Speeches
Don Nicolson - Stand tall and take pride
Released 21 Nov 2008
Stand tall. Take pride in being a farmer as your future starts right here, right now. Read more »
Don Nicolson - Time to claim back our future
Released 18 Nov 2008
It is perhaps auspicious that we start this council on the birthday of George Gallup, the American pollster, for the theme of this conference revolves around politics. The importance of farming and Federated Farmers is underscored by the Prime Minister-Elect, John Key speaking in his first major public engagement since the General Election. Read more »
Bruce Wills - Inspiring sheep farmers
Released 12 Nov 2008
Meat & Fibre leader, Bruce Wills said just as Obama has inspired millions of Americans that there is hope of a better future, he hoped the T150 campaign would lift the spirits and aspirations of New Zealand sheep farmers. Read more »
Gifford McFadden - Achieving better lake water quality together
Released 12 Aug 2008
Farmers, as part of the community, are recreational users of the lake and want to improve lake water quality too. New Zealand dairy farming has very low environmental impact by world standards, farmers are working on solutions and have identified areas where further investigation should happen. As owners and managers of land resources farmers believe a partnership approach is the only approach that will be sustainable in the long-term. With a robust and open processes to find a range of solutions the whole community will have confidence to move forward together to achieve the outcomes all desire. Let’s stop facing off, instead let’s work together for solutions. Read more »
Charlie Pedersen - Food for thought
Released 25 Jun 2008
"Food for Thought" our conference headline is designed to help connect New Zealand with what we do. Those who seek to frame and marginalise us often use terminology like the "agricultural industry" as if we are a factory with belching chimneys or they use "increasingly corporate" as if we are dominated by boards and shareholders with dispassionate CEO's on performance KPI's. Read more »
Keith Kelly - Meat & Fibre Chairman’s Address
Released 24 Jun 2008
To survive as farmers in New Zealand it appears we must give up our land, pay excessive rates, taxes, high interest - all for the common good, and for no benefit to farmers. Never before has there been such a need for the knowledge and experience of our lobby group, Federated Farmers. In a world that is rapidly heading towards starvation we are being led by a bureaucracy that believes food come from supermarkets not farms. This must be changed. Read more »
Frank Brenmuhl - Dairy Chairman's Address
Released 24 Jun 2008
In February I said at our council meeting, wake up New Zealand it's election year. This is when politicians make promises and tell us of the benefits that their efforts have bestowed upon us. It is the time when political parties, try to influence the public in order to justify their existence. My message and request was clear: Look at what they do, it is often very different from what they say. Read more »
Andrew Gillanders - Grain & Seed Chairman's Address
Released 24 Jun 2008
The 2008 season will be remembered for the rise in world food commodity prices, followed by an even bigger rise in input costs. With many of the agricultural commentators and farmers realising that their input costs will have doubled by the time they have harvested and delivered their crops. Why would you sell grain and seed if the price does not reflect the massive rises in input costs as well as demand exceeding supply. It is now our turn to return our industry to the profitability that we once had. Read more »
Donald Aubrey - Broadband Or Bust
Released 23 Jun 2008
Federated Farmers has long advocated the need for an early roll-out of broadband to rural areas. We know the cost is high and the number of subscribers is limited but for the agricultural sector to provide the nation with its wealth and everyday New Zealanders with their incomes we must remain competitive. Read more »
Alan Law - Accord Signing BOP
Released 16 Jun 2008
We have worked closely for many years with Environment BOP to develop some positive environmental outcomes. We, as farmers in this region, have long held the view that we have a responsibility to ensure that waterways and the land in general is not polluted by our operations. Read more »
