A rollercoaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Dairy Women's Network trustee and Waikato dairy farmer Pamela Storey is standing for the Waikato Regional Council.
After many executive and governance roles this is her first venture into politics.
Originally from the United States, Storey accepted a blind date with a Kiwi dairy farmer and migrated here in 1996, entering the dairy industry.
On farm she has mainly been in a support and strategic management role, while pursuing her own career.
Her husband Ian is a fourth generation dairy farmer and they own and operate a 480 cow farm in Te Hoe, north Waikato, farming there since 2001 and merging three farms into one operation.
Their focus is on breeding high BW animals and developing an adaptive approach to farming systems.
Embracing the changing societal expectations of modern farming is the key issue the sector faces, Storey says.
“Maintaining our social licence to farm is imperative to our industry and individual businesses. We must adapt and respond to the demands of our communities and markets.”
We need effective dialogue and engagement on future ways of food production, she says.
She believes in community led change, and has led and participated in such initiatives for 10 years.
“With my many years working in and with organisations on water, soil, air, biodiversity and economic development, the Waikato Regional Council is an ideal place for me to apply my unique mix of skills and experience to local government and our community.”
Storey has a bachelor degree in electrical engineering from Washington State University and more recently an MBA from a UK. She has long worked in energy, renewable generation, energy efficiency and environmental organisations, with 18 years in governance roles.
She has been a board member of Access HomeHealth, Go Eco, Council for Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership, and most recently Primary ITO.
She was a finalist in the 2017 New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
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