Rural Mobile Coverage Worse After 3G Shutdown, Survey Finds
Mobile phone coverage and reliability are deteriorating in rural areas, and farming families are bearing the cost, according to a Federated Farmers survey.
The government’s launch this week of a strategy for the future of farming will encourage farmers, says Federated Farmers president Katie Milne.
Read: Dairy, beef sectors welcome sector-wide vision.
She says farmers will continue with the work they are already doing, constantly focusing on improving their farming operations.
It is particularly pleasing to see the focus in the Primary Sector Council’s vision on the need to develop a mindset that embraces science, technology, research and development, Federated Farmers president Katie Milne says.
"I was also pleased to see the focus on infrastructure in here.
"It’s these things that will underpin delivery of the vision at the ground level. While the word sustainability is not used we’ll all identify with the strategy as what we have been working towards - sustainability on all levels - whether it’s our environment, animal welfare, on farm biodiversity, or the financial sustainability of farm businesses and rural communities.
The Primary Sector Council’s vision aligns with the Maori concept of Taiao, which is about having a close bond with the natural world.
"Most farmers can happily identify with this concept, and understand its implications. It’s a good platform to go forward from," Milne says.
"The key will be of course how this new entity will take those it targets with them on this journey."
Entries are now open across eleven regions for the 2027 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA).
Safer Farms is urging farmers to make sure everyone working on farm has safe, suitable footwear for the job.
The Government is backing work on a community-led water storage scheme that could irrigate up to 11,000 more hectares of the Poverty Bay flats, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.
Agri-tech company Herd-i has become a new all-region sponsor of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA), the largest nationwide celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.
Four candidates have been confirmed for two director positions on Fonterra’s board.
Returning to the family dairy farm after playing 20 years of professional rugby around the world is no easy task.

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