Third Candidate Confirmed for Feds President Election
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.
Woolerton, current Feds provincial vice-president and North Waikato branch chair, takes over from Phil Sherwood, who is giving up the post after one year in the role.
Dairy News understands that Sherwood is relocating to Taranaki. He remains a Federated Farmers member.
Woolerton farms in Taupiri on 370ha including a runoff. The family-owned business runs two herds, one with 380 cows and the other with 480 cows.
He represented Waikato District Council's rural Hukanui-Waerenga Ward from 2019 until 2022, before the ward was disestablished due to council boundary changes.
The farms have a contract milker who has five staff and this gives Woolerton time for his Federated Farmers work.
Woolerton will be confirmed in the top role at the Federated Farmers Waikato provincial annual meeting next Thursday.
Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today congratulated the winners of the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards at Fieldays.
The Government has announced $60,000 to provide one-off grants of $1,000 to each of the 60 New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) clubs across the country.
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.