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Farm confidence survey - Federated Farmers members will have received an email this week asking them to complete the July 2011 Farm Confidence Survey. The survey, which has run since 2009, is an important six-monthly snapshot on farmer sentiment and is very useful for the Federation's advocacy efforts on behalf of members. It only takes a few minutes to complete and the results will be released in later in July 2011.  To see previous survey reports click here.  Many thanks go to the hundreds of farmers who have responded.

Business confidence surveys positive - The National Bank's Business Outlook Survey for June and NZIER's June Quarter Survey of Business Opinion have both shown positive sentiment in the economy that should translate into stronger economic activity.  Economic conditions reflect modest growth and although business confidence has bounced back after the Canterbury earthquake, there continue to be signs of economic weakness. Continued deleveraging, slowing activity in Australia and a high exchange rate provide headwinds for economic growth.

Smaller balance of payments deficit - New Zealand's seasonally adjusted current account balance was a deficit of $1.8 billion in the March 2011 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. This was $1.1 billion smaller than the December 2010 quarter deficit. Reinsurance claims from overseas arising from the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February were estimated at $7.6 billion, but these claims do not affect the current account. The smaller current account deficit this quarter was driven by a $1.0 billion fall in income from foreign investment in New Zealand, with company profits falling as foreign-owned insurance companies reported losses from the Canterbury earthquakes.  New Zealand's surplus on trade in goods and services rose $275 million in the March 2011 quarter, mainly due to higher export prices. Increases in dairy products drove exports of goods higher, while crude oil and forestry exports also increased.  The March 2011 year current account deficit of $8.3 billion is approximately 4.3 percent of GDP. 

Exports and imports up in May - The values of export and import goods both increased in May 2011 compared with May 2010, according to Statistics New Zealand.  The $429 million increase in exports was led by pleasure boats, milk powder, butter and cheese and meat and edible offal.  The $594 million increase in imports was mainly due to petroleum and products, crude oil and automotive diesel, and aircraft and parts, mainly the one-off importation of aircraft parts. Imports in both these categories are irregular by nature.  In May 2011, the trade surplus was $605 million, or 13 percent of the value of exports. Excluding the one-off import of aircraft parts in May 2011, the surplus would be $819 million, 18 percent of the value of exports. This compares with an average surplus of 6.7 percent of exports over the May months from 2006 and 2010.  For the year ended May 2011 there was a trade surplus of $1,067 million.

Commodity prices down in June - The ANZ Commodity Price Index slipped 1.2 percent in the month of June, the first monthly decline in the series since August last year. Nevertheless, the index remains at an elevated level, namely the third highest reading since the series began.  Beef prices dropped 8 percent, while the prices of whole milk powder and skins each slipped 3 percent.  Wool and skim milk powder prices lifted 5 percent and venison prices rose 3 percent. Lamb prices lifted 1 percent.  The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) lifted in value relative to all our major trading partners. On a trade-weighted basis the exchange rate lifted 2.2 percent. The lift in the value of the NZD compounded the drop in commodity prices, resulting in the ANZ NZ Dollar Commodity Price Index dropping 3.3 percent in the month of June.

Dairy prices down - Average prices of dairy products posted their biggest decline since March in Fonterra's latest online auction, adding to signs that commodity prices are easing from record highs as global growth slows. The GDT-TWI Price Index fell 6.7 per cent to US$4,017 a metric tonne, according to results posted on the globalDairyTrade auction website. That follows a 2.6 per cent gain in the mid-June sale.

Rabobank Agribusiness review - Prepared by Rabobank's specialist Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) division, the New Zealand and Australia Agribusiness Review provides monthly commentary on the region's economic and agricultural conditions. As a snapshot of the food and agribusiness sectors, the review includes recent price and market trend data and analysis and covers a range of topics. Click here to read the latest copy.

Christchurch - Environment Canterbury has recently notified its Proposed Regional Policy Statement (RPS).  This document will set the tone for resource management in Canterbury for the next 10 years. It will set the direction for regional and district plans, and will impact on how Canterbury farmers manage their farms. The RPS covers a wide range of resource management matters, including management of the coastal environment and fresh water.
With respect to the coastal environment, the RPS seeks to identify the coastal environment, and has included the land backdrop to the coastline as key criteria. This may mean that working rural farmland is considered under strict costal environment rules. With regard to fresh water, the plan does not sufficiently reflect Part 2 of the RMA or the full breadth of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. There should be greater acknowledgement of the range of benefits from developing multi-purpose water infrastructure and increasing reliably irrigated land area.   For further information, please contact Lionel Hume or Anna Mackenzie on 0800 327646.

Otago - The Otago provincial executive encourages members to consider purchasing a Personal Locator Beacon, which can be very beneficial for farmers caught in an on-farm accident, especially those in remote areas. There have been recent instances in the region where the ownership of a Personal Locator Beacon has been literally vital and a Personal Locator in combination with the region's Rescue Helicopter means the distance from the backblocks to the nearest hospital isn't as far as it could be. It's as much a gift to your family as it is to yourself.

Building knowledge and understanding of Audited Self Management -  Audited self management is the current buzz word for a new approach to achieve better resource management. The concept is an audit system designed to verify adherence to good management practice which can transfer the day to day resource management responsibilities to users under agreed terms with regulatory authorities. To find out more Irrigation New Zealand are holding a workshop in Christchurch. For more details click here.

Places are still available on the Federated Farmers Shining Under the Spotlight Level 2 Leadership Course 13-14 July 2011 - Due to late cancellations, we are pleased to announce that a few places have become available on our level two leadership course next week. The course is designed to meet the needs of members who are already active in leadership roles, but wish to polish their skills.
If you have completed level one (Getting Your Feet Wet) and would like to register for this course, please email events@fedfarm.org.nz by 12 pm on Monday, 11 July. Registrations will be confirmed on a first come first serve basis. 
You will gain insight into your personal leadership style and be encouraged to build on your strengths to heighten your confidence and enhance your performance. We provide a supportive environment by helping course participants through discussion and feedback sessions.
We look at how to run an effective meeting, deal with conflict, improve your public speaking style, manage the media and build and sustain professional relationships.
Standard Price: $850.00 (incl. GST) Member Price: $150.00 (incl. GST).
Some members may be sponsored to attend a course by the Federated Farmers province they belong to. To find out if you are eligible, please phone 0800 327 646 and ask to be put through to your relative provincial support staff member or respective provincial president. If your province is unable to sponsor you, then you may need to cover the $150.00 course fee.

National Certificate in Agriculture - Want to expand your staff's knowledge of cattle breeding in the run up to calving and mating? Learn the fundamentals of breeding and producing healthy livestock with AgITO's National Certificate in Agriculture (Cattle Breeding) (Dairy Cattle Farming) (Level 3). Topics covered include mating, calving and rearing calves and young stock. You'll learn to understand the selection processes for breeding cattle, understand cattle reproduction and the best ways to achieve top conception rates, identify cows on heat and understand the process of calving and associated health issues. To enrol or find out more, contact your local AgITO training adviser today on 0800 691 111 or visit www.agito.ac.nz.

Winesonline.co.nz - Right now they have a new selection of award winning Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc's all at below half price. View these and other great wines at www.winesonline.co.nz

Employment contracts - A complete range of the latest employment contracts are available from Federated Farmers and include fixed term, casual and permanent contracts.  These are available for both members and non members to purchase. Members pay just $50 + GST and non members $150 + GST for a set of two. To order, call our customer services team on 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646).

Application for employment forms - These forms have recently been updated and are a great tool for rural sector employers when they are looking to employ new staff. Federated Farmers members can purchase ten copies of these forms for just $50 + GST, non members may also purchase ten copies for $150 + GST.  Call 0800 327 646 to order. 

Morley Security & Investigation Group (MSIG) - MSIG are proud to be new Bronze sponsors of Federated Farmers. MSIG offer a superb recruitment support service when seeking to employ new staff. MSIG undertake a range of security checks on applicants to safeguard, for example, against employing someone with a criminal conviction or without a valid drivers license.  For assistance call Trevor Morley on 04 471-1663 or email twam@clear.net.nz . Trevor offers preferential rates on his services to all Federated Farmers New Zealand members. 

FMG are now on YouTube - FMG has gone modern and now has it's own YouTube channel.  Click here to view videos on how to secure your property, get advice when shopping around for insurance and see through the eyes of an insurer when viewing a lifestyle block.

Quote of the week - "Farmers will react strongly to this, it's not the Kiwi way to tax assets".  Federated Farmers President, Bruce Wills, on reports Labour wants a Capital Gains Tax on farms