Flash New Look - Along with the new-look Friday Flash is the new look Federated Farmers website. For rural people on dialup the website should take approximately 40 seconds to upload. The graphics may take a few minutes the first time but should be quicker on further visits. Members and staff can login to the member-only area. Ring 0800 327 646 if you have trouble with the login they will help you out.

One Great Event - The Federation's national conference and the annual general meetings of Dairy, Meat & Fibre and Grain & Seeds sections kick off in Christchurch this coming week. Guest speakers at the national conference will discuss the economy, water issues, the role of supermarkets, science in agriculture and there will also be a political forum. The Ravensdown Wheat Awards and the launch of a new booklet for dairy farmers which is designed to help them deal with RMA issues will be part of One Event. This will also be the last conference for President Charlie Pedersen who completes his three year term-of-office. Regular updates on the conference will be posted on the website during the week. >>>MORE

Environmental Angst - A submission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the Horizon's proposed One Plan has since been withdrawn due to risks of upsetting environmental groups. MAF has recently indicated it is in general support of the proposed One Plan even though the proposed regulations will have a direct and detrimental effect on farming businesses in the region. Federated Farmers is currently deeply involved in the One Plan process and will be advocating for farmers through the anticipated 10 or more months of hearings. Tararua, Wanganui, Ruapehu and Manawatu/Rangitikei provinces are working together with support from Federation staff to address the impact One Plan will have on farming in the districts.

Bee Aware - Speaking at the annual conference of the Bee industry group this week in Cromwell chairman, John Hartnell said, bees tend to be taken for granted, except by horticulturalists, fruit growers and small seed producers. He announced Federated Farmers Bees industry group will embark on a major publicity campaign to make decision-makers and the public aware of just how critical bees are to the agricultural and horticultural sectors and everyone who owns or enjoys a garden. Two new members joined at conference and one woman travelled all the way from Kaitaia to attend. The election of Gary Glasson from Blackball in Westland returns the management committee to full capacity.

Ways With Water - Improving the quality of Bay of Plenty waterways is at the heart of an agreement signed on Monday by Environment Bay of Plenty, Federated Farmers and Fonterra Co-operative Group. The Regional Action Plan sets out the commitment from each partner to meet national dairying Clean Streams Accord targets in the Bay of Plenty region. It also outlines the role each organisation will play in working with farmers to achieve these targets. Speaking at the event Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers president, Alan Law said farmers have just as much interest in protecting the region's waterways as the local community. He said farmers, like everyone else, use and value local waterways for recreational purposes. It's also part of their natural capital - something which must be protected for the next generation of farmers. A copy of the Bay of Plenty regional action plan is available at www.envbop.govt.nz

Credit to Mid-Cant - Mid-Canterbury said farewell to outgoing provincial president Rupert Curd who stepped down at the province's annual conference this week. Rupert is replaced by Michael Morrow from Lowcliffe. Michael is a cropping farmer growing cereals and small seeds. He is a past chairman of the Mid-Canterbury Grain & Seed and chairman of the Mid-Canterbury Spray Irrigators Association. A presentation of plants was made to Rupert and Sandra Curd, with the hope that the plants may help to sequester the carbon expended from the many submissions to Environment Canterbury on environmental matters over the years. The conference was opened by Ashburton Mayor Bede O`Malley. Other speakers included: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker who outlined the dependence of the city on the land production  and the need to utilise the Canterbury region's water resource for increased production; and Professor Jacqueline Rowath, director of pastoral agriculture at Massey University, who described the importance of agriculture to the New Zealand economy and the new awareness of global food security.

House of Gain - Otago Regional Council has responded to Federated Farmers concerns about the impact on farmers from funding in a new stadium for Dunedin. The council's original preferred option was paying for the stadium on 100 percent capital value. As a result of submissions from many Federation members, the final recommendation, yet to be ratified by the full council, will see the adoption of a targeted uniform rate to cover half of the funding. This decision will save farmers throughout the region thousands of dollars a year for the next 15 years. The change has been very well received by farmers throughout the region and highlights the huge potential that targeted uniform rates have for funding council activities fairly.

Just Drop It - Due to efforts made last year by Federated Farmers, the Kaikoura District Council has dropped its rural differential from 1.2 to 1.0 percent in its proposed annual plan. This means that the rural sector will be paying a fairer proportion of rates based on the services they receive. North Canterbury president Chris Sundstrum and senior policy advisor Sonia Voldseth appeared before the council and thanked them. They also encouraged the council to continue to drop the differential to be more in line with councils across the country and to employ different ratings for different types of properties within the rural definition. This would be for lifestyle blocks versus larger properties.

Road Rate Wrangle - Very few councils are bold enough to undertake comprehensive roading impact studies and rate on the basis of those findings. Even fewer are bold enough to stick to the recommendations within those studies This message was delivered to Southland District Council last week as Federated Farmers members presented their alternative model for roading funding to council. While welcoming the council's attempts at a more robust way of funding roads the submission questioned the methodology of the model proposed by council, and its ability to capture any of the impact of other vehicle movements on rural roads. Federated Farmers put a huge effort into presenting constructive alternatives that more fairly reflect the benefit of the rural roading network to urban residents and the commercial and tourism sector. Farmers in the district will welcome council boldly going where others refuse to explore.

Ridiculous Rates Rise - A whopping 28 percent increase on the general rate dominated Federated Farmers submission to Environment Southland as the council debated a 17 percent rates increase. The rates rise hits farmers in the region hard purely because of a funding policy that puts planning expenditure on the general rate. As council finds ways to cope with a peak of planning work, farmers end up bearing the brunt of the costs, simply because of the inequity of the rating system. This ridiculous situation highlights the importance of a robust funding policy that makes maximum use of targeted and uniform rates and user charges.

Wheel Up - The Rural Communities Trust has had another successful grant round this week. Applicants can apply three times a year for funding. The applicants all have the same thing in common; they are from small rural communities with a population of under 2000. The "pick of the bunch" this time was a grant for a Freedom wheel for a wheelchair. The extra wheel is fitted to a normal wheelchair so it can be used on grass and rough terrain giving the recipient better access to the community. To learn more about the Rural Communities Trust visit: www.ruralcommunitiestrust.org.nz

Water Document - There has been some interest in the Primary Sector Water Partnership Document released last week. The document is now available on the Federated Farmers website.

Condolences - Federated Farmers conveys its sympathy to the family of Steve Fitzgerald who was tragically killed last night on his bicycle riding home from work. Steve was the national manager of the 111 Communication Centre and had recently being working with the Federation to put a system in place so members could be confident the information held on address locations is accurate.

Rates Keep Rising - Rates have increased 5.9 percent over the year to March 2008, according to Statistics New Zealand. Revenue from rates was $904.6 million in the March 2008 quarter alone. The March 2008 quarter showed an increase of $119.1 million (8.0 percent) in total operating revenue for councils when compared with the March 2007 quarter.

• Local authority operating revenue increased 1.0 percent to $1.6 billion in the March 2008 quarter from the previous quarter.
• Local authority operating expenditure increased 0.3 percent to $1.5 billion in the March 2008 quarter from the previous quarter.
• Local authorities recorded a surplus of $72.3 million in the March 2008 quarter.

Life Lesson - In light of a workplace incident last year in Tolaga Bay, where a farm-hand died, employers are advised to adopt and implement a drugs and alcohol testing programme. A toxicology report indicated the employee had consumed a single cannabis cigarette within four hours of his death. For more information on implementing such a programme call 0800 327 646 or view the Federated Farmers drug and alcohol free workplace fact sheet.

Emergency Services Mapping - Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Police have been working together to provide a service to check that rural address information is accurately stored by the 111 Communication Centre. Call 0800 327 646 to make sure your address and road name are recorded correctly. If there is an error or the data is missing, the police will undertake to correct the data as soon as possible. If an email address is provided, the Police will provide a small picture of your property showing address details.

New Book for Sale - "Ghosts in the Valley" written by former Ruapehu provincial president Richard Steele is an engrossing, easy-paced novella of murder and intrigue, told in an authentic rural style with all the colour of life in rugged bush country. The book also includes three true stories of a rough diamond, war on grass grubs and the pleasures and perils of jetboating. The book is available for members for $20 and non-members for $30 with 10 percent of sales going to the Rural Community Trust. To order call 0800 327 646.

Order Federated Farmers contracts and agreements online, or call 0800 327 646.

Fielday Draw - Federated Farmers gave away one free membership over the New Zealand National Fieldays at Mystery Creek. The winner was John Sanson. John was signed up by membership contractor Carolyn Freeman. Over the three days, 17 new members signed up to the Federation.

Employment Seminars - Federated Farmers' popular employment seminars run from mid-October through to the end of November. The price is $65 for members and $165 for non-members. Call 0800 327 646 to register.

Pain Campaign - A new initiative from ACC featuring stories in the words of real farmers who are still feeling the pain of their injuries can be viewed online at: www.acc.co.nz/rural. Share your story by emailing: leeanne.duncan@acc.co.nz or call Lee-Anne on 021 751 763.