Court rejects Greenpeace's attempt to block green hydrogen project
An attempt by Greenpeace to block the consent of a green hydrogen project involving fertiliser co-operative Ballance has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
Former Fonterra Shareholders Council chairman Duncan Coull has taken over as chairman of fertiliser co-op Balance.
The Otorohanga farmer replaced David Peacock who retired at last month’s annual general meeting after fifteen years as a director and seven as chair.
“David’s farmer focus, willingness to take risks, and commercial acumen will be missed,” says Coull. “Ballance has a strong legacy of good leadership throughout the organisation. As a board we are aware of our responsibility to ensure this continues.
“I’m very passionate about the role co-ops have and can play in securing the future success of the primary sector.”
He says the cooperative has a history of investing in innovation backed by science, which will help farmers and growers navigate the changes ahead and continue to thrive and succeed on a global stage.
“We are cautiously optimistic about the foreseeable future. While it’s important to reflect on the huge amount we have achieved over the previous year, it’s even more important that we look forward together and focus on the challenges and successes for FY21 and beyond,” says Coull.
Also at the AGM, Ballance shareholders voted to amend the cooperative’s constitution to allow all shareholders to be able to vote for any vacant ward position regardless of where their principal residence is.
This is in line with further provisions that have been previously modified to remove outdated references to legislation and bring the constitution in line with current market practice.
The constitutional change is effective immediately and will apply to the next board elections and AGM.
Meanwhile King Country sheep and beef farmer Dani Darke beat five other candidates for the North Ward seat on the board.
Beef+Lamb NZ chairman Andrew Morrison was also re-elected uncontested for the South Island Ward.
There are nine Ballance directors, three independently appointed and six elected from North and South Island wards.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.