Jeanette Maxwell - Chairperson, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre

Hello everyone and welcome to the first newsletter of the year.

The summer weather depending on where you live has either been good or bad. This is reflected in stock sales and feed.

When I wrote this lamb and wool prices were quickly easing, and there was a small drop in beef prices as well. It is unfortunate to see these price drops, but given the global market situation it is not surprising.

Early next month the Meat & Fibre executive will be meeting in Wellington to discuss several items and to start planning our AGM and conference in June. If you have any burning topics that you want raised please let me, David Burt or one of our executive team know.

With NAIT going live on 1 July this year it is essential you put NAIT tags on your cattle when the opportunity arises. This date will come around quickly. Remember to keep a record of the tag numbers and animals so they can be put into the NAIT database over the coming months. We will update members on what is happening around NAIT shortly.

Quad bikes have been a hot topic lately for meat and fibre farmers. I would like to remind farmers if you are purchasing a new quad bike or if you're servicing your bike, to ask about installing a reversing beeper. These are relatively cheap and have the potential to prevent a nasty accident. We've all done it; left the bike in reverse when getting off and forgetting to change it back when you get back on and unexpectedly reverse. This is also a timely opportunity to remind members to update Health and Safety booklets and consider what new hazards need to be recorded and addressed.

As always, if you have any issues or matters you wish to discuss please feel free to contact me.

Jeanette Maxwell
Chairperson
Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre
Mobile: 027 357 4464
Phone: 03 302 8860
Email: jmaxwell@fedfarm.org.nz

Meat & Fibre Council Executive meeting -The Meat & Fibre Council Executive are to meet in Wellington on March 7-8 to discuss sector issues and to plan the 2012 Meat & Fibre Conference.

2012 FARM DAY Federated Farmers Farm Day is happening again in 2012. Six farms around the country will open their gates to the public from 10.00 am to 3.00pm on Sunday March 18, giving people a taste of the rural lifestyle. For more information click here.

2012 Meat & Fibre Conference in Christchurch - The conference will be held as part of the 2012 One Event, incorporating the Meat & Fibre, Dairy and the Grain and Seed Conferences, a Plenary Session and Awards Dinner (28 June) and the Federation's National Conference (29 June).

The industry group conferences will be held on June 27 - 28 and more information will be sent out in due course, but if you wish to learn more about the Conference and the advantages of attending, please click here. 

Red Meat Sector Strategy (RMSS) - The second implementation report is expected to be issued shortly by the sector Strategy Coordination Group (SCG). A copy of the first implementation report can be obtained from David Burt, the Federations Meat & Fibre Policy Advisor, dburt@fedfarm.org.nz.

ShearNZ programme - Following feedback from stakeholders, the New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association is finalising this document. When the document becomes available the Federation will advise members.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand 2012 AGM - The Annual General Meeting will take place at a location within the B+L NZ Western North Island electorate on 22 March 2012. Only registered electors can vote for:

•  The B + L NZ Director positions the are being contested in two electorates, Northern North Island and Northern South Island
• Any Remits that are to be considered

Qualified farmers are encouraged to check they are on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Electoral Roll and can do this by calling the free phone 0508 666 336.  To be eligible to vote, a livestock farmer must have owned at least 250 sheep, or 50 beef cattle or 100 dairy cattle on 30 June 2011 and must be registered on the B+L NZ electoral roll by 5pm on Wednesday 8 February 2012.

The election will be conducted by postal and internet ballot. Voting papers, along with information about the candidates and any remits to be considered, will be sent to registered electors on 15 February 2012. Votes need to be cast by 8 March 2012. 

Animal ID and Traceability - On 5 September it was announced that NAIT would be mandatory from 1 July 2012, pending passage of the NAIT Bill and development of the supporting regulations.  NAIT and the Animal Health Board have released information describing tagging requirements, which is available on the NAIT website by clicking here. Draft regulations describing the proposed cost recovery regime were released for consultation in November 2011. The Federation provided a submission in December 2011. The submission argued the necessity for a clean slate review once NAIT was able to provide transaction and other data to support a fairer cost recovery regime in three years time. Our focus is now shifting to ensuring farmers will be ready come 1 July 2012.

National Cycleways - As raised at National Council, a number of provinces have outlined concerns with the roll-out of cycleways across rural land. It appears that farmer issues are not being adequately addressed and there is a need to work through the issues with the New Zealand Cycle Trail (Ministry of Economic Development) office. Contact has been made with NZCT and a meeting is planned for early February. The main concerns are around safety, hygiene requirements and infringement on private property.

Biosecurity Reform Bill - The Biosecurity Reform Bill has been reported back by the Primary Select Committee to the House and awaits a second reading. The legislation is expected to progress in March 2012 and there are still opportunities to work through our concerns with MAF, who are working with industry to put forward some Supplementary Order Papers to improve the Bill.

Government Industry Agreements - A Primary Industry Group meeting was held at Federated Farmers in September to discuss progress with the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) and to assess where common interests sit between different industries. The GIA is being progressed by Government as a way of industry and Government sharing the responsibility and costs for biosecurity readiness and response. A total of 22 industry group representatives were in attendance, with some representing more than one industry group. As an outcome, a working group has been established to work with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to ensure that industry and MAF work as partners rather than in isolation when developing the GIA Master Deed of Agreement.

A follow up meeting was held on 19 December. At this meeting it was agreed that the Industry Working Group would work with MAF to progress the Memorandum of Understanding, Deed and other facets of GIA.  Progress continues - a joint MAF and Working Group meeting is scheduled for early February.

Tb Strategy Advisory Group - The Animal Health Board have established a Strategy Advisory Group to improve communication on the progress of the recently amended TB National Pest Management Strategy review. Federated Farmers will be represented on the working group.

Getting Your Feet Wet (Level One) Leadership Course - Have you thought about becoming more involved or taking up a leadership role in your community? We want you on our leadership programme! Getting your Feet Wet is an entry level course designed for people not currently active in a leadership role but who are thinking of getting more involved in the future. The course is balanced with workshop sessions and opportunities to network with others who work on agricultural policy.

Our courses are popular and fill quickly. Registering your interest early will ensure you're not disappointed. Federated Farmers will organise your meals, accommodation and travel to and from the course.

When: 22 - 23 February 2012

Where: 154 Featherston Street, Wellington

To register your interest or for more information, please contact the Federated Farmers Events Coordinator on 0800 327 646 or email events@fedfarm.org.nz.

Rural disputes seminar - A half day seminar on rural disputes is being held in Wellington from 16 to 18 March. It has been organised by the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand. The seminar will help you develop in-depth tools for a rural dispute practice and help you more fully understand how to deal with disputes in the rural context. Topics covered include sharemilking agreements, farm ownership structures, resource management, employment, Maori land issues, environmental issues, valuation and leasing and land tenure, all with a view to dispute avoidance and resolution.

Federated Farmers' members have been given discounted rates to attend the seminar.  Click here to view more information, or call 0800 426 469 to register using the code "fedfarm" to receive the discounted rate.

The Powerful Collective Voice - Many members are taking the opportunity with the new membership options to sign up their management staff as farm managers. This is a sound business choice as it gives them access to the 0800 employment and legal helpline and preferential rates on contracts and agreements.  Also let your neighbours and farming colleagues know that they can call 0800 FARMING (0800 327646) to join up or request a visit by a Field Officer.  You and our other members ensure that the combined voice of farming is heard and respected by the key decision makers in this country.

Use your Green card - You can use your personalised Federated Farmers' membership card to access special discounts and offers through the Business Partner Programme. For example Bunnings, Avis, Accuro, Dulux, Resene, Firestone, Bridgestone, Leap Sprinkler Systems, OfficeMax, Swandri, Winesonline, XCM Clothing to name a few. So make use of what you have and gain the benefit. Any questions pick up the phone and call 0800 FARMING (0800 327646)

OSH Manual & Worksheets - The Occupational Safety & Health manual is written specially for farm operations and includes worksheets for recording hazards and accidents. Remember you can buy these by calling 0800 FARMING and also discuss your contract needs with our customer services team.

Dairy Agreements - There are a range of these to suit most situations: Variable Order Sharemilking, Herd Owning Sharemilking, Contract Milking, Individual Employment Agreements, Casual Employment Agreements and more. All you need to do is call 0800 FARMING, discuss your contract needs with our customer services team and purchase the documents to suit your farming situation. If you need a recommendation, just look at the thousands of your colleagues who purchase and use these agreements every year.

Use your Membership and SAVE - Extract value from your membership by signing up for the Mobilcard "at pump" or the Allied Petroleum "farm delivery" fuel offers. Call 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646) and our team can connect you with the appropriate fuel business partner. You can also call them direct on 0800 Mobilcard (0800 732 277) or Allied Petroleum freephone 0800 383 566. Make the move and save ... this significant benefit has been put in place just for you.

Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre
Please remember that if you have any issues or queries you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact Federated Farmers on 0800 FARMING (327 646) or contact your local Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre representative or one of the executive team as listed below.

Head Office
PO Box 715
Wellington 6140
Tel:  04 473 7269
Fax: 04 473 1081
www.fedfarm.org.nz

Staff contact - David Burt
Tel:  0800 327 646
Fax: 04 473 1081
Email: dburt@fedfarm.org.nz

Chairperson - Jeanette Maxwell
Tel:        03 302 8860
Fax:       03 302 8849
Mobile:   027 357 4464
Email:  jmaxwell@fedfarm.org.nz

Vice-chairperson - Dugald Mclean
Tel/Fax:  03 313 5442
Email: mcleanfam@xtra.co.nz 

Executive members:

Tim Mackintosh
Tel:  07 322 1039
Email: timmack@xtra.co.nz

Will Foley
T: 06 855 8009
F: 06 855 8008
M: 027 499 6947
E: wfoley@clear.net.nz

Lyn Neeson
T/F: 07 893 8547
M: 027 353 7907
E: alyn@xtra.co.nz

A full list of the Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre team can be found by clicking here.