Feds Label New Farmer Group 'Bad News'
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
Federated Farmers' new national president Wayne Langford (right) with new vice president Colin Hurst.
At the end of their conference, Federated Farmers held their AGM and Wayne Langford, the 40-year-old dairy farmer from Golden Bay, was elected as the organisation's new national president.
He says it is a huge honour to be elected to lead Feds, but adds he is already feeling the weight of responsibility that comes with it.
"Federated Farmers are the largest rural advocacy organisation in the country and farmers are looking to us for strong leadership as they try to navigate their way through an increasingly complex world," Langford says.
South Canterbury mixed arable farmer Colin Hurst was elected as vice-president and North Canterbury arable farmer David Birkett joins the board as arable chair. Sandra Faulkner, Mark Hooper, Toby Williams and Richard McIntyre were all re-elcted to the board.
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.

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