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FEDERATED FARMERS last week officially launched its election manifesto during the early morning rush hour at Wellington train station.
The commuters took little notice of the (mostly) dark-suited men gathered around a small podium, but in the capital the document itself will score brownie points for the Federation.
President Bruce Wills says though dairying gets only limited specific mention in the manifesto, in fact issues affecting the sector feature all through the document. Feds decided not to single out specific sectors but to focus instead on generic issues affecting all pastoral farming.
Such issues as NAIT, ETS, water, science and many more apply to all sectors. But in the manifesto, Wills and the new Feds board signal a more conciliatory approach to dealing with complex and controversial environmental issues.
"Farmers have two options," Wills says. "If we chose not to front foot some of these obligations on the environment and take greater responsibility for our actions than we have in the past, we're going to end up an overly regulated industry. In the European Union and the US farming is very heavily regulated.... New Zealand hasn't gone down that track yet."
Wills is asking farmers to be more open and honest about their environmental footprint and to work pragmatically and positively with councils to satisfy community concerns. He hopes this will avert long term the burden of regulations under which farmers labour in most other countries.
"We need to listen to the concerns of our urban population and our markets and what they are telling us. They say, 'hey, we love your food New Zealand, and we like what you're doing, but take care of the environment.' We must listen to that."
The solutions to these problems will come from good science, Wills is certain. "We can produce more food off less land with a smaller footprint but we've got to do it by being smarter and using sensible science."
OPINION: Bouquets this week from the old mutt for Fed Farmers and Groundswell for continuing to resist the proposed Gore District plan and its intention to apply costly "cultural values" across the district and a raft of land classifications that are unworkable and counterproductive.
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
Federated Farmers is celebrating following the Government's announcement that young farmers will be able to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home or farm.
Tickets have officially gone on sale for Fieldays 2026, marking less than 50 days until the event.
A recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand ‘Farming for Profit’ field day drew about 100 people keen to hear about the policies that drove performance at Erewhon Station, located on the Taihape to Napier Road.
The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) has welcomed the Labour Party's support for the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement.
Wallaby control efforts in Canterbury have received a major boost, with Canterbury Regional Council releasing $2 million from its Pest Management Reserve.
Finding and supporting ‘champion farmers’ – or top-quality farmers - is one of best ways of getting other farmers to take the appropriate measures to mitigate environmental issues, according to a leading Irish scientist Dr Mary Ryan.
Zespri has unveiled Grown for Good, a refreshed global brand platform, in an effort to reinforce the company's commitment to nutrition and creating value across the kiwifruit industry.
