Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
A new election to appoint a third Fonterra director will be held next year.
Fonterra Shareholders Council chairman Duncan Coull says there’s little point in having the election before the festive season.
He says the council will be contacting shareholders to inform them of the new election date.
He said the Fonterra board could appoint an interim director but noted that rules barred this year’s unsuccessful candidates from being appointed.
The Fonterra board elections failed to produce three winners to fill three vacant board spots.
South Canterbury farmer Leonie Guiney and outgoing Zespri chairman Peter McBride got over the 50% yes vote threshold.
But three candidates missed out- sitting director Ashley Waugh, Jamie Tuuta and John Nicholls.
Guiney and McBride attended their first board meeting today following the co-op’s annual general meeting in Lichfield.
The meeting also paid tribute to the three outgoing directors Nicola Shadbolt, former chairman John Wilson and Waugh.
Wilson, who is recovering from an illness, wasn’t at the AGM.
Fonterra chairman John Monaghan paid tribute to Wilson’s long service to the dairy 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.
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.