Go woke!
OPINION: The Hound reckons the powers at Landcorp (or as they/them like to call themselves, Pāmu) are coming under the microscope with the new government in place.
Landcorp became a state-owned enterprise in 1987 as part of the fourth Labour Government’s massive economic transformation.
Before that, the Department of Lands and Survey managed Crown land left over from the post-WWII ballot scheme for ex-servicemen.
This new proposal has a similar goal, although in 1946 not all men who got land had farming experience; they relied on help from nearby farmers and the Department of Agriculture.
Today, Landcorp, according to its website, owns 140 farms – mostly well run and modern, using modern technology to maximise efficiency and production. It runs 1.5 million stock units.
On 59 dairy farms it runs 55,000 cows producing about 20m kilograms of milk solids. Many farms are in clusters in the central North Island, Manawatu and the West Coast.
It runs large sheep and beef, and deer, farms and a breeding operation. Recently it launched a large scale sheep milking farm near Taupo, a joint venture with a private sector partner.
It has its own brand, Pamu, under which it markets high value products.
Landcorp has already sold some farms, and the news of the new ballot proposal seems in line with these recent sales – with the twist that its farms would be sold to young people.
Landcorp staff are thought likely to see the new scheme as their opportunity to own farms, given their qualifications, knowledge and experience. But it seems unlikely that any ‘flagship’ Landcorp operations and farms would be touched as some involve joint ventures and other commitments.
Previous calls to sell Landcorp prompted Prime Minister Bill English to say within the last year that, while Landcorp is a poor investment, the Government has no plans to sell it.
'A lot of interest and positive responses' appears to be the way farmers are viewing the Government's initiative to hold a series of woolshed meetings around the country.
A Southland farming leader wants the regional council to delay a proposed regional rates hike, much of which is intended to fund flood protection works.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says access to personal banking services in rural communities is fundamental to promoting outcomes that benefit Kiwi consumers.
A group set up to boost education and promotion of wool says it has made positive strides during the first year of its three-year strategy.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods says despite a challenging business environment, it has posted a net profit before tax of $61 million for 2023.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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