Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Twelve Indonesian farmers chosen as part of a Fonterra scholarship programme in Indonesia visited the cooperative's Te Rapa manufacturing site on Wednesday on the final leg of their 10-week training course in New Zealand.
The training course, run in conjunction with Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, has seen the farmers study animal handling, milking and nutrition during their time here, spending nine weeks in Masterton and one week at Massey University.
Fonterra vice-president of International Farming Ventures Peter Moore says the initiative was designed to educate the farmers so that they can improve farming practices at home and to allow Fonterra to build greater relationships across Indonesia.
"Our brands have been in Indonesia for over 30 years and it is an important export market for Fonterra. The programme has been a great initiative that has allowed us to strengthen our key relationships and build Fonterra's reputation in local communities which is essential for our success in the country," Moore says.
The farmers travel back to Indonesia on Saturday after spending the week with Fonterra visiting Te Rapa, the Fonterra Hamilton offices and the Tip Top factory in Auckland.
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.
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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.
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