‘Red letter day’ for ag sector
Farmers are welcoming the announcement of two new bills to replace the under-fire Resource Management Act.
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."
Canterbury farmer Michelle Pye has been elected to Fonterra’s board for a three-year term.
Farmers are welcoming the announcement of two new bills to replace the under-fire Resource Management Act.
The Government has announced it will immediately roll over all resource consents for two years, with legislation expected to pass under urgency as early as this week.
The New Zealand National Fieldays Society has achieved a major sustainability milestone - reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the target five years early.
Fonterra's 2025/26 financial year is off to a strong start, with a first quarter group profit after tax of $278 million- up $15m on the previous year.
Government plans to get rid of regional councillors shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental problem affecting all of local government - poor governance.

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