New Federated Farmers meat and wool chair praises predecessor
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
No Federated Farmers conference would be complete without the injection of a little politics.
This year, the theme of politics and trade was picked up by the leaders of the Labour and National Party, who were the first two speakers at the two-day conference.
If you were expecting a vigorous or rowdy debate you would have been disappointed; the perceived battle between Hipkins and Luxon was a bit of a fizzer.
Only Labour and National leaders were invited to speak. The potential coalition partners and the gaggle of political nobodies were left off the programme. To have ACT there might have been something of an embarrassment anyway given former president Andrew Hoggard's defection to ACT.
Hipkins noted that many rural people were hurting for a variety of reasons, including adverse weather events.
He said he recognises their frustrations and acknowledged that his government had not always got things right. However, Hipkins said NZ still had to move fast to respnd to signals from our export markets that sustainability and climate change are profoundly changing consumer behaviour.
He talked mainly trade and the success of his recent China trade mission, and the importance of trade agreements to NZ. He promised to make trade a priority and said he'd like to lead more trade missions.
Meanwhile, Luxon's pitch was one that he's given at just about every farmer meeting he's attended in recent times and there was no sign of any policy initiatives in the wind. Maybe a missed opportunity in not having something big to announce to a largely sympathetic audience.
However, his message about cutting red tape, dropping the ute tax and stopping Wellington running rural NZ certainly resonated with farmers.
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
Sheep and beef farmers Matt and Kristin Churchward say using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread fertiliser on their sprawling 630ha farm is a game changer for their business.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…