FEBRUARY 18, 2025
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Two years after Cyclone Gabrielle’s wrath struck the North Island, recovery remains patchy across the most affected regions with many farmers and growers still grappling with land and crop losses.
In Gisborne kiwifruit grower Tim Tietjen said he was thankful to be having what he would call an ‘average’ season this year, after two very tough years he was still recovering from.
He said the last two years have been a big focus on minimising costs and doing as much as he can himself.
What’s leading theonconversation the front page of WeeklyFarmers this
“I’ve been a long-time subscriber to the Waikato Times, now with very little local news and plastered with pages of Harvey Norman advertising. My other local paper, the Te Awamutu Courier, has after 70 years found it too difficult to print due to financial pressure along with many others around the country.
I appeal to readers of the Farmers Weekly, which has excellent reporters like Barber, Piddock and Emerson just to name a few, to stump up and pay the voluntary subscription.
I found it extremely disappointing to find only 128 people at the time of the February 3 paper had put their hand in their pocket. Come on people, we don’t want to lose this informative magazine as well.”
Murray Jess – Waikato Ex dairy, drystock farmer and livestock buyer
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What our audience are telling us this week
The latest Farmers Weekly Poll asked readers their thoughts on NZ’s 2035 emissions reduction target of 51-55%. Most thought the target was unrealistic. Here’s some of the reader feedback.
It will destroy New Zealand agriculture, yet other countries don’t give a stuff about emissions
We should never have been committed to such high levels by the previous government and this government should have reduced our targets, not ratchet them even higher.
We need to remove our targets and seriously consider exiting the Paris Accord. We produce the best quality, lowest emissions food on the planet. To compromise that would be a disaster.
Vote in this week’s poll.
Do you back NZ First’s Member’s Bill that would make it illegal for banks to refuse services based on environmental concerns?
Vote on the Farmers Weekly Poll here.
February 15 marked National Lamb Day, so this week Bryan talks with Ag Proud co-ordinator Jon Pemberton about what was in store for the big day, and why celebrating the first shipment of meat from NZ is a big deal.
Also on the Farmers Weekly podcast this week
Analyst's perspective | Market Insights with Suz Bremner Feds Focus | Seven ways to reform local government News Wrap | What’s the beef with the banks?
The Final Word | Bryan’s perspective this week
That is the main key we want people to celebrate, is this is the celebration of
New Zealand as a nation.
– Jon Pemberton Ag Proud Co-ordinator Episode: Marking the day of the lamb, 14 February 2025
ofShowcase effective communication or marketing
It’s been two years since Seed Force rebranded to RAGT in New Zealand, bringing with it a cast of new
It’s the credible paper. Farmers Weekly is the go-to one that you have to read
Reon Verry Provincial Meat and Wool Chair, Waikato
What content is coming up in Farmers Weekly or on farmersweekly.co.nz
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
Journalist Annette Scott is attending a seminar on `Supporting the Wellbeing of Future Farmers’ being presented by Massey and Lincoln Universities.
Presented by Dr Nicky Stanley-Clarke and Dr Chris Andrews (Massey University) and held at Lincoln, this seminar will provide a summary of what the research team have learned about young farmer wellbeing.
For more on farmer wellbeing in the meantime, you can explore Farmers Weekly’s partnership with Farmstrong.
FEBRUARY
We know securing great media placements is all about planning. Get in touch with your Partnership Manager to secure one of these spots before they’re gone.
What’s
hot, and what’s not in rural media here overseasand
Country Calendar aired its first episode of the year on Sunday night, marking 15 years of partnership between the kiwi TV staple and its naming rights sponsor Hyundai. There wouldn’t be many, if any, client/media partnerships in rural New Zealand that can boast that type of tenure. Well done to both of them. If you like Country Calendar you should check out our On Farm Story series, which unlike Country Calendar, is available to sponsor!
FMG are on fire with their marketing at the moment, from awesome National Lamb Day advertising to catchy digital campaigns like ‘do you support hort?’. But their collaboration with Farmers Weekly contributor Olivia Caldwell takes the cake. Or in this case the lamb. To draw the link between the close dates of Valentines Day and National Lamb Day FMG commissioned Olivia to produce this entertaining video. Second date please Olivia and FMG?
