Why Fonterra accepted defeat in the dairy aisle
OPINION: Fonterra's sale of its consumer dairy business to Lactalis is a clear sign of the co-operative’s failure to compete in the branded consumer market.
Fonterra is launching a new quality assurance and recognition scheme for its farmers.
The scheme, to be launched in the 2019-20 season starting June next year, will be branded; global customers and the New Zealand public will see the branding on Fonterra products.
Fonterra chairman John Monaghan told the co-op annual general meeting in Lichfield yesterday that the scheme will bring together existing milk quality, animal welfare and environmental requirements under a single programme.
While farmers with good management practices will be rewarded, those not meeting the minimum standard will incur demerit points.
From next week Farm Source team will be asking farmers about the types of recognition and rewards they would prefer under the proposed scheme.
The programme may include financial incentives for farmers, says Monaghan.
“Once that commercial value is better understood, we will decide whether to expand the programme to include financial incentives,” Monaghan says.
“Either way, there will still be demerits for the small minority of our farmers who do not meet our minimum standards from time to time.”
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
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