Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
Federated Farmers will consult members on proposed changes that could reshape the delivery of physical mail to over half a million New Zealanders in rural areas.
NZ Post proposes to cut services to three days a week.
"NZ Post deserves praise for the way it has worked with Federated Farmers, Rural Woman NZ and the other rural stakeholders," says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers president.
"This will largely not come as a shock because we are living through a fundamental shift in technology. The decline in physical mail is offset by the rise of electronic mail.
"Commercially, NZ Post's business model must either evolve or face extinction but I doubt many people can seriously argue the status quo is tenable.
"The proposed changes will most be felt by communities who have already lost physical services and that have few technological options available.
"This is something NZ Post recognises in the discussion document noting rural, "are also areas where access to the internet at speeds sufficient for digital communication options to displace postal services is most likely to be limited".
"Even if we take the most optimistic assumptions about rural broadband, it still leaves some 86,000 people off-line; more than the population of Palmerston North.
"Many farmers rely on Rural Post contractors for more than the mail including newspapers, courier items and even groceries. There is also an unquantifiable socialisation element too. Yet we also understand Rural Post contracts on their own are basically uneconomic; clearly any reduction in delivery days will affect this even more.
"In looking at this, one sector that could lose out heavily is the traditional daily newspaper; a sector already under siege.
"Farmers tend to be heavy subscribers and a key advertising demographic. NZ Post's move may drive innovation in terms of delivery but we will have to wait and see how that industry responds through the consultation.
"What we do know is that change is coming and what service level will be acceptable will be member driven. That said, as long as a Universal Service Obligation exists, Federated Farmers will strongly resist any separate 'rural delivery fee'.
"We have been there before and it simply did not work.
"Laying the status quo to one side, the choices are really between a stop-gap that will buy only a limited amount of time, right-sizing services in order to be economic or cutting NZ Post free and allowing market forces to work things out," Wills says.
Farmer-led charity, Meat the Need is calling for donations to enable it to supply more meals to families in need.
Weaker pricing and demand from China continue to impact New Zealand red meat export earnings.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…