Fonterra, Sharesies join to make share trading easier
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
MyFarm director Grant Rowan is considering another tilt at the Fonterra board elections.
Rowan, who missed out last year, told Dairy News he was “seriously considering” standing again.
“I had a reasonable level of support last year; obviously it wasn’t enough to win a board seat and I’m hoping to do better,” he says. “I never made a secret of the fact that I had interest in standing again.”
The key issue he sees for Fonterra is demonstrating “the compelling long-term benefits that flow from remaining a strong and united cooperative”.
Rowan says Fonterra needs to lift its game – perform better and drive better returns to farmers.
He wants the co-op to reward farmers for their commitment. “Farmers understand the reasons to supply milk to and support the co-op; in turn Fonterra must have farmers’ best interests at heart.”
Rowan also wants Fonterra to improve its relationship with farmers.
If elected Rowan says he’ll bring a “commitment to the success of Fonterra and make it the dairy cooperative, milk processor and marketer of choice for all New Zealand dairy farmers”.
“We need to respond to a changing world where competition is increasingly tough. Fonterra board and management need to be on top of their game to deliver the results shareholders deserve.”
Three Fonterra directors -- chairman John Wilson, Blue Read and Nicola Shadbolt -- retire by rotation this year. All are expected to contest the election.
Nominations open next month; all candidates can take part in a roadshow to meet shareholders and answer questions. An assessment panel will interview candidates and present their report to shareholders before the vote.
Voting will take place until Fonterra’s annual meeting in late November; election results will be announced at the meeting.
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.