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OPINION: The Hound reckons former Fed Farmers president Andrew Hoggard's move to stand for the Act Party at this year's election had to have been the worst kept secret in NZ agri-circles.
Hoggard follows in the footsteps of two other former Feds presidents, Owen Jennings and Don Nicolson, both of whom hitched their political colours to Act.
Hoggard will be hoping he emulates Jennings who managed to get a high enough list ranking to get into parliament, rather than Nicholson who missed out each time he stood.
Meanwhile, your old mate had to laugh at much of the commentary - mainly from beltway politicos - who claim securing Hoggard means all farmers will now vote Act instead of National.
If you take a look at the confirmed National candidates standing this election at least a dozen are farmers, compared to Act's two.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for "The Twelve Pests of Christmas" in an effort to highlight the most troublesome farm pests.
The biggest reform of local government in more than 35 years is underway.
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Keep focused on things that can be controlled on farm.
Fonterra's 2025/26 financial year is off to a strong start, with a first quarter group profit after tax of $278 million- up $15m on the previous year.
Government plans to get rid of regional councillors shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental problem affecting all of local government - poor governance.
It’s official, lamb will take centre stage on Kiwi Christmas tables this year.
For over 20 years, Whakatane farmer Gerard Van Beek has been attending Fonterra annual general meetings with the same message - it's time to include lactose in the co-op's farmgate milk price model.
Retiring Fonterra director Andy Macfarlane believes the co-operative has made good progress over the past decade but adds that there's still a way to go.
Visiting US climate change expert Dr Will Happer says the idea of reducing cow numbers to greatly reduce methane emissions is crazy.
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