Podcasts about Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is demanding urgent action from both mobile companies and the government over often unreliable rural connectivity. 

More than one-third of farmers say their mobile coverage has gotten worse over the past year - and it's negatively impacting their work environment and overall safety. New reports show only 57 percent of farmland gets coverage, and there's been no improvement since 2022. Federated Farmers telecommunications spokesperson Mark Hooper says the situation is likely to get worse with the 3G network shutting down, and they're trying to get a handle on things. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy farmers remain mindful of the chance of more tough times ahead. Fonterra's confirmed a final farmgate milk price of $10.16 for the past season, with earnings of 71 cents per share. But its midpoint forecast for this season remains at $10. Federated Farmers Dairy Board Chair Karl Dean told Francesca Rudkin farmers will be paying off debt and investing back into their farms after battling several years of high on-farm costs. He says they all understand costs may rise again, and incomes may drop. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push for more work-based learning, to give food and fibre employers greater input on training. Key players like Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Federated Farmers have teamed up to demand an overhaul from the government. The sectors have released the Food and Fibre Workforce Capability Strategy. Forestry Owners' Association Chief Executive Elizabeth Heeg told Francesca Rudkin the strategy sets out a pathway to train the next generation of skilled workers. She says they want to work with the government to ensure the system prioritises capabilities and not just credentials. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasman District Council is trying to implement a Water Conservation Order to protect Golden Bay's Te Waikoropupu Springs the springs, but the request for a plan change is opposed by Federated Farmers.

Wilding pines, the invasive species also known as Pinus contorta, are posing a massive threat to the environment. It was highlighted on Country Calendar last by Steve Satterthwaite, who runs Muller Station in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough. He said the wilding pines don't just choke up pastoral land, there's also the downstream effect of loss of water yield into the rivers, and in Marlborough, that effects the vineyards. Federated Farmers pest animal and weed spokesperson Richard Dawkins told Kerre Woodham that more funding and support is needed to properly tackle the spread of these invasive plants. 'It is possible to get it under control, but it just comes down to resourcing, right? So we need more funding.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers has been quick to label Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a nitrate emergency as a 'political stunt'. ECan recently carried a motion to declare the emergency at yesterday's meeting. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I wonder if the person who called me a tofu-eating, sandal-wearing, treehugger yesterday will have a bit of a re-think when they see what I've got to say about Environment Canterbury declaring a nitrate emergency. I'm with Federated Farmers, which is saying it's nothing more than a political stunt. But it's not just that, it's a very naive political stunt. Because show me one of these so-called “emergency” declarations that have done any good. What about the Christchurch City Council's climate emergency? Is that still a thing? Or have they quietly pulled the plug on that one? The other thing that makes ECan's stunt particularly naive is that it's the outfit still dishing out consents for more dairy farming in Canterbury. There are about 950,000 dairy cows in Canterbury and ECan is currently considering applications for another 10,000. I'll come back to Federated Farmers because they're not the only ones who aren't happy about this emergency declaration – some ECan councillors themselves are brassed off, as well. So what happened yesterday is one of ECan's outgoing councillors put forward the motion to declare the emergency and for ECan to “take a leadership role to urgently address the issue of groundwater pollution impacting drinking water sources and supplies”. Vicky Southworth is the councillor who put forward the motion at what was her very last ECan meeting. It was her last meeting, and it was the council's last meeting before next month's elections. The vote was close —9 in favour, 7 against— and some of the councillors who voted against it were pretty angry at yesterday's meeting. Nick Ward is one of them. He said it was “grandstanding”. Another councillor, John Sunckell, said he's spent 15 years trying to reduce nitrates, and “I just feel really pissed off with this little political stunt”. They both said nitrates levels are expected to decline over time and that rural communities had worked hard and collaboratively over decades to lower nitrates, and that “emergency” was the wrong word to use. Federated Farmers agrees. It's slamming the move, with its vice-president Colin Hurst describing it as a “shameless political stunt that won't help anyone”. If Councillor Southworth was so concerned about the nitrates, she wouldn't be leaving. She'd be putting herself forward for re-election, just like outgoing chairperson Craig Pauling. He voted in favour of the nitrate emergency, but he's moving on as well. Again, if he's so worried about it, then he'd be trying to get elected again too. Instead, they can walk away feeling all virtuous, thinking they've done something positive and have made a difference. Do me a favour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canterbury Regional Council has declared a nitrate emergency for the district's waterways and drinking water, following a fiery meeting today. The battle lines have been drawn, with Federated Farmers and the Agriculture Minister joining some councillors in branding the move a political stunt. Other councillors are calling for action on what they called a crisis. Keiller MacDuff reports.

Frustration from farmers over Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a nitrate emergency. It voted —nine to seven— for the declaration after groundwater testing found levels of the chemical increasing in the majority of monitored sites. Federated Farmers Vice President Colin Hurst told Mike Hosking solving this problem can take a number of years, but farmers have been working on it. He says ECan's put a wedge between farmers and council after yesterday's decision. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Herrick from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns over Environment Southland's 'heavy-handed' approach to compliance. Herrick says these standards are creating unprecedented stress and financial pressure for farmers. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode:News Wrap | Bullish outlook for the red meat sector2:19 – Senior reporter Neal Wallace has been following trends in the red meat sector both at the farmgate and market level. He looks at Beef + Lamb forecasts for the upcoming season and finds a very bullish outlook for the red meat sector. He also unpacks prospects for a new exporting season, and what it means for farm incomes.Market Insight | Livestock EYE on high spring store cattle prices8:15 – Winter's cold grip may remain across much of the country in early September, but spring store cattle prices are running hot. AgriHQ analyst Fiona Quarrie provides a run down on some of the notable prices being fetched through North Island saleyards. With prices passing the $5.50/kg mark, Fiona muses on the possibility sales with a “$6” could become a reality this spring.Feature | Fonterra's bold move: the economics of value add14:11 – Dr Hamish Gow, professor of agribusiness at Lincoln University, talks to Richard about Fonterra's multi-billion dollar exit from its brands business, and what that means for “value add” and returns to shareholders. He pulls apart what true “value add” really is, and how it does not always mean a product must have a brand name on it to achieve it.Feds Focus | Tackling New Zealand's pest problem25:24 – Richard Dawkins, Federated Farmers national chair for meat and wool, outlines why there is a need for an integrated pest management strategy in New Zealand.He says NZ's growing pest burden has an increasingly high cost of control being imposed upon farmers and talks about how Feds would like to see greater co-ordination across all government departments and NGOs to better manage pest numbers and impact.

The president (and acting chief executive) of Federated Farmers on the issues of the farming day - calving, Paris, the All Blacks and Dr Mike Joy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Dawkins, Federated Farmers national chair for meat and wool, outlines why there is a need for an integrated pest management strategy in New Zealand.He says NZ's growing pest burden has an increasingly high cost of control being imposed upon farmers and talks about how Feds would like to see greater co-ordination across all government departments and NGOs to better manage pest numbers and impact.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Taranaki dairy farmer Sam Ebbett about his role as Federated Farmers ShareFarmer Chair, winter in Taranaki and his involvement in the local speedway scene... He talks with Malcolm Rough from the Mahia Peninsula about his property featuring in a new book called 'New Zealand Rustic', the history of the Te Au homestead and learning farming from scratch... And he talks with Deer Industry News Editor Lynda Gray about some of the feature stories in the upcoming edition and the divided views on the proposed Maniototo Solar Farm. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

The President of Federated Farmers comments on Dr Mike Joy’s ill-advised outburst. And when it comes to Paris, should we stay or should we go? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are pushing ACT and New Zealand First for less politicking and more action. The two parties have expressed interest in withdrawing from the global Paris Agreement unless more realistic emissions targets are produced to fight climate change. But Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says they're in government and could be resolving the problems creating uncertainty for farmers now. He told Andrew Dickens the Paris Agreement in itself isn't necessarily the problem. Langford says we need to dig deeper and look at what's setting Paris back, because it's actually what we're setting on ourselves as a government. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode: News Wrap | Meeting the changing market in Japan1: 29 – Senior reporter Richard Rennie discusses his recent trip to Japan, which is faced with a population that's increasingly dominated by older people. He says protein is the buzzword and NZ food producers are primed to meet that need.Feature | Fruits of resilience: horticulture profits and challenges12:16 – Bryan catches up with Horticulture NZ chief executive Kate Scott at the industry body conference in Wellington. She says while returns have been positive, extreme weather over the past year have been challenging for growers in many regions.Feds Focus | Farmers to join emergency planning23:27 – Sandra Faulkner from Federated Farmers is celebrating Cabinet signing off on a plan to give farmers a seat at the emergency management table. She says they'll be involved in strategy and planning and also be an integral part of any major response.The Final Word30:49 – Getting older isn't something many of us think too much about, but with many nations experiencing a shift in demographics there's a real need to find ways to keep older people nourished.

Mike Perry talks with Jo Grigg about the fantastic prizes for those hunters and landowners wanting to get involved in culling wild goats. With categories for landowners, hunters, junior hunters, best goat head and prizes for even 1 goat entry, there is something for everyone. Using the on-line Landowners Assist programme, keen hunters can get access to willing landowners who need goats culled. It was developed by NZDA, with input from DOC, Federated Farmers, and Forestry Owners Association, and provides a clear framework for safe and respectful hunting on private property. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Sandra Faulkner from Federated Farmers is celebrating Cabinet signing off on a plan to give farmers a seat at the emergency management table. She says they'll be involved in strategy and planning and also be an integral part of any major response.

The Reserve Bank's move to review banking capital rules has been welcomed by Federated Farmers. Banking spokesperson Mark Hooper says the stricter rules make it difficult for farmers to borrow money - and these changes will make things fairer. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers' banking spokesmen - past and present - say the Reserve Bank’s decision to review bank capital rules is the first step towards lower interest rates and fairer access to finance for farmers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's move to review banking capital rules has been welcomed by Federated Farmers. Banking spokesperson Mark Hooper says the stricter rules make it difficult for farmers to borrow money - and these changes will make things fairer. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers’ meat and wool chairman says there’s reason for hope that the strong wool industry has turned a corner - but farmers need to get in behind the change-makers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode: Market Insights | Historic stock sale hits a high note1:34 – AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner discusses the recent Feilding-Marton hoggett fair, which has been a highlight of the calendar for almost a century. Regular buyers were back and paid top dollar for the stock on offer.Feature | How to tackle farm succession6:27 – Lawyer Andrew Clements of Grayson Clements joins the show to share his insights on how to tackle farm succession. He says there's no one template that will work for everyone and suggests addressing the values of the people involved is more important than the value of the business.Feature | The evolving landscape of rural banking21:35 – ASB head of food and fibre Kristen Ashby joins the show to talk about rural banking, whether banks are turning woke, and just how they assess risk. She also reflects on how bankers are being asked to bring new expertise to farm businesses and how to approach succession planning.Feds Focus | Glyphosate claims out of order40:31 – Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett takes Greenpeace to task over its recent claims about glyphosate. He says the public has been misled by the campaign, which claims glyphosate residue can be found in bread. In fact, grower contracts stipulate that glyphosate can't be used on grain grown for human consumption.The Final Word46:17 –  The wellness sector bombards us with the latest food products that will aid our health and cognition, but rarely are they backed by science. This week, however, NZ kiwifruit did get a big scientific tick, after the European Union signed off on a health claim that kiwifruit aids digestive health. It's these sorts of claims we should really be believing.

Federated Farmers says letting Chorus remove the copper network could leave rural people with uncertainty as to where to go for a phone or internet connection. 

Are we in for a wool revival? Industry leaders are meeting at a number of workshops next week, with the aim of driving up value. Stats show strong wool now makes up just 1-2% of gross farm income, compared to nearly 65% in the 1980s. Federated Farmers Wool Chair Richard Dawkins told Mike Hosking there's good collabroation happening between government, industry, and various initiatives to drive up value. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett takes Greenpeace to task over its recent claims about glyphosate. He says the public has been misled by the campaign, which claims glyphosate residue can be found in bread. In fact, grower contracts stipulate that glyphosate can't be used on grain grown for human consumption.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Jo Grigg talks with Dan Smith about what powers rural contracting and his insights into success for contractors, from his Lincoln University research. Dom George talks with farmer Laura Morrison, on her trip to Singapore with AgriZero NZ and work with Federated Farmers. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Federated Farmers says a report back to Parliament on the so-called "ban on carbon forestry" doesn’t go far enough to stop the march of pines across New Zealand’s productive farmland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a belief many farmers will be feeling disappointed and betrayed after a report to Parliament on the ban of carbon forestry. The Environment Select Committee's recommendations show carbon farms across productive farmland, won't be coming to a stop. Currently under the Emission Trading Scheme there's a ban on whole-farm conversions for land that's not used for beef and sheep farming. Federated Farmers forestry spokesperson Richard Dawkins told Mike Hosking this still puts beef and sheep at risk of full conversions. He says there's less export income without a productive meat industry. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's disappointment Canterbury communities weren't consulted on a proposal to shut down rural Police stations. Police are looking to reduce personnel, disestablishing some rural roles in favour of larger 24/7 hubs based in Rolleston and Rangiora. Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green told Mike Hosking the community's heard about it via the media. She says their Police live in their area and know their people, and if you lose that in a rural community it has a huge impact. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Canterbury farmer and former All Black discusses positivity in the primary sector. He also ponders why arable farmers may not be as confident in the recent Federated Farmers survey. And what is a “rural-rural divide”?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabobank’s chief executive on achieving top of the class in the bank report cards from Federated Farmers. Plus, he discusses a funding boost for Catchment Communities Aotearoa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers is welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical - and grounded in real-world standards. The Government will spend two months consulting with farmers to determine whether farm kids are safe to do certain chores, including feeding animals, watering plants and collecting eggs. Federated Farmers' health and safety spokesperson David Birkett says farmers have raised questions - and the clarification would be useful. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers' latest six-monthly Farm Confidence Survey shows a big lift this year, rebounding from record lows 12 months ago. Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A farm in Dannevirke was targeted by cattle rustlers and 65 hand reared calves were stolen. Federated Farmers Dairy Industry Group chairperson Karl Dean spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Federated Farmers’ new banking spokesman on the latest survey ranking the banks, which has revealed how the country’s biggest rural lenders are performing in the eyes of farmers, by ranking the banks from best to worst. Also, the Com/Com dismissed the Feds’ complaint on net-zero banking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A battle's flared between Federated Farmers and Greenpeace. Federated Farmers says the activist group should be stripped of its charitable status for defacing Gore's iconic brown trout statue to highlight how dairy pollution's affected the town's water. A three-day do-not-drink notice was issued Friday, because of elevated nitrate levels. Southland Federated Farmers president, Jason Herrick, says Greenpeace should behave better. "What they were doing had the potential to destroy a pretty important monument in Gore." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They're being called blocks of yellow gold, and whether that be cheese or butter - they're getting most of the blame for blowing out the weekly food budget. Federated Farmers dairy chair Karl Dean spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Federated Farmers believes it could be years before some farms in the Tasman District fully recover from the devastating floods of the past two weeks. Nelson Federated Farmers president Kerry Irvine spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Federated Farmers’ new national meat and wool chair farms in Marlborough. He discusses how Feds is keeping a close eye on flood-affected farmers in the region. Plus, he says the Save Our Sheep campaign is still going strong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers is calling on Kiwis to “get in behind” flood-affected farming families at the top of the South Island, as recovery efforts ramp up and the scale of the damage becomes clearer. President Wayne Langford visited the area on Monday, July 7. He says the destruction in parts of Nelson and Tasman is extensive, with some farms completely unrecognisable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The president of Federated Farmers on flooding in the Tasman region and how his Golden Bay farm is doing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers in Nelson and Tasman are reeling from a major weather event that's left some farms totally devastated. Ingrid Hipkiss spoke to Federated Farmers president Kerry Irvine.

New Zealand food and fibre exports - including dairy, meat and wool, horticulture and forestry - are set to hit $60 billion a year for the first time. Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The heat is on the agriculture minister to deliver this term on a pre-election promise to unlock KiwiSaver so it can be used to buy a first farm, and not just a house. At the moment if you have been contributing to KiwiSaver for three years you can withdraw almost all the money to buy a first home to live in, although there a few exceptions. Federated Farmers has launched a petition urging the government to losen the rules for accessing the retirement scheme saying it will turbo charge the next generation of farmers and deliver on a committment that Todd Mclay made during a meeting in Morrinsville. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay spoke to Lisa Owen.

Federated Farmers say this year's Fieldays is likely to be one of the most positive. Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford spoke to Corin Dann.

In today's episode, government ministers will be arriving at Fieldays on mass as the country looks to the agricultural sector to drive the economy over the next year, Federated Farmers believe this year's Fieldays is likely to be one of the most positive, the government will be hoping tractor sales are tracking upward at Fieldays with a new tax incentive for farm machinery, it is now the fourth day of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Los Angeles, and 11 people, including the gunman, have died in a shooting at an Austrian high school in the city of Graz.

There have been calls for the government to unlock KiwiSaver so the funds can be used to buy a first farm, not just a house. At the moment if you have been contributing to KiwiSaver for three years you can withdraw almost all the money to buy a first home to live in. Now, Federated Farmers has launched a petition urging the government to losen the rules for accessing the retirement scheme and have said it will turbo charge the next generation of famers. Federated Farmers Dairy chair, Richard McIntyre spoke to Lisa Owen.