2011 Farm Toll four less than 2010 - Read more
James Cameron's titanic opportunity in farming - Read more

Of milk and the former CraFarms - Read more
Regulations and reality - Read more
Leading a second green revolution - Read more

Rabobank Agribusiness review - The latest review provides a snapshot of the food and agribusiness sectors, as well as recent prices and market trend data and analysis.

Click here to read the latest review.

Commodity Prices Up in January - The ANZ Commodity Price Index registered its first monthly increase since May 2011. The index rose 1.2 percent in January, after dropping a total of 9.8 percent in the preceding seven months.  Cheese prices rose five percent while skim milk powder and butter prices increased three percent. Lamb prices lifted two percent, and beef, skins and whole milk powder all recorded prices rises of around one percent.  The largest decline was for wool, which fell seven percent. Wool prices have weakened in five of the past six months to be 19 percent below the peak recorded last July. January's strengthening in the NZ Dollar dampened the index, resulting in a 2.9 percent decrease in the NZ Dollar Commodity Price Index and reducing it to a 14 month low.

Dairy Prices Down - Prices of dairy products sold on Fonterra's GlobalDairyTrade platform fell this week for the third time in four sales with declines for all six product types on offer.  The GDT-TWI Price Index fell 0.9 per cent from the last sale a fortnight ago. The average winning price across all products dropped to US$3,666 per metric tonne.

Agriculture Debt Edges Down - Agricultural sector debt fell $26 million in the month of December, to $47,332 million, according to monthly credit statistics from the Reserve Bank.  During 2011 agricultural debt was down, then up and then down again but overall it is down $215 million (0.5 percent) on December 2010.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand calls for director nominations and Annual Meeting remits - Nominations are open for two farmer-elected positions on Beef + Lamb's Board. These are for the Northern North and South Island electorates only. Nominations must be submitted using the official form which can be obtained by contacting Warwick Lampp, the Returning Officer, on free phone 0508 666 336. Nominations close on 5 pm, Wednesday 18 January.

Voters in the two electorates are encouraged to check they are on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Electoral Roll and can do that by calling the free phone 0508 666 336. To be eligible to vote, a livestock farmer must have owned at least 100 dairy cattle, 250 sheep, or 50 beef cattle on 30 June 2011 and must be registered by 5 pm, Wednesday 8 February.

The elections will be conducted by postal and internet voting and forms will be mailed out in February. Votes need to be cast by 8 March 2012. Read more here.

Dairy Farmers: Beef + Lamb New Zealand Director elections - Dairy farmers pay a levy on their cull cows to Beef+Lamb New Zealand, on average around $260-300 annually, per farm.  While this is a modest amount, when it is multiplied by all 11,735 dairy farmers, it is substantial and all dairy farmers should have a say in how their money is used. To do this you register on Beef+LambNZ's electoral role before 5pm, Wednesday, 8 February. Please note only farmers in the Northern North and South Island electorates can vote in the director elections.

To check to see if you are on the Beef+Lamb New Zealand electoral roll, call the free phone 0508 666 336. 

2012 Farm Day - On Sunday 18 March 2012, six farms from around New Zealand will open their gates to the public as part of Federated Farmers Farm Day. If you can lend a helping hand to one of the six participating provinces, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Manawatu, Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty, to put on this great event click here.  This event is a great way to bridge the urban-rural divide.

DIRA consultation - Consultation has opened on proposals to amend the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) and the Raw Milk Regulations. Federated Farmers will be submitting on it. The consultation material can be found by clicking here.

This consultation brings together the reviews that MAF led in 2011 relating to the regulatory regime that underpins New Zealand's dairy industry. In particular, it covers:

• The review of Fonterra's farm gate milk price setting,
• The review of the Raw Milk Regulations, and
• The regulatory regime to accompany Fonterra's proposed capital restructure.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 24 February 2012, 5pm.

Enrol to vote at the 2012 Beef + Lamb NZ AGM - All farmers who met the eligibility criteria and who are on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Electoral Roll can participate in the AGM voting on remits and company resolutions. 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.

To check if you are on the B + L NZ Electoral Roll, phone 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352). You can enrol via the B+ L NZ website by clicking here until the close of voting at 5pm on 21 March.

Lower North Island dairy tour - Federated Farmers invites all its members to join the Federation's Dairy Council and Sharemilkers' Section on a dairy tour around Manawatu on Wednesday 15 February. We will be visiting a local farm, Massey No 4 farm, AgResearch and the Fonterra Research Centre.

If you wish to take the bus please RSVP by Monday 6 February by clicking here.  Seats are limited. If you wish to take your own car, please RSVP by Monday 6 February by clicking here.  Federated Farmers will email you the itinerary. 

High Country Conference Date Change: The date for the 2012 High Country Conference in Wanaka has been changed to Thursday 7 June and Friday 8 June 2012. This is to avoid a clash with the National Sheep Dog Trials which are scheduled in Wanaka on the dates previously advised for the High Country Conference.

South Island Farmer of the Year 2012 Field Day - The Lincoln University Foundation invites farmers to attend the 2012 South Island Farmer of the Year Field Day on 2 March.  It is a great opportunity to diarise an event labelled, "From the Paddock to the Packet."  It is being held from 9:45am on 2 March 2012 at Fallgate Farms, 42 Milton Road, Orari, South Canterbury.  Please RSVP to jan.latham@lincoln.ac.nz by 27 February.

Waikato: 2012 Effluent Expo organised by Waikato Regional Council - Effluent issues affect all livestock farms. The regional council is looking to do more to protect Waikato's water quality and water resources from the impacts of intensive agriculture, especially nutrients and bacteria from dairying and other livestock farming. There will be an opportunity to see how the effluent pond storage calculator applies to individual farms using Waikato's data. There will be more than 40 exhibitors and there will be a number of optional seminars and demonstrations repeated throughout the day.

When: Tuesday 28 February between 9am and 3.30pm
Where:  Mystery Creek Events Centre.

More information can be found by clicking here.  

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.

AgITO's Farming to Succeed Program - Applications for AgITO's Farming to succeed program close. To apply click here.  AgITO's Farming to Succeed programme sponsored by FIL New Zealand is open to applications from Level 3 or above AgITO trainees. This free career development programme runs over five days during which you'll go through a series of workshops, farm visits and discussion groups to explore key ingredients required for the achievement of personal and business success in the agriculture industry.

The Powerful Collective Voice - Remember it is you and our other members who ensure the farming voice is heard and respected by the key decision makers in this country. Talk to your neighbours and farming colleagues and let them know by joining the Federation they are enhancing the ability to positively advocate for the business of farming. It's easy just call 0800 FARMING (0800 327646) to join up.

Employment Agreements:  Use the preferred choice - Federated Farmers offer a wide range of Employment Agreements, including, permanent, fixed term and casual agreements.  Start your staff off on the right basis by ensuring you have up to date employment agreement and remember to follow good process and allow both parties time to read the documents and any changes made. Call 0800 FARMING to order or discuss your employment contract needs with our customer services team.

Use your Membership and SAVE - Extract value from your membership by joining up for the Mobilcard "at pump" or the Allied Petroleum "farm delivery" fuel offers. Call 0800 FARMING (0800 327 646) and our team will 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.

"As a farmer and a scientist, I acknowledge there are environmental constraints in agriculture but our response shouldn't be to demand that we just do less of what we are doing. Our response should be to seek new ways of achieving our goals through innovation." - Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers Vice-President, The Dominion Post, February 3 .