Wins
Federated Farmers strives to ensure that the business of farming continues to be profitable and that farmers retain control over their assets. It works on a wide range of issues affecting members.
It works hard to ensure that rural people are fairly represented before decision-makers, who increasingly think from an urban perspective.
Recent wins celebrated by Federated Farmers
$27,000 knocked off the emissions bill for each farm
While Federated Farmers strongly opposed the Emissions Trading Scheme, it also worked on the National-led Government to minimise the impact of any ETS upon farmers. This has helped reduce the potential impact on individual farms to $3,000 as opposed to $30,000 an unamended ETS would have meant.
The Global Alliance on emissions research
The Government not only heeded the Federation's call for coordinated international research on agricultural emissions, but championed it, backed by the US, India and Brazil. This is about increasing production off reduced farm inputs while generating fewer emissions.
Waterview and Water Storage
After Federated Farmers lobbied for a review of this $3.2 bullion tunnel project the Government listened. This saw the cost reduced to $1.5 billion. We have run a campaign to get water storage on the agenda and were successful in getting the Prime Minister to publicly support it. We argue that some of the Waterview saving should be invested into water storage.
Getting Transpower to pay
NZIER research, commissioned by Federated Farmers has provided the ammunition to help farmers negotiate from a stronger position when electricity pylons are imposed on their land. The report indicates that farmers are short changed by the present one-off compensation system and should have the option of annual payments. Federated Farmers has also negotiated a "sunset clause" to insert in easement agreements that allows farmers to access annual payments if the system is changed in the future. Pylons should be farmed for their economic value every bit as stock.
$252 million more for rural broadband
Intensive work on the Government saw it lift the broadband budget for 1,075,000 Kiwis from $48 million to $300 million. Work is ongoing to secure a further $200 million to create parity with urban New Zealand.
Diesel tax no more
Federated Farmers was the only lobby to fight against a proposed Diesel Tax and our representations saw the Minister scrap it. A similar result was won with the Regional Fuel Tax, meaning farmers are spared a costly refund process for off-road diesel use.
Keeping Fonterra a cooperative
Federated Farmers played a big role in convincing Fonterra not to list on NZX but to grow as a cooperative instead.
Saving frontline Biosecurity
While Biosecurity New Zealand originally looked to lay off 60 staff, Federation pressure saw six frontline staff retained in Whangarei, Tauranga and Timaru. The Federation strongly opposes cuts to frontline staff and trying to make exporters pay the cost of incursions.
Bigger trucks bigger productivity
The Federation helped win a change to the Land Transport Rules, enabling trucks to carry up to 50 tonne instead of 44 tonne on permitted routes.
Worktime and Logbooks
It's thanks to Federated Farmers that tractors up to 18 tonnes and tractor-trailer combinations up to 25 tonne can be driven on a class 1 license. Other self-propelled agricultural machinery up to 18 tonnes can be driven on a class 1 with a Wheels (W) endorsement. All these Class 1 vehicles are exempted from the work time and logbooks rule.
Brake rule change stops CoF failures
Thanks to Federation efforts, the South Taranaki District Council admitted it had misapplied the law on esplanade strips and reserves. The council agreed it had not fully compensated landowners for surveying costs associated with taking strips and reserves. Federated Farmers is seeking compensation for all affected landowners.
Immigration
Federated Farmers has succeeded in persuading the government to keep Assistant Herd Manager and Assistant Farm Manager on the Immediate Skills Shortage List. More recently we also managed to keep Apiarist on. If a position is on the list, it is an acknowledgement there is a shortage and it reduces the compliance costs of recruiting and retaining employees for these positions from overseas.
Interest Rate Surveys
The information collated form a survey of members has enabled pressure to be placed on banks to lower overdraft interest rates on farmer debt.
Walking tall
Federated Farmers High Country played a massive role in the Outdoor Access Code and National Strategy on Walking Access. Our bottom line was giving the landholder the final say on the terms of access to their land. This also saw Fish & Game lose heavily in the High Court when it challenged walking access.
Agricultural Vehicles Guide
The Agricultural Vehicles Guide is a one stop shop for every transport rule that applies to agricultural vehicles. It explains how to make sure your tractors, harvesters and other farm vehicles are able to be legally operated on the open road. The guide has been sent to all Grains members and is available on our website. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy can do so at www.fedfarm.org.nz or by ringing 0800 FARMING (327 646).
Diesel Fuel Tanks
After lobbying from Federated Farmers, ERMA has agreed to a ‘grandparenting' of the secondary containment requirements for above ground diesel tanks. Above ground diesel tanks constructed or in use before April 2004 will not require secondary containment unless over 2,500 litres (as opposed to the current limit of 2,000 litres). This means that farmers can keep using their old 500 gallon tanks and ERMA estimates that this will save farming and horticultural industries $13 million.
Securing water for farmers
From Canterbury to Tasman district, Federated Farmers is advocating for practical, achievable targets on water. In Canterbury we are seeking more local representation on the bodies that have been proposed to control the region's water. In Tasman District, a unitary area, the proposal also touches on another hot national issue in water management, the allocation to and management of water by Maori.
A quality future for water everywhere
The Regional Councils in Canterbury, the West Coast and Otago Regional Council are all in the early stages of addressing the perceived effects of land use on water quality. Federated Farmers aim is to ensure any debate is based on reliable technical information and that farmers aren't being blamed for pollution that may come from urban and industrial sources.
Wins In Your Area
Targeted Rates Win Save Rotoura Dairy Farmers up to $7,733
For the second time in three years, Rotorua farmers have successfully convinced Environment Bay of Plenty to drops its targeted dairy rate. While the rate has been deferred, each dairy farmer will save, on average, $4912 in 2009 and $7,733 in 2012.
Farmers in Buller District saved $200 permit for every stock road crossing
Federated Farmers submission has saved farmers in Buller a considerable amount of money for stock road crossing with the council revisiting its by-law.
Invercargill city to review rating system
Council has committed to review its rating system after farmers on the southern boundary of Invercargill were hammered by double whammy rates' increases (changes to relative property valuations and the rating differential). The Federation has been on the case ever since and has won the review.
Federated Farmers kills reverse sensitivity in Waikato subdivision
Without Federated Farmers stepping in, farmers around Matamata may have been subject to reverse sensitivity if land was rezoned to allow for 700 new houses.
CoF offsites saved across the country
After intense Federation lobbying CoF offsites have been saved in: Amberley, Clandeboye, Coromandel, Cromwell, D'Urville Island, Geraldine, Hokitika, Linton, Maramarua, Marton, Ngaruawahia, Opotiki, Otematata, Raetihi, Ranfurly, Waiouru, Waiuku and Winton.
Rodney District Council
Federated Farmers pressure saw the Government make a u-turn on its decision to split Rodney District Council in two.
Matamata-Piako District Council
The proposal to rezone land from rural to residential could have ended in a classic case of reverse sensitivity if Federated Farmers hadn't stepped in.
Tourism rates in Tasman Waitaki
District Council and Tasman District Council introduced targeted tourism rates reducing farmers contributions to the funding of tourist related businesses.
Water restrictions in Tasman
Also in Tasman, Federated Farmers is putting its weight behind a proposed increase in the amount of water available for use.
Grey District Council’s 1080 debate
Federated Farmers made strong representations to Grey District Council to ensure that any debate on 1080 is based on reasoned science to battle Bovine TB.
Banks Peninsula and landscape rules
After ten years of battling, Banks Peninsula farmers finally have some closure on landscape rules with costs awarded against Environment Canterbury.
Tax relief for the Chatham’s
Farming on the Chatham Islands is no easy task so the Federation and Inland Revenue came together to develop a significant tax relief package.
Southland’s water charges on hold
Environment Southland's water charges are now on hold and Federated Farmers is working with the council to find a better solution.
