Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Fonterra and its former chief financial officer Neil Beaumont mutually agreed to end his employment last month.
The co-op also confirmed that Beaumont's shock departure was not in any way linked to the co-op's financial performance.
He left after just nine months at the co-op, raising shareholder questions.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell told the co-op's annual meeting last week that the terms of Beaumont's exit are confidential.
"While the terms of Neil's exit are confidential, I can confirm that his departure was mutually agreed by both Fonterra and Neil and was not in any way linked to the co-op's financial performance.
"While he was with us Neil created some real momentum in terms of how we set and achieve out goals for 2030, including the Resource Allocation Framework, two additional efficiency metrics and cost reduction targets we have added to our performance framework.
"I am determined that this momentum will continue."
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.