EU processors eye more cheese, powder exports
European milk processors are eyeing more cheese and milk powder exports into South America following a landmark trade agreement signed last month.
Federated Farmers President, Bruce Wills, has been appointed to the World Farmers Organisation Board as its Oceania representative. This assures New Zealand a key voice on the peak body representing farmer organisations from more than 50 countries.
"It has been a superb General-Assembly in Japan," says Wills, speaking from Niigata, Japan.
"Federated Farmers has helped to broker a breakthrough trade policy for the World Farmers Organisation. I need to acknowledge the high level policy work involving not only Federated Farmers' staff but kindred organisations too.
"May I genuinely thank Beef+LambNZ, the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their support and advice. The WFO trade policy not only vindicates their support but New Zealand now has a voice on governance, with Federated Farmers becoming the Oceania Board representative.
"I think it is important to recognise my WFO predecessor, Australia's Jock Laurie and the former President of Australia's National Farmers Federation. The General-Assembly has given me a great opportunity to meet the NFF's new president, Duncan Fraser as well as other global farming leaders.
"My hope is to use my board position to show case the excellent people resource we have in New Zealand that will help national and international farming to flourish," Wills says.
Profitability issues facing arable farmers are the same across the world, says New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
Tighter beef and lamb production globally have worked to the advantage of NZ, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
Groundswell is ramping up its 'Quit Paris' campaign with signs going up all over the country.
Some farmers in the Nelson region are facing up to five years of hard work to repair their damaged properties caused by the recent devastating floods.
Federated Farmers is joining major industry-good bodies in not advocating for the Government to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.