Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
Outgoing Federated Farmers leader Karen Williams says she will remain a Federated Farmers member.
She says the farmer lobby is doing an amazing job across nearly 40 policy areas with an increasing number and complexity of issues.
"People don't appreciate just how hard the staff and elected officials work on their behalf or how many submissions we write, hearings we attend and outcomes we influence by just being in the room."
She says Feds is a broad-church of members, and it tries to represent everyone as fairly as it can. But she adds that, like all representative bodies, it can't please all of the people, all of the time.
"But I would ask members, and those people who should be members, to hang in there with us, there is much work to be done."
'A lot of interest and positive responses' appears to be the way farmers are viewing the Government's initiative to hold a series of woolshed meetings around the country.
A Southland farming leader wants the regional council to delay a proposed regional rates hike, much of which is intended to fund flood protection works.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says access to personal banking services in rural communities is fundamental to promoting outcomes that benefit Kiwi consumers.
A group set up to boost education and promotion of wool says it has made positive strides during the first year of its three-year strategy.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods says despite a challenging business environment, it has posted a net profit before tax of $61 million for 2023.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.