Building trust
OPINION: The war of words between Southland farmers and Environment Southland over winter grazing inspections reflects a deep lack of trust among farmers for the regional council.
At the end of their conference, Federated Farmers held their AGM and Wayne Langford, the 40-year-old dairy farmer from Golden Bay, was elected as the organisation's new national president.
He says it is a huge honour to be elected to lead Feds, but adds he is already feeling the weight of responsibility that comes with it.
"Federated Farmers are the largest rural advocacy organisation in the country and farmers are looking to us for strong leadership as they try to navigate their way through an increasingly complex world," Langford says.
South Canterbury mixed arable farmer Colin Hurst was elected as vice-president and North Canterbury arable farmer David Birkett joins the board as arable chair. Sandra Faulkner, Mark Hooper, Toby Williams and Richard McIntyre were all re-elcted to the board.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.