Editorial: Hunting Policy Misses The Mark
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
This year’s Fieldays will feature a Rural Advocacy Hub - bringing together various rural organisations who are advocating for farmers and championing their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.
The Fieldays Rural Advocacy Hub will be run in partnership with Federated Farmers. It will also serve as a central platform for discussions, announcements and initiatives to amplify the voices and concerns of the country’s farmers and rural communities. Exhibitors will include Federated Farmers, Young Farmers, Groundswell, Rural Women and Future Farmers NZ.
New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation says it’s great to be able to work alongside Federated Farmers to deliver a dedicated advocacy space like this.
“This new Hub delivers on Fieldays purpose of advancing agriculture through both education and collaboration,” Nation says.
“We know it’s incredibly tough out there this year. It’s never been more important for farmers to be heard and to have advocates amplifying their voice.
“Federated Farmers are New Zealand’s leading rural advocacy organisation, so they were a natural fit for us to partner with to bring the Hub to life.
“Fieldays provides the opportunity for connection and collaboration, and this Hub will live those values”.
Federated Farmer president Wayne Langford says the Hub builds on its vision to unite rural advocacy groups as one team supporting farmers.
“Farmers want to see the different advocacy groups who represent them working together constructively to get the best outcomes we can for our rural communities,” Langford says.
“If we work as a team, with everyone playing in the right position, we can achieve a lot more for farmers than any one organisation can working alone.”
“We’ve all got our own positions and roles to play in the team, but we need to be working together and communicating well or we risk knocking the ball on.
“This Hub will bring all of those players together under one roof for the first time and we look forward to continuing to build on the concept in future years”.
Located on site D70, in the Gallagher Building, the Hub is the newest edition to the suite of Fieldays Hubs that are key focus areas for visitors to explore during Fieldays. Other Hubs include the Fieldays Innovation Hub, Fieldays Careers & Education Hub, Fieldays Health & Wellbeing Hub, Fieldays Forestry Hub, Fieldays Digital Futures and the Fieldays Sustainability Hub.
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.
Efficiency is the big one because it tracks back into what is done on farm.
A four year trial has reaffirmed that mixing plantain into dairy pastures can help reduce nitrogen losses to freshwater while maintaining milk production and profitability, say researchers.

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