Media Release

FREEPHONE 0800 327 646 I WEBSITE WWW.FEDFARM.ORG.NZ 

27 September 2013

New Federated Farmers president for North Canterbury

Federated Farmers North Canterbury has selected dryland sheep and beef farmer Lynda Murchison as their new provincial president.

“Neil has been a dedicated and committed president working hard for farmers and farming in Canterbury through some challenging times.  I thank Neil for his service since 2010 and for his unequivocal support of me taking on this role,” says Lynda Murchison, Federated Farmers North Canterbury provincial president.

“Another change has seen Grain and Seed Chairman Murray Rowlands opt to swap his Federated Farmers hat to focus on arable farming.

“Murray was inspirational during the 2010 Canterbury earthquake and worked tirelessly to help growers recover grain from toppled silos.  He is a talented and enthusiastic farmer who will undoubtedly pursue his new interests with the same commitment and vigour.  We hope to see Murray back at the Federated Farmers table in the future.

“I am also pleased to say we have a new team in place for North Canterbury. 

“My senior vice-president is dairy spokesperson, Vaughan Beazer, while Oxford dairy farmer Grant Evans has been elected as the junior vice-president.

“Federated Farmers ensures farmer’s interests are represented across a myriad of central and local government decision-making; as well as providing assistance to members on anything from adverse events to employment law.

“I joined the executive of Federated Farmers to advocate for improved outcomes for farming; including opportunities for red meat and wool.  My passion is sustainable agriculture.

“Farmers tend to hide their environmental lights under their bushels and tolerate, at times, some unfair wraps.

“Now, more than ever, farmers need to be committed to sustainable farming practices and be brave enough to lead the management of land and water for the benefit of whole the community.

“As we are one community, the tremendous response we had from Christchurch folk after the recent windstorm clearly demonstrates that people remembered the Farmy Army's help from 2011.

“While we had to turn down many offers of help due to OSH requirements, especially where trees were concerned, their response showed how much they wanted to reciprocate,” Lynda Murchison concluded.

About Lynda Murchison
Lynda Murchison farms in partnership with her husband Jock Murchison on a dry land sheep and beef farm in the Weka Pass, North Canterbury. They have been in the area since 2005 and hail from Lake Coleridge, where the Murchison family has farmed since 1878.  She has also worked in resource management in Canterbury for 18 years, for both district councils the Regional Council, and Ngāi Tahu.  She now runs her own consultancy and lectures part-time at the University of Canterbury in resource and environmental management.  Lynda has also taken up the Roper Scholarship to study for a PhD looking at environmental ethics in New Zealand farming.

ENDS

© Scoop Media