Calving Monday 25th July 2011 at 8.30pm

Calving Monday 25th July 2011 at 8.30pm

This week, TOWER Sector Report host John Stewart meets the new man heading up Federated Farmers, President Bruce Wills.

Wills was elected as the 28th President of Federated Farmers on 1 July 2011.

Although he spent his childhood exploring the paddocks of the family farm, he entered the cutand- thrust of the big city finance industry as an ambitious young man.

Unlike most Federated Farmers office-holders who are life-long farmers, Bruce only returned to the land seven years ago.

A Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer, the farm he runs with his brother Scott, won the rural category at the 2008 Hawke’s Bay Environmental Awards.

He has also placed part of his farm in trees under the care of the Queen Elizabeth II Trust.

Mr Wills was formerly chairperson of Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre.

Whilst he might be in a suit more often, he still intends striking a balance between being a farmer and fulfilling his role as Federated Farmers national president.

Who better to tackle the growing divide between town and country? Or to put more emphasis on sustainable farming and the environment in the Federation’s advocacy work?

Also on the show this week, TOWER Sector Report correspondent Drew Chappell takes a look at how dairy farmers are gearing up for the busiest time of the year, as nearly 4 million new calves head into the supply chain.

Drew speaks to farmers in Matamata about how the recent wet weather across the country could affect rates of disease in newborn calves. He also travels to DairyNZ headquarters to find out first-hand from veterinary scientist Dr Gwyneth Verkerk what farmers need to be doing to best care for their new calves.

“We talk about 5 key areas farmers need to be focusing on.” said Dr Verkerk.

The first and most important one initially is shelter.

“There’s no excuse for inadequate shelter because there are a range of cheap and simple options out there for farmers” she said, “be it temporary or permanent.”

Join the TOWER Sector Report team for all this and more, Monday 25th July 2011 at 8.30pm only on Country99TV.

ENDS