Feds elect new dairy chairman

The Federation's dairy council also elected Waikato's Chris Lewis to be one of two vice-chairmen, joining Kevin Robinson who was reconfirmed in that role.

"I am stoked dairy farmers have placed their faith in me," says Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers new dairy chairperson.

"Willy (Leferink) has been a great leader and it is comforting to know he's just at the end of the telephone," he says.

"The challenges and arguments about dairy have grabbed the headlines but this has masked many of the good things dairy farmers are doing.

"When I first became a dairy chairperson in Manawatu-Rangitikei, non-compliance was running at 16% but today it's 3%."

"Federated Farmers worked closely with Horizons Regional Council and despite what may have blown up in the media from time to time, they have a good relationship now, he says.

"To me, building that relationship is a template for how we should roll in other regions. My philosophy as a farmer and a leader is to be proactive and not reactive.

"We've also got a bloody good environmental story to tell and I am so keen to get it told," Hoggard says.

Hoggard farms 560 cows near Feilding across 300ha and has two children aged five and three with his wife Audra. His farm is on the banks of the Oroua River and his family draws their drinking water from that river too.

Hoggard believes in precision agriculture and is applying technology to his farming operation. Thanks to a recent Vodafone upgrade in Kimbolton, he now enjoys cellular coverage across most of his farm.