Taupiri Farmer Chris Woolerton Tipped as New Federated Farmers Waikato President
Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.
This old mutt was taken aback by a vitriolic opinion piece penned in a weakly (sic) rural publication late last year by a self-important commentator named Craig Wiggins.
In the piece, Wiggins slammed Fed Farmers for what he claimed was the organisation’s lack of activity in relation to the M.bovis outbreak and accused the national farming lobby of not supporting farmers affected by the disease – especially in the Mid Canterbury region. This attack surprised your old mate, and a little sniffing around by yours truly discovered that Wiggins was once employed by Young Farmers. But he lost his role when former YFC chief executive and current Feds boss Terry Copeland ‘let him go’. Perhaps Wiggins’ anti-Feds stance is a bit of utu on his former boss.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.
Technology and the use of artificial intelligence are increasingly part of life, both on the farm and off it.
Ashleigh Gordon and Leilani Lobb have been named as the two finalists for Dairy Women's Network's (DWN) 2026 Regional Leader of the Year Award.
Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.
North Canterbury farmer Adam Williamson has been appointed DairyNZ's associate director for 2026-27.
Fonterra farmers are set for a multi-billion-dollar payout this week.

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