Taupiri Farmer Chris Woolerton Tipped as New Federated Farmers Waikato President
Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.
Federated Farmers have cancelled a meeting of its national council which was scheduled to take place tomorrow and Wednesday in Wellington.
The national council comprises all the organisations provincial presidents plus the members of the governing board.
Feds’ chief executive Graham Smith told Rural News that the building their offices are located in on Wellington’s Featherston Street has been cleared of any structural damage and staff will be allowed to work there tomorrow.
But he says the disruption in Wellington could continue for days and the CBD may not be the safest of places if the high winds predicted for the capital materialise. Smith says the safety of staff and members of the Federation is the top priority.
He says the Federations elected members and staff are deeply involved in trying to get the full picture on the implications of the quake on farming and it would wrong of them to come to Wellington for a meeting. A social event planned in conjunction with the national council meetings has also been cancelled.
Smith says the national council meeting will be re-scheduled for early next year.
Ashleigh Gordon and Leilani Lobb have been named as the two finalists for Dairy Women's Network's (DWN) 2026 Regional Leader of the Year Award.
Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.
North Canterbury farmer Adam Williamson has been appointed DairyNZ's associate director for 2026-27.
Fonterra farmers are set for a multi-billion-dollar payout this week.
The 2026 Holstein Friesian NZ Young Breeders Development Programme is off to a strong start, with this year's intake coming together for their first event on March 18 and 19.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced it will pay a $10 million special dividend to the Crown off the back of a strong outlook for the business and a capital repayment of $9.5 million following Fonterra's consumer business sale.

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