Green light for acquisition
The merger of two of the country’s largest animal nutrition companies won’t lessen competition, the Commerce Commission has ruled.
Rural service provider Farmlands has become a major sponsor of the National Fieldays.
It will support key events such as Rural Bachelor of the Year, No. 8 Wire and Tractor Pull.
A three-year partnership between the NZ National Fieldays Society and Farmlands Cooperative Society was announced recently at the annual Farmlands Supplier Awards evening at Lincoln University in Christchurch.
Farmlands brands NRM, McMillan and Gulf Oil are sponsors of other Fieldays Society events – Equidays (October) and The Transport and Heavy Equipment Expo to be held March 2-4.
“We are delighted at this partnership with Farmlands, and the opportunity it presents,” said NZ National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation.
“Farmlands’ brand is well known and trusted by farmers and people working in the primary industry. The Fieldays Society and Farmlands have similar values and passion for innovation and positive change in farming.”
The Fieldays Society was founded in 1968 and will mark its 50th anniversary in 2018.
Farmlands is NZ’s largest farmer owner co-op; it was set up in 1963. It is a top-20 company with a turnover exceeding $2 billion annually.
Farmlands chief executive Peter Reidie says the partnership will benefit farmers, whose desire is “to work together for a better deal”.
Economy boost
In 2016 the National Fieldays generated $430 million in economic benefit for the NZ economy.
There were 1462 exhibitor sites and 130,684 visitors during the four-day event. Last year economists valued the Fieldays brand, which is internationally recognised, at $380 million.
The theme for Fieldays 2017 (June 14-17) at the Mystery Creek Events Centre, is ‘leading change’.
Chief executive Peter Nation says the partnership with Farmlands Co-op will help with change.
“Farmlands is a leader in its field and together we hope to assist in providing leadership and innovative thinking to transform the future of primary production in NZ,” says Nation.
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.
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.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
Graham Brown, the executive chef for Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), is excited about Korea.