Helping heifers grow
Dairy farmers can easily track the performance of their replacement heifers and ensure they reach their genetic potential.
Farmer co-op LIC will hold meetings nationally next month to brief shareholders on its ambitious growth strategy.
The update will include a timeframe for possible capital requirement to deliver on the strategy; the co-op aims to achieve $1 billion in revenue by 2025.
LIC chairman Murray King says the co-op has a strong balance sheet to fund growth.
He ruled out any plans to list the co-op.
“We reaffirm that LIC will remain a co-operative,” he told Dairy News. “That is sacrosanct; a public listing is not on my agenda.”
King and LIC chief executive Wayne McNee will address the nine farmer meetings, allowing the board and management to meet shareholders face-to-face.
“We haven’t done a roadshow for a long time; the last one was in 2008 when genomic was launched. The business strategy is ambitious and we will give farmer shareholders an update of where we are, especially our international business plans.”
In his letter to shareholders, King said the co-op wanted “an early discussion with you, our shareholders, on the service and solutions we have in development, progress with acquisitions which fit our strategy, and funding options for LIC over the next few years”.
“There is no ‘burning issue’. However, we do want to give you this opportunity to join us in discussing the direction of your co-operative in an open session,” he told shareholders.
The roadshow will also include an update on the Minda and Farm Performance Software.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
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.
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.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.