New associate director for state farmer
State farmer Pamu has appointed Ash-Leigh Campbell as an associate director and observer on its board.
Agribusiness leader Warren Parker has been appointed the new chairman of state farmer Pāmu Farms (Landcorp).
Parker is a former chief executive of Scion (NZ Forest Research Institute) and Landcare Research, and was previously chief operating officer of AgResearch.
He chairs the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group and until recently chaired the New Zealand Conservation Authority. He is a director of Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Farmlands Cooperative Society and Genomics Aotearoa.
Parker has a PhD in animal science and was previously a professor of agribusiness and resource management at Massey University, where he spent 18 years in various roles, including supervising the 9000 stock unit Riverside Farm in Wairarapa.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson says Parker is an experienced expert in NZ’s primary industries a senior in science, education, management and most recently in governance. Robertson applauded Parker’s “experience and ability to take over the chair’s role at Landcorp”.
Associate Minister of State Owned Enterprises Shane Jones says Parker’s “experience in a wide range of primary industries will enable him to look at all Landcorp’s work and ensure shareholder value for money from our investment”.
Landcorp is New Zealand’s largest farming business. Its core business is pastoral farming, running 1.5 million stock units – sheep, deer, beef and dairy cattle – on 126 properties totalling 372,115ha under management.
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.
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