In 2002 at Country-Wide Publications, discussion of the need for a weekly farming newspaper began.
Three main points were noted: Farming is the single biggest industry in New Zealand, farmers are among the most innovative and progressive business people and need timely, credible and relevant information.
The concept has had to change very little. We launched Farmers Weekly on September 3, 2003. We underestimated how hard it would be to get advertisers to support us and we lost a lot of money at first. But we worked our butts off, turned it around, grew it to number one and sold it to NZX in 2009.
The break from publishing and deadlines was good for a while but media is too exciting, fast and dynamic for us to be spectators. After a two year break, I returned to the game, heading the Fairfax (Stuff) agri-media team.
The last few months have been a roller-coaster. First the news Stuff’s agri division was being sold or closed. Then news of the opportunity to buy the Farmers Weekly from NZX. One door closed and another opened.
So here we are, under the GlobalHQ banner, still in Feilding with the same commitment to the Farmers Weekly’s core values we identified in 2002.
NZ farmers are well served by the media. You’re inundated. You have to filter, not find information. Our role is delivering well-packaged, easy-to-consume and relevant news worth reading.
There was no immediate need to change anything but we have. A new section, On Farm Story, takes you behind the farmgate every week in print and video. Go to farmersweekly.co.nz to view then subscribe to our free email newsletter to get the link so you never miss one.
We also relaunch Dairy Farmer magazine, free to every dairy farmer, every month starting August.
Welcome to GlobalHQ. We’re proud to be back – this time forever.
From day one 1% of the Farmers Weekly and Dairy Farmer revenue will be donated to the Rural Support Trust. Thank you for your support. This week $681.
Dean and Cushla Williamson
