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OPINION: Your canine crusader understands there is a bit of rumbling around the traps over the perceived conflict of interest at Fed Farmers' meat wool section.
Chair William Beetham took over the role as Fed's meat and wool prime advocate back in August 2020.
However, during this time, he's also picked up a directorship at meat co-op Silver Fern Farms in May this year.
So, with his Feds hat on, Beetham is part of the farmer lobby's stern criticism of the Government's recent proposal for pricing farmers for emissions.
However, with his SFF hat on, Beetham is part of a meat company that fully endorses the Government's move to tax farmers for on-farm GHGs, where SFF directors and executives cuddle up to the PM on overseas trips and back her government's farm emissions plans.
The question is, where do Beetham's loyalties lie - with Feds or SFF?
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
New Zealand's red meat and fifth-quarter exports reached $867 million in August, up 23% on the same month last year, as stronger returns lifted earnings across all major markets.
State farmer Pāmu is bracing for a $30 million hit from soaring farm input costs this financial year.
Flat pricing in the face of significant increases in costs is the greatest problem facing the arable sector, says Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) chief executive Dr Scott Champion.
Entries opened on Monday, 5 October 2026 for the 2027 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA), which organisers describe as the nation's biggest celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
