Ex feds president a stalwart
Accolades flowed from farmers as James Stewart signed off as president of Federated Farmers’ Manawatu/rangitikei province.
After three years in the job and originally taking over from Andrew Hoggard who went to the national executive as dairy chairman, Stewart has opted against another term. Before that he was the region’s dairy spokesman.
Treasurer Mike Hoggard said Stewart had engaged farming to a wider community to a remarkable extent and made the province even more respected.
Incoming president Richard Morrison, who had been meat and fibre chairman, said Stewart had built strong relationships with countless groups in the region with an interest in farming.
‘‘These relationships take time and energy to foster and all farmers in the region need to take a bow to James and Debbie Stewart for their tireless commitment on our behalf.’’
Dairy sector chairman Mat Hocken said thank you to Stewart.
‘‘He has been a real champion for farmers in the province and really established our reputation across the region and nationally. He has put a huge amount of work and energy into his presidency, but always has time for a chat and a laugh.’’
Federated Farmers executives were in agreement in their reports presented to about 60 people at last Friday’s annual meeting, that it had been a hard year for farmers with a wet spring and summer.
Stewart in his final president’s report said the wet summer had been a bonus for some farmers and, depending on the timing and location of crops and their
The feeling of getting beaten up is hurting, especially with the effort going in. James Stewart
production, had been hard on others.
‘‘As a region, we have been making good progress on the environment front and with the community as a collective with the likes of the Manawatu River leaders forum. And on farms, there has been so much planting, that tree supply is struggling to keep up.’’
He said there had been more scrutiny of the ‘‘spray and pray’’ management technique used to plant crops on hill country.
‘‘Talking to farmers around the province, the feeling of getting beaten up is hurting, especially with the effort going in. The fact is we [as farmers] are singled out despite urban challenges of waste systems [and they are] having a huge impact on water quality as well.
‘‘I just wish the keyboard warriors would come on some of our farms and see the attitude of our farmers and the work we are doing with the environment.’’
Stewart acknowledged the work done by vice-president Fraser Gordon from Taihape and his travel commitment.
He said Gordon had been dealing with some ‘‘pretty tough’’ animal welfare cases.