Federated Farmers

"I'm still a sheep and cattle farmer from Napier. That will remain".

Federated Farmers national president Don Nicolson has accused Labour MP David Parker of a "spiteful attack" on farming, as Labour seeks more examples of where "unfair tax rules confer special privileges" on the sector.

Bringing agriculture into the emissions trading scheme in 2013, as Labour proposed, would be "economic suicide", Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister David Carter says.

There have been changes in personnel at Federated Farmers branches across the country after recent annual meetings. Sally Rae catches up with newly elected Otago junior vice-president Eloise Neeley and North Otago president Richard Strowger.

There have been changes in personnel at Federated Farmers branches across the country after recent annual meetings. Sally Rae catches up with newly elected North Otago president Richard Strowger, and Otago junior vice-president Eloise Neeley.

Don Nicolson is counting down. His tenure as national president of Federated Farmers will come to an end at the organisation's national conference at Rotorua on June 29 to July 1.

Strong Southern men were told to swallow their pride and reach out for help at the Federated Farmers post-storm meeting in Balclutha.

Two Otago farming leaders, Ross Ewing, provincial president of Federated Farmers North Otago, and Steven Korteweg, acting president of Federated Farmers Otago, ask voters to consider the obligations of our elected representatives, and exercise their responsibility to vote carefully.

Truck drivers say they are sick of being blamed for stock effluent deposited on roads and want the problem stopped at the farm gate.

Farmers may ask the Government to reclassify rabbits as a pest of national importance, with estimates the soaring population could result in a loss of production worth $27 million in five years.

Farmers are calling for all Otago ratepayers to help fund future flood and drainage works on the Taieri.