Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Fonterra Cooperative Ltd says its chief financial officer Jonathan Mason will retire in the next six months and has started an international search to replace him.
Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says Jonathan Mason had always indicated Fonterra would be his last full time role.
"Jonathan joined Fonterra in the midst of the global financial crisis in 2009 and, under his leadership, ensured the cooperative's financial position was strengthened through those difficult times," says Spierings.
"Jonathan has also played a leading role in the launch of Trading Among Farmers, which has significantly improved the cooperative's capital structure.
"Jonathan will leave Fonterra in a much stronger position and we are grateful to him for this contribution."
Spierings says Mason has agreed to support the cooperative through to the end of the financial year while Fonterra identified a successor.
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.