End of war on farming, say farmers
Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming.
Westland Milk farmer shareholders will be watching their spending very closely after the co-op slashed 60c off its 2014-15 forecast payout.
The country's number two dairy processor has announced a revised payout of $5.40/kgMS to $5.80/kgMS.
"Given Fonterra's hold on its benchmark payout forecast, this isn't exactly the best news to go into spring with," says Renee Rooney, Federated Farmers West Coast dairy chairperson.
"The fact the world produced seven billion litres of milk for export in the first half of 2014 isn't a secret and hasn't happened overnight, so this further revision is disappointing.
"It is going to mean some serious belt-tightening on the West Coast. Federated Farmers' Andrew Hoggard was prescient yesterday when he said for farmers to budget in the mid-five dollar payout range.
"The priority for our guys now is to redo budgets and cashflow. It means talking to your farm advisors and the bank to keep them fully in the loop; I'd run a 'no surprises' policy."
Farmers needing help are asked to contact the West Coast team at Federated Farmers or the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.
"Given this is one hell of a drop in less than a month I think we need to ask if Westland had its glass over half full," says Rooney.
"Like anyone we don't like bad news but its better to get that news early than be led down the garden path.
"We are definitely going to be asking questions."
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
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