Government invests $8 million in LIC methane research to reduce dairy emissions
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
LIC chairman Murray King has won the Cooperative Leader of the Year award.
Presented this month in Christchurch at the Cooperative Business NZ Awards 2018, the award recognises strong leadership and commitment to the co-op sector.
King, a Nelson dairy farmer, has a longstanding links with LIC and dairy farming in the upper South Island. He was first elected to LIC’s board in 2009 and has been re-elected twice as chairman since 2012.
LIC says as chairman, King has steered LIC through significant change and disruption in the dairy sector.
His vision and leadership was vital to the success of LIC’s recent business-wide transformation, made to keep the co-op fit for the future. It included simplifying the share structure as fairer for shareholders, and seperating LIC into two businesses.
The transformation has so far brought $60 million in recurring revenue and $30.7m in one-off benefits for the cooperative. LIC’s most recent results showed it had its best-ever annual revenue.
Chief executive Wayne McNee says King has shown exceptional leadership over the past three years, navigating unprecedented disruption in the industry and protecting and growing LIC for the benefit of its 10,500 shareholders.
“As a strong advocate for the co-op model generally, Murray has worked tirelessly to engage and consult with the New Zealand farming community to ensure their voices continue to be heard.”
The award was presented at the Cooperative Business NZ’s annual dinner in Christchurch this month.
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.