Federated Farmers: Feds reach out to Young Farmers

Among those elected at the Feds' Taranaki AGM in April are, from left, Matthew Herbert, James Lawn and Nick Brown with Jessie Waite.

Federated Farmers is bringing in a special membership deal for members of New Zealand Young Farmers, with a strong belief that it will bring benefits for both sides.

"The long and the short of it is that a Federated Farmers membership allows Young Farmers to have input in an organisation that has real sway on the rules, policies and grand promises that council and government politicians make - the very things they're going to have to live with as a future farm owner," Feds membership manager Lyndel Stone says.

Usually this would cost Young Farmer members the $460 price tag paid by farm workers, managers, rural professionals and small farm contract milkers.

But in a new deal to be launched at the National Fieldays in Mystery Creek, NZ Young Farmer members will be able to sign on with the Feds for $150.

"Federated Farmers has a huge network of farmers and rural leaders. The opportunities to network within your industry at local and national levels is a huge benefit for Young Farmer individuals and clubs," Lyndel says.

Individuals get access to a network of farmers to expand their career options through word of mouth opportunities, referrals and Federated Farmer meetings and social events.

At club level there are opportunities to promote the stack covering, hay collecting and other fundraisers to a variety of farm business owners who previously wouldn't have had a connection to the local Young Farmers club.

"By being a member now and in the future, you build up to being able to stand for leadership positions at the provincial level as chair or vice chairperson for sharemilkers, dairy, and drystock industry groups, and to apply for positions within the national council.

These positions allow you to become a spokesperson for your industry, influencing change and having the voice of the next farm generation heard," Lyndel says.
Heavily-discounted governance training and leadership courses are available to members, and they can start young farmers along the pathway to more governance opportunities outside of Federated Farmers, from the school board to the board room of Fonterra.

"Membership comes with the right to call to our legal hotline team - 'phone a friend' ability if you feel like something isn't quite right legally with your employment contract or to discuss a clause that you aren't quite sure on in your milking contract.

"You have unlimited access to your local industry chairpeople and policy advisers regionally and nationally.

You also have access to the remuneration survey, to check out what you are earning against the average, and the members only section of the website which includes policy factsheets and a new Health & Safety forum that will facilitate farmer-led discussion on H&S issues."

The special deal recognises there are also benefits for Federated Farmers with an influx of new blood from NZ Young Farmers. Latest data from Statistics NZ shows the average age of farmers increased 2.6 years to 51.4 between the 2006 and 2013 censuses (beef farmers average age 56.1; deer 55.8; dairy 41.7; mixed cropping farmers 49.1). The agri-business sector - and Federated Farmers - welcomes talented younger farmers.

As Federated Farmers chief executive Graham Smith told the Taranaki AGM in April, a longer term challenge of the organisation is that 20 per cent of current members have been with us for 20 years of more, "and it's fair to say that many of those members won't be in the industry in 10 years' time.