Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Eleven candidates will contest three Fonterra board seats this year.
They are Blue Read, Donna Smit, Eric Ray, Grant Cochrane, Grant Rowan, Jacqueline Rowarth, Jan Marten Kingma, Lachie Cameron, Michael Spaans and the two incumbent directors John Wilson and Nicola Shadbolt.
As in previous years, the candidate assessment panel (CAP) process is available to independently assess the capabilities, experience and qualifications of any and all director candidates to help shareholders make informed votes. CAP is not compulsory for candidates.
The CAP results and candidate profiles will be mailed to Fonterra's eligible shareholders with voting papers on November 26 and will be displayed on Fencepost via www.fonterra.com.
Fonterra shareholders can meet candidates and ask questions at directors' election candidate meetings scheduled for December 3-7.
Shareholders can vote by internet, fax or post. Voting is by the single transferable vote method. Voting is open from 10.30am November 26 to 10.30am December 15.
Results will be announced at the annual meeting on December 17.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.