Possible milk price inquiry premature and confusing - Read More
Farmers welcome further Rural Broadband infrastructure - Read More

Got Milk - Read More
No stink over city council - Read More

Rabobank Agribusiness review - Prepared by Rabobank's specialist Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory division, this review provides a snapshot of the food and agribusiness sectors, as well as recent price and market trend data and analysis. Click here to read the latest copy.

Rural Sales Fall - There has been a decline in the number of farm sales and selling prices, according to data released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) recently. Overall, there were 301 farm sales in the three months to July 2011 compared with 393 for the three months to June 2011 and 262 for the three months to July 2010. The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the three months to July 2011 was $14,649 compared to $15,568 for the three months to June 2011 and $17,901 for the three months to July 2010.  The price per hectare is now at its lowest since September 2003. The drop in the number of sales reverses a recent trend where numbers were increasing. REINZ feels this drop is due to the time of year, concern about the global financial system and its impact on commodity prices and the exchange rate.

North Otago - The North Canterbury Province would like to remind all of its members that they should be aware of their council's stock control bylaws, which manages the rights and obligations of landowners who choose to have stock on local roads. A copy of the by-laws should be available from your council's website, or offices. If you cannot find a copy of the by-law on their website then please give Anna Mackenzie a call at the office on 0800 327 646. Also, as a matter of good practice we would urge all farmers putting stock onto trucks to consider standing stock prior to loading them. This will help reduce effluent spills on roads and ensure we are working together with stock agents and transport firms to prevent effluent on our roads.

Mid-Canterbury - Submissions on the Canterbury Regional Policy statement are due in to Environment Canterbury by 5pm on Monday 15 August. The Canterbury provinces will be making a strong submission to ensure the future of farming in Canterbury will continue in an efficient and sustainable manner. We would encourage all Canterbury members to consider making a submission to ensure they can have a say in the future direction of Canterbury. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Anna Mackenzie, or Lionel Hume.

Auckland - On Monday large numbers of farmers took time out of their busy calving and lambing schedules to protest against the bylaw. During the deliberations Waikato District Council (WDC) disregarded Federated Farmers main concerns, despite accepting some of our more minor recommendations.  Our concerns include WDC's intention to force dairy farmers to install underpasses for livestock road crossings, even on low traffic count roads. WDC also remains unwilling to allow a reasonable threshold of stock movement without the need for a permit.  If you feel strongly about this issue, lobby your local councillors. WDC's policy committee will reconvene on 12 September to discuss further possible amendments to the bylaw followed by its adoption at the full council meeting on 27 September. Click here  to contact the WDC's councillors and mayor. Click here to view WDC's July traffic counts.

Review of raw milk regulations - Many dairy farmers will be aware that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) has put out a discussion paper asking for views on the Raw Milk Regulations.  For those of you who wish to put in a submission under your own name, to view the discussion paper click here. Federated Farmers will of course be submitting to MAF on this issue.

Time to get those service bulls TB tested - The Animal Health Board (AHB) is reminding dairy farmers to ensure service bulls are tested for bovine tuberculosis (TB) before they arrive on the farm this year. The AHB provides a TB test at no cost to the farmer for all bulls aged over 12 months that are entering the dairy industry. It is vital that the test is undertaken, as the risk of service bulls introducing TB into a herd has grown as the dairy industry has expanded.

Velodrome next to St Peter's School in Cambridge - Waikato Regional Council is calling for submissions on the proposed Velodrome next to St Peter's School in Cambridge. Each submission counts towards the overall decision. As ratepayers, do you think the regional council should fund $6 million for a national cycling centre? As a ratepayer, this could cost you between $2.66 and $3.94 per year for 20 years depending on which option is used if council agrees to contribute. For more information or to make a submission, click here. 

Foundation for Arable Research's (FAR's) fourth referendum - Eligible farmers are currently voting in FAR's referendum and have until 2 September 2011 to vote.  Only registered farmers will receive voting papers so to register, please phone 03 325 6353 or email far@far.org.nz.  Maize growers and arable growers will have the opportunity to vote on the maize and arable levy orders, however, this referendum also gives cereal silage growers the opportunity to vote on a separate levy order for cereal silage.

Knock mastitis down with AgITO's Mastitis Management programme - The two workshops have been developed to help dairy farmers create a mastitis management plan for their farm. Tutored by specialist veterinarians, this programme will teach dairy farmers how to efficiently detect mastitis and determine how it will affect their operation. It will help them put in place, practical and workable procedures to improve performance, manage somatic cell counts (SCC) and increase milk quality.
Mastitis Management is part of AgITO's package of milk quality learning programmes. It is recommended for those in a supervisory role, who influence how mastitis is dealt with on the farm, such as managers, sharemilkers and owners. To enrol or find out more, contact your local AgITO adviser today on 0800 691 111, or click here.

Red Meat Sector Conference - The Meat Industry Association and Beef + Lamb New Zealand are holding the Red Meat Sector Conference at the Distinction Hotel in Rotorua on 4 and 5 September. The conference will build on core themes identified in the Red Meat Sector Strategy, released earlier this year. More information can be found on the website and you can register for the conference by clicking here.

Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) Manual - Members need only pay $70 + GST to purchase this up to date, informative and necessary manual designed especially for the rural sector on best practice methods to reduce the risk of accidents and injury. Each manual includes 5 x Accident Registers and 5 x Hazard Registers. Other OSH products are available however the asking price of many is in excess of $800. Call 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646) and secure a copy of this manual that is especially designed by farmers and legal experts to best suit the needs of those in the rural sector. Non members can also buy the manual and registers for $170 + GST. 

New Bronze Sponsor To be revealed next week!

Winesonline - To purchase award winning quality wines at below half price, which are not available elsewhere in New Zealand click here.

"We're going into another milk price inquiry because over five years, milk prices increased seven percent higher than inflation. On that basis, we should hold select committee inquiries into council rates, government spending, the emissions trading scheme and even replica sporting gear." - Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy Chairperson, Otago Daily Times, 10 August