DairyNZ Sets Out Election Priorities for Dairy Farmers
Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.
OPINION: A mate of the Hound reckons if you ever wondered why the current Labour Government seems so far removed from rural and farming interests, one only has to look at the make-up of its supposedly 'rural' caucus.
Apparently, this stellar group of no-names meets every month or so to discuss issues affecting rural and farming NZ.
However, your old mate would have to question just how much this group is in touch with the heartland of the country when it consists of former kindergarten teacher Jo Luxton, past senior public servant Meka Whatiri, former boss of the teachers union Angela Roberts, one-time air hostess and unionist Marja Lubeck, and ex WINZ case manager Terisa Ngobi.
As the Hound's mate opined: "I wonder how all those farmers and rural New Zealanders, who supposedly voted Labour at the last election, feel about their electoral choice's rural representation?"
Good question!
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.

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