Canterbury’s George Dodson triumphs in nail-biting Young Farmer contest, new bill aims to restore balance between local and national climate action, and New Zealand shearers triumph at French Championships.

Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather!

Canterbury’s George Dodson triumphs in nail-biting Young Farmer contest

In a thrilling conclusion to the 56th Young Farmer of the Year contest, 23-year-old George Dodson from Canterbury has emerged victorious. The grand final, held in Hamilton, saw Dodson edge out his competitors after three days of intense challenges.

The event, drawing over 500 spectators to Claudelands Oval, tested contestants' skills across a wide range of farming disciplines. Participants faced tasks involving heavy machinery, livestock management, and public speaking, culminating in a final buzzer quiz that proved decisive.

Dodson credits his success to rigorous preparation, including practice sessions with friends and family. He narrowly beat Northern representative Caleb Eady by just three points, with Aorangi's Gareth McKerchar taking third place.

This victory marks Dodson's first attempt at the grand final, demonstrating that youth is no barrier to excellence in agriculture. Along with the prestigious title, he also claimed the Agri-Knowledge award and prizes valued at over $90,000.

Dodson hopes to leverage his win to advance his career, eyeing a share milking position and further developing the Canterbury Young Dairy Farmers Leaders Network he initiated.

New Zealand Young Farmers CEO Lynda Coppersmith praised Dodson's broad knowledge and leadership skills, highlighting the contest's role in showcasing the bright future of the country's food and fibre sector.

New bill aims to restore balance between local and national climate action

ACT MP and Northland dairy farmer Mark Cameron has introduced a member's bill aimed at preventing regional and district councils from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The Resource Management Amendment Bill seeks to reinstate provisions that were in place from 2004 to 2020, limiting local government's role in climate change management.

Cameron says the bill allows farmers and land workers to focus on their core activities without excessive bureaucracy, and its about returning local government to its fundamental responsibilities.

Federated Farmers has voiced support for the proposal. Their RMA reform spokesperson, Mark Hooper, argues that greenhouse gas emissions are a global challenge best addressed at the national level. He highlights potential issues arising from local regulation, citing the Greater Wellington Regional Council's proposed 50% reduction target for all emissions by 2030.

The bill's proponents argue that local emission regulations could lead to unintended consequences. They note that restricting carbon dioxide emissions in one area might simply shift activities elsewhere under the national Emissions Trading Scheme.

Cameron emphasises that effective emissions management requires a coordinated national approach, technological innovation, and international cooperation. He suggests that complex local land use restrictions are not the most efficient way to address climate change.

Federated Farmers views this bill as a sensible policy, reinstating regulations that had bipartisan support for over a decade. They encourage all political parties to back this proposed change, arguing it would create a more coherent and effective approach to emissions management across New Zealand.

As debate on this issue continues, it highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing local decision-making with national climate goals in New Zealand's agricultural sector.

Federated Farmers builds bridges with Labour Party in Waikato meetings

Meanwhile a significant gathering of opposition politicians and agricultural sector leaders took place in Waikato last week, aiming to foster a unified "team ag approach." Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford revealed details of these meetings in the organisation's weekly newsletter to members.

Over two days, Labour MPs engaged with representatives from various farming organisations, including DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb, Groundswell, and Rural Women. The event also included farm visits, allowing for hands-on experience and deeper understanding of rural issues.

Langford explained the rationale behind this unusual collaboration, acknowledging that many farmers found the previous Labour government's tenure challenging. He cited numerous regulations that were perceived as impractical, unfair, or unaffordable, leading to record lows in farmer confidence.

Reflecting on these difficulties, Langford identified a lack of strong relationships and trust between Labour and the farming community as a key factor. This realisation prompted Federated Farmers to invest time in establishing connections, enhancing understanding of farming practices, and building trust with opposition politicians.

While Langford admitted that complete agreement on all issues was not achieved, he emphasised the value of the time spent together. He described the meetings as making "really good progress" towards resolving long-standing issues between the agricultural sector and Labour.

This initiative represents a proactive effort by the farming community to prevent future misunderstandings and ensure their voice is heard across the political spectrum. By fostering open dialogue and shared experiences, both sides aim to create a more collaborative approach to agricultural policy-making.

As New Zealand's agricultural sector continues to face various challenges, this "team ag approach" could pave the way for more balanced and informed decision-making in the future, regardless of which party holds power.

Final call for entries for 2024 Rural Women NZ Business Awards 

The countdown is on for the 2024 Rural Women NZ Business Awards, with entries closing on July 26. This prestigious event celebrates entrepreneurial excellence in rural communities across New Zealand.

This year's awards feature updated categories to reflect the increasing diversity of rural women's initiatives. The categories include Emerging Business for enterprises running 2-5 years and achieving exceptional results, and Love of the Land, recognizing successful use of New Zealand's land and environment.

The Creative at Heart category highlights original art and products made with rural materials, while the Innovation category honours enterprises that challenge the status quo with new ideas. Rural Champion acknowledges outstanding contributors to the rural sector, and Rural Health and Wellness Excellence recognises support for rural community wellbeing. The Experience Rural category celebrates unique rural hospitality and experiences.

A Supreme Award will also be chosen from the category finalists, recognising overall excellence and achievement across all judging criteria.

The awards acknowledge the challenges of creating and running a business in a rural setting, making them a significant platform for recognition and networking. They highlight the vital role of women in New Zealand's rural communities and celebrate their diverse achievements.

Interested rural women entrepreneurs have until 5 pm on Friday, July 26, to submit their entries for the 2024 Rural Women NZ Business Awards. 

New Zealand shearers triumph at French Championships

The Wools of New Zealand Shearing Sports team has achieved its second double victory on their current European tour. Shearers David Buick from Pongaroa and Jack Fagan of Te Kuiti outperformed the French team at the championships held in Martel, southwest France.

This win follows their recent success at the Great Yorkshire Show, where they defeated the English team. The Kiwi duo has now won two out of three tests on their northern tour, which will conclude with a three-test series against Wales later this month.

In the international test, New Zealand scored 114.2 points, beating France's 122.85 points. Fagan, who has a history of success in France, secured individual honours with the best quality points, despite finishing four seconds behind Pierre Grancher in the 20-sheep event.

The open final was a close contest, with Fagan narrowly winning by 1.2 points. He completed his 20 sheep in 13 minutes and 24 seconds, just two seconds ahead of Grancher. Team manager Mark Barrowcliffe credited Fagan's experience with the local sheep as a key factor in their victory.

Fagan, who speaks fluent French, has now won 22 open finals and 63 speed shear events in his career.

As the tour continues, the Kiwi shearers next challenge awaits in Wales, where they'll aim to maintain their impressive form against tough competition.