Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
The announcement came today after a meeting between New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay and Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Managing Director of Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka Sunil Sethi says Sri Lanka is one of Fonterra’s most important markets. Anchor was introduced to the market over 40 years ago and we’ve been collecting milk from Sri Lankan dairy farmers since 1997.
“We are also working hard to develop the local Sri Lankan dairy industry. We have a major investment programme underway to help use our generations of dairy farming expertise to grow the local dairy industry that will uplift local farming communities and support the growth of our fresh milk products, which is a growing category. We see strong potential for further growth in trade from NZ, in local production and investment opportunities.
“We are pleased with the continued positive relationship we have here in Sri Lanka and would see an FTA as a logical extension of this relationship.”
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
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.