Feds Back National’s 19 Farming National Standards
National’s pledge to introduce 19 new national standards shows the party is serious about getting Wellington out of farming, Federated Farmers says.
Generators are being organised for dairy farmers in the upper South Island so that they could milk cows, says Federated Farmers North Canterbury Dairy chairperson Michael Woodward.
He says farmers north of Culverden have been hit hard by the 7.5 earthquake and aftershocks.
Woodward told Rural News website that many farms were without power; there were also reports of rotary milking platforms damaged.
“We have been told herringbone milking sheds are okay; some rotary platforms were dislodged by the earthquake,” he says.
The biggest problems facing affected farmers are power supply and accessibility to farms.
“We are organising generators from farms in non-affected areas and making arrangements to send them to farmers,” Woodward says.
He says the hardest hit areas include Waiau, where damaged roads and bridges affect accessibility to farms; milk collection will be a problem.
“Road closures mean tankers will be going nowhere near some of the farms.”
Fonterra shareholders can begin voting on Tuesday 20 October in the 2026 Board of Directors’ election, a Co-operative Council election in one Ward, and seven Annual Meeting resolutions.
National’s pledge to introduce 19 new national standards shows the party is serious about getting Wellington out of farming, Federated Farmers says.
The National Party’s policies to make it easier to grow fresh vegetables, secure reliable water and energy and simplify farm planning are practical changes that will give growers the confidence to invest, according to Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ).
Fonterra Co-operative Group chief financial officer Andrew Murray has resigned to take up a role outside the dairy giant.
A major move is about to get underway to improve the quality and viability of dairy beef and cattle in NZ.
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