Local government shake-up 'long overdue' - Feds
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
An aerial view of Southland flooding on Thursday last week. Photo: High Country Helicopters/Facebook.
Organisers behind the Farmy Army, a clean-up group operating in flood-ravaged Southland are calling for volunteers.
The Federated Farmers-led group had over 100 volunteers working across Southland farms yesterday: around the same number will be back on farms today.
So far, the group has helped out on 26 farms in Southland and two in Otago, says Federated Farmers territory managers team leader, Laura Sanford.
“We’ve received a great response so far, but we still need people to stick their hand up to volunteer,” says Sanford.
Sanford encourages anyone who wants to help to get involved.
“The volunteers are a wide mix of demographics, age groups, and skill levels,”
“Community groups, businesses, and urban people from Invercargill have all been helping out.”
Sanford is also urging farmers not to hesitate in asking for help.
“If farmers think they will benefit from an Army on their farm, they should put their hand up... we're urging farmers not to sit on the fence."
Fonterra directors and councillors are in for a pay rise next month.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.

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