plan submissions. In its response Council stated it was "impressed by your submission and its thought". The submissions mainly focussed on Council's funding policy and challenged Council to explore better rating options. Council responded by saying, "we would like to talk to you further about some of the excellent funding methods you raised. In that context, Council is motivated to change the funding methods constricting it." We look forward to these talks getting underway and seeing positive changes to Ruapehu District Council's funding methods. For more information contact Regional Policy Advisor, Kelly Martyn, by clicking here.

Taranaki water issues - Federated Farmers is leading the way by forming a Taranaki water group particularly focussed on farmers' water issues. Farming is important to Taranaki, in terms of both its economic impacts and its identity. Access to a reasonably priced, consistent supply of water, and its appropriate use, is paramount to ensuring the future viability and growth of farming in the region. Federated Farmers Taranaki is teaming up with Taranaki Regional Council, South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council, New Plymouth District Council, PKW, Fonterra and possibly some other organisations to discuss issues that have stemmed from rising demands for water, recent droughts and increased costs for water and/or restrictions for some municipal supplies in Taranaki. While a lot of information is already available, we believe that it needs to be made relevant to Taranaki and include real Taranaki-based information from, for example, the Taranaki Fresh Water Management Plan. For more information contact Regional Policy Advisor, Kelly Martyn, by clicking here.

South Taranaki water woes - Federated Farmers Taranaki is congratulating south Taranaki District Council for listening to reason and lowering the metered water for south Taranaki users. In the south Taranaki Annual Plan, Council proposed staggering increases to the metered water rates up to 40 percent for some farmers where the residential properties on the same supply only had proposed increases of 15 percent. Federated Farmers argued that this was unreasonable and Council has lowered its proposed water rate increases for all but one of its supplies. While Federated Farmers believes that many south Taranaki farmers are still paying too much for water, we are pleased to see that Council was able to concede a little in this instance. For more information contact Regional Policy Advisor, Kelly Martyn, by clicking here.

Water take resource consent win - Federated Farmers does not usually get involved in individual resource consent applications, mainly focusing on getting the strategies and policies right at national and regional level. But we do get involved when there are implications in applications that may have ramifications for farmers more generally. Such was the case recently when a Waitotara member applied to take water from the Waitotara River for irrigation purposes. The member had worked hard to satisfy the requirements of all interested parties, but was frustrated that despite all their efforts they discovered that through a Cultural Impact Assessment the local iwi had wanted an annual payment to be made to them to as a contribution towards the costs and implementation of their Environment Plan and to maintain their own monitoring regime. Federated Farmers was strongly opposed to such payments being made and Federated Farmers Wanganui and Taranaki joined forces to support the member and give evidence at the hearing as an expert witness. We are pleased to announce that the member has now been granted their resource consent, with acceptable conditions and without the requirement to pay the iwi. We are currently waiting to see whether the iwi will appeal to the Environment Court. Congratulations to Taranaki Regional Council for letting common sense prevail. For more information contact Regional Policy Advisor, Kelly Martyn, by clicking here.

Wanganui roading - Federated Farmers Wanganui submitted to the Wanganui District Council Annual Plan and amongst other things requested that Council back Federated Farmers in lobbying Central Government for increased roading subsidies. Council agreed and included that it will actively support Federated Farmers advocating for Government to lift the financial assistance rate from 60 percent to 90 percent in its key issues for roading this year. Congratulations to Federated Farmers Wanganui for getting Council on board with this and well done Wanganui District Council for recognising this great opportunity for our two organisations to work together. For more information contact Regional Policy Advisor, Kelly Martyn, by clicking here.

Regional staff unite to get it right - Your regional policy team spent two days in a windowless room in Christchurch this week working to deliver a consistent and unified approach to responding to district and regional plans that seek to control the way you run your farm. They want to see you allowed to deal with farm waste, allowed to put in tracks and fence lines, apply fertiliser, manage your effluent and construct dams at least cost and maximum flexibility. They also want to make sure you can continue to farm in areas that are identified as outstanding landscapes. Remember, your regional policy team is at the front end of the issues making the problem theirs before it becomes yours and without an expensive consultant in sight. For more information on what your regional policy team is doing for you, call 0800 327 646 and ask for your local advisor.

Rural market remains subdued - Static or declining price levels and low turnover of New Zealand's farm properties were confirmed in the Real Estate Institute's June Rural Market Report. In the three months to the end of June, 302 farms were sold - an increase on the 285 sold in the same period last year. This is less than half the 711 sold in the three months to June 2008 however, and the 665 sold in the same period in 2007. The national median farm sale price stayed steady at $1,035,000 for the three months to June 2010, but is down on the median of $1,155,000 for the three months to June 2009 and well below the median of $1,805,000 for the same period in 2008.

Federated Farmers feed list - The Federated Farmers feed lists, which include both feed wanted and feed available, can be accessed via the 0800 DROUGHT line (0800 376 844) or by clicking here. The drought line and feed lists are available to both members and non-members of Federated Farmers.

Mosgiel ETS meeting - The Government is holding a number of information meetings on the ETS. Federated Farmers is opposed to the ETS, especially the inclusion of any agricultural emissions. Federated Farmers argues that the current ETS suffers fundamental flaws and would result in great harm to New Zealand's primary sector, with severe repercussions for the economy as a whole. At this stage Government only has this one meeting, in Dunedin, planned for the Otago region. The meeting is to be held from 7.30pm Monday, 26 July at the Coronation Hall, Gordon Road, Mosgiel.

Collision of Land Use a one-day forum on a matter of importance - The future of New Zealand deserves robust debate. Should it lie in perception, natural capital value or profit?  Will decisions made on the landscape be driven by emotion, science or economics? The basis for the discussion is valuing our ‘natural capital' assets and could provide an insight into the way forward. Want to find out more then register to this forum to be held on 23 August at AH1, Massey University, Palmerston North. For further information, please contact Jacqueline Rowarth by clicking here or Sandra Dunkinson by clicking here.

Rural Butchers Conference and AGM - The 2010 Federated Farmers Rural Butchers Conference and AGM is to be held at the Rendezvous Hotel, corner of Mayoral Drive and Vincent Street, Auckland on Saturday, 25 September. An agenda is currently being developed and will be sent out in the near future, but we can announce that it will include a field trip on the afternoon of Friday, 24 September. Registration forms will also be sent out shortly. As usual, members will need to arrange their own travel to and from the conference. If you are interested in attending this event, please contact David Burt, by clicking here or by calling 0800 327 646.

Interested in Organics? - Open Polytechnic has an organic growing course which covers soil management, pest, disease and weed management and marketing and is suitable for all sizes of property. 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.

A digital deal - OfficeMax currently has Fuji A170 10 mega pixel digital cameras for only $99.00 excluding GST.  To take advantage of this deal and for all your stationary needs contact OfficeMax on 0800 426 473.

Employing staff? - Remember, you need a written employment agreement. Buy your Individual Employment Agreement online by clicking here or by calling 0800 327 646. Contract packs are $45 for Federated Farmers members and $150 for non-members - that's a saving of $105 per pack.

Winesonline.co.nz - This week Winesonline.co.nz has eight stunning gold medal wines all from just $8.95. For great wines and free rural delivery, visit www.winesonline.co.nz.

Have a vacancy to fill? - Post your situation vacant for free on ruraljobs.co.nz. Ruraljobs.co.nz is available to all Federated Farmers members, so visit www.ruraljobs.co.nz today.

More member 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.

Quote of the week - "I'm not someone who puts on a sexual show for people, I just sell pies and smokes and have a good time." Palmerston North's infamous Naked Pie Man, Leighton Harr.