Latest news with #SouthlandFederatedFarmers
Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Southern farmers recognised
Jason Herrick ... Advocate of the year. Photos: supplied Southern farmers were among those recognised at the Federated Farmers annual meeting last month. Federated Farmers' national awards celebrate farmers who had gone above and beyond for farmers, rural communities, and the wider agricultural sector. Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick was presented the advocate of the year award. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said Mr Herrick had been a standout communicator on behalf of farmers. "When it comes to emerging farming leaders, Jason Herrick is without a doubt one to watch. He's got a huge contribution to make and a big future ahead of him, "Whether it's calling out Fish & Game's antics or pushing back on unworkable, costly new farming rules, Jason's exemplified what Federated Farmers is all about — fighting for farmers. "I've been so impressed with not just his workload and ability to prosecute issues in the media, but also with his personal growth and development as a leader in his community. Sonia Dillon ... Arable advocate of the year. "He's been tenacious and articulate, and he's shown a thick skin. You can't stick your neck out for farmers without copping some heat back, but he's taken it all in his stride." The arable advocate of the year award went to Southland Federated Farmers arable chairwoman Sonia Dillon, who operates a mixed cropping and seed production business. Mrs Dillon had been extremely strong on local advocacy, Mr Langford said. "There are some issues in Southland that are quite specific for that area and she's great at getting them airtime and discussion. "That's particularly true when it comes to transportation and logistics, with Southland being at the bottom of the country. "She's pointed out that if it costs $60 to get something from Christchurch to Southland, how come grain that comes from Canterbury can be cheaper than it's priced in Southland? It's a fair point. The price should be what it costs to buy, plus freight — that's how it should work." Mrs Dillon was also a great asset for the Federated Farmers Arable Council, Mr Langford said. "She's always happy to bring challenging issues to the forefront, so the council can look for solutions." — APL
Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Southern farming advocates recognised
Jason Herrick ... Advocate of the year. Photos: supplied Southern farmers were among those recognised at the Federated Farmers annual meeting last month. Federated Farmers' national awards celebrate farmers who had gone above and beyond for farmers, rural communities, and the wider agricultural sector. Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick was presented the advocate of the year award. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said Mr Herrick had been a standout communicator on behalf of farmers. "When it comes to emerging farming leaders, Jason Herrick is without a doubt one to watch. He's got a huge contribution to make and a big future ahead of him, "Whether it's calling out Fish & Game's antics or pushing back on unworkable, costly new farming rules, Jason's exemplified what Federated Farmers is all about — fighting for farmers. "I've been so impressed with not just his workload and ability to prosecute issues in the media, but also with his personal growth and development as a leader in his community. Sonia Dillon ... Arable advocate of the year. "He's been tenacious and articulate, and he's shown a thick skin. You can't stick your neck out for farmers without copping some heat back, but he's taken it all in his stride." The arable advocate of the year award went to Southland Federated Farmers arable chairwoman Sonia Dillon, who operates a mixed cropping and seed production business. Mrs Dillon had been extremely strong on local advocacy, Mr Langford said. "There are some issues in Southland that are quite specific for that area and she's great at getting them airtime and discussion. "That's particularly true when it comes to transportation and logistics, with Southland being at the bottom of the country. "She's pointed out that if it costs $60 to get something from Christchurch to Southland, how come grain that comes from Canterbury can be cheaper than it's priced in Southland? It's a fair point. The price should be what it costs to buy, plus freight — that's how it should work." Mrs Dillon was also a great asset for the Federated Farmers Arable Council, Mr Langford said. "She's always happy to bring challenging issues to the forefront, so the council can look for solutions." — APL
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Farm forestry ban too late to help: advocate
The farm-to-forest ban passed its first reading last week but a Southland Federated Farmers executive says its too late, the damage has been done and is continuing. Executive member and farmer Dean Rabbidge said since the ban's announcement on December 4, there has been a rush to convert arable land into forests. "If anything, we've only seen an acceleration of it since December 4 with people knowing that this is their last chance," he said. The sheep, beef and dairy farmer said after pulling pines out of his own property he has learned the damage the conifers do to the soil. "It's taking a lot of work to get it back into productive land through fertiliser and seed and stuff," he said. Pine needles themselves are quite toxic, he said, and do not let anything else grow. He said the farms that have been converted into forestry would have had soil that was at the optimum level for animal health and pasture production. "[The soil] has been cared for and looked after for maximum food production values, and now we're just planting it in pine trees," he said. The ban, or Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme — Forestry Conversions) Amendment Bill, will include exemptions. After the first reading, Minister for Agriculture Todd McClay said investors that were able to prove intent to afforest between January 2021 and December 4 would be exempt from the ban. This exemption, which was part of the December 4 announcement, was clarified by the minister. Mr McClay said that the combination of buying land and ordering of trees prior to December 4 would be an example of proof of a qualifying investment. He said each of these actions alone would not. This exemption has been a source of confusion for concerned farmers who have said the grey area of "evidence of intent" opened up a loophole that has been exploited. Mr Rabbidge said the grey area remains and his organisation will continue to hold government ministers to account over this issue. "There's still been some very, very questionable land purchases go on recently under the guise of, hey, we had seedlings ordered — that was their intent to plant," he said. "We're still going to keep the pressure on the government to make sure that all the loopholes are closed." The Wyndham farmer said the rapid conversion is visible to those living rurally, but it will take a while for urban residents to recognise the affect. "It's far too late, but people are finally waking up to the damage that forestry, both production and carbon, is doing to the rural sector," he said. "It's not until the urban areas feel the effects of it that it's going to be far too late."
Otago Daily Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Claim too late for farm-to-forestry ban
Dean Rabbidge. Photo: ODT files The farm-to-forest ban passed its first reading last week but a Southland Federated Farmers executive says it is too late, the damage has been done and is continuing. Executive member and farmer Dean Rabbidge said since the ban's announcement on December 4, there had been a rush to convert arable land into forests. "If anything, we've only seen an acceleration of it since December 4 with people knowing that this is their last chance," he said. The sheep, beef and dairy farmer said after pulling pines out of his own property he had realised the damage the conifers did to the soil. "It's taking a lot of work to get it back into productive land through fertiliser and seed and stuff," he said. Pine needles were quite toxic and did not let anything else grow, he said. The farms that had been converted to forestry would have had soil that was at the optimum level for animal health and pasture production, he said. "[The soil] has been cared for and looked after for maximum food production values, and now we're just planting it in pine trees." The ban, or the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme — Forestry Conversions) Amendment Bill, will include exemptions. After the first reading, Minister for Agriculture Todd McClay said investors who were able to prove intent to afforest between January 2021 and December 4 would be exempt from the ban. This exemption, which was part of the December 4 announcement, was clarified by the minister. Mr McClay said the combination of buying land and ordering of trees prior to December 4 would be an example of proof of a qualifying investment. He said each of these actions alone would not. This exemption has been a source of confusion for concerned farmers, who have said the grey area of "evidence of intent" opened up a loophole that has been exploited. Mr Rabbidge said the grey area remained and his organisation would continue to hold government ministers to account over this issue. "There's still been some very, very questionable land purchases go on recently under the guise of, hey, we had seedlings ordered — that was their intent to plant. "We're still going to keep the pressure on the government to make sure that all the loopholes are closed." The Wyndham farmer said the rapid conversion was visible to those living rurally, but it would take a while for urban residents to recognise the effect. "It's far too late, but people are finally waking up to the damage that forestry, both production and carbon, is doing to the rural sector."
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Five Farmer Advocates Recognised For Outstanding Service
Five grassroots champions for Kiwi farmers have been recognised for their massive contributions to agriculture, winning awards at the Federated Farmers national AGM last week. Each year, the organisation's national awards celebrate farmers who have gone above and beyond for their fellow farmers, rural communities, and the wider agricultural sector. Outgoing Federated Farmers board member Richard McIntyre was presented with the award for Outstanding Contribution - a fitting conclusion to his three-year term as national dairy chair. "Richard has been an absolute titan of farmer advocacy and rural New Zealand is in a better place because of his work," Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says. "He's relentlessly stood up for our members when it counted, pushing hard for a banking inquiry, better immigration settings, and KiwiSaver changes for young farmers. "I don't think there would have been a single week where we didn't see him in the media, fighting hard to change the political landscape for farming families. "There's no fight he hasn't been willing to take on, his work rate has been phenomenal, and most importantly for our members, he's delivered tangible results." The Advocate of the Year award went to Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick, who has been a standout communicator on behalf of farmers. "When it comes to emerging farming leaders, Jason Herrick is without a doubt one to watch. He's got a huge contribution to make and a big future ahead of him," Langford says. "Whether it's calling out Fish & Game's antics or pushing back on unworkable, costly new farming rules, Jason's exemplified what Federated Farmers is all about - fighting for farmers. "I've been so impressed with not just his workload and ability to prosecute issues in the media, but also with his personal growth and development as a leader in his community. "He's been tenacious and articulate, and he's shown a thick skin. You can't stick your neck out for farmers without copping some heat back, but he's taken it all in his stride." James (Jimmy) Emmett, who is contract milking on two farms just outside Geraldine, has been named Dairy Advocate of the Year. "Jimmy has been an incredibly valuable member of our dairy council - he brings strong ideas and opinions, but always contributes in a collaborative, respectful way," Langford says. "He's thoughtful and constructive in discussions about the challenges facing the dairy sector, offering practical solutions while genuinely listening to the perspectives of others. "At a local level, as South Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy chair, Jimmy has been such a great advocate for farmers at the grassroots. "He consistently goes out of his way to seek support and advice for those doing it tough and he puts in the work to make a real difference in their lives." This year's Meat & Wool Advocate of the Year is Matt Simpson, a third-generation sheep and beef farmer on a 4100ha high country station in South Canterbury. Langford says Matt, who is South Canterbury Federated Farmers meat & wool co-chair, is a passionate and effective leader in his community. "Matt's been instrumental in the pest management space, especially on wallaby eradication, and has been a driving force in getting better coordination between farmers, landowners, recreational hunters and government. "He's also had a massive amount to do in South Canterbury on the court case around Outstanding National Landscapes (ONLs) being placed over farms. "He and his wife Tory have put in a huge amount of time and effort on mediation, and the positive outcome of that will lay the groundwork for other provinces. "In all of it, Matt's just an absolute champion in his community, where he's deeply respected for being such a pillar among farming families." The Arable Advocate of the Year award went to Southland Federated Farmers arable chair Sonia Dillon, who operates a mixed cropping and seed production business. Langford says Sonia has been extremely strong on local advocacy. "There are some issues in Southland that are quite specific for that area and she's great at getting them airtime and discussion. "That's particularly true when it comes to transportation and logistics, with Southland being at the bottom of the country. "She's pointed out that if it costs $60 to get something from Christchurch to Southland, how come grain that comes from Canterbury can be cheaper than it's priced in Southland? It's a fair point. The price should be what it costs to buy, plus freight - that's how it should work." Sonia is also a great asset for the Federated Farmers Arable Council, Langford says. "She's always happy to bring challenging issues to the forefront, so the council can look for solutions."
