As an organisation we need to keep evolving and innovating to ensure, like other businesses, we remain relevant. Innovation doesn’t always need to be big change – just effective. After producing and printing FMG Post ourselves for over 10 years, it’s time to look differently at how we share information with you about how your Mutual is supporting rural New Zealand.
FMG Post’s purpose
As a mutual we’re owned by you, our Members, so it’s important we find ways to keep you up to date on how the business is tracking, how we’re supporting the communities that support us and that we’re providing you with the advice you need to help prevent the unexpected from happening.
Research from FMG’s Client Panel shows that FMG Post is trusted and provides the information and advice you’re looking for
from FMG. Like most things, and with an Owners Mindset, it’s time to think differently on how its produced and delivered.
What’s evolving
In the past, FMG Post cost less than a dollar per copy to produce and send. That is no longer the case. Rising print and postage costs means it’s no longer a good use of Member and client money for us to produce FMG Post ourselves. Knowing that members still appreciate its stories and in hard copy form, we’re teaming up to produce and share FMG Post through another trusted rural
publication, Farmers Weekly.
Benefits
FMG Post becomes cost effective again, it remains a hard copy document that you’ll be able to pull out of the newspaper, it’ll reduce impact on the environment with less paper being produced, and we’ll be supporting a key rural news outlet at a time when media in New Zealand Aotearoa is struggling. Above all, you’ll remain connected with your Mutual and what’s going on.
What you will notice
Our first run with Farmers Weekly will be in July/August. It’ll be in the middle of the paper, and you’ll be able to separate it from the paper if you wish. For those who receive FMG Post via email, this will continue, and we’ll email a copy for those without a rural address (namely, those who don’t receive Farmers Weekly).
Working with Farmers Weekly
We’re excited to be partnering with Farmers Weekly to bring you FMG Post. We’ve worked with the Farmers Weekly team on many topics and issues over the years and see this as a chance to build on that relationship to bring our members – and other readers – the advice and insurance insights we’re known for.
Editor Bryan Gibson explains why this new partnership putting FMG Post at the heart of rural makes good sense.
The key to successful farming is confidence. Confidence to invest, to hire, and to make sound decisions every day of the farming calendar. Confidence that when the worst happens there are others there who have your back. At Farmers Weekly we strive to present the information farmers need to make the right decisions at the right time.
Our readers know we’re shining a light on all of the issues and holding those in power, or those who aren’t playing by the rules, to account. FMG builds confidence in a different, but equally important, way. Our fast-changing world throws us all sorts of challenges. Our climate is changing, our markets evolve and the expectations of everyone with a stake in our environment develops. If disaster hits, you can be confident someone is there to help clean up, rebuild, and refocus.
For the past 20 years Farmers Weekly has been the trusted channel for reaching every farmer, every week. Our news and data teams have stayed true to their values by doing the basics well. It’s news that is free of spin and is farmer focused. Our experienced team of commentators then put that information into context and advocate for the industry they love.
But Farmers Weekly can also be a channel for other trusted partners to reach the farmers who keep our industry humming. So, we’re proud to bring you FMG Post as a part of your Farmers Weekly.
We’ve been a Farmstrong partner for many years and we trust them to work with your best interests in mind. Our news team will continue to do its job, and sometimes FMG may not like what we write. But that’s okay, because with trust comes the ability to have hard conversations, with respect, and come out the other side better for it.
