Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
A number of farmers were forced to dump milk, says Farm Source regional head Charles Fergusson.
The feedback from Fonterra suppliers was that the flooding brought a "really tough" situation for some but others were surprised their farms fared as well as they did, he said.
Worst affected were farms along the Ashburton River.
"We had some challenges earlier on farms on North Canterbury as well, so we had farmers evacuated out of their houses up on Sunday night.
"There were a number of farms out there who we asked to dispose of milk. One of the reasons is that we just weren't happy sending tankers out in those conditions with uncertainty over roads and also the state of the tanker tracks."
Fonterra also had to briefly evacuate the Clandeboye factory when a local creek burst its banks.
Fergusson said a lot of farmers would have wanted to push the season further but they dried off early to beat the weather.
However, Fonterra had a couple of hundred suppliers still milking as well as 60 to 100 true winter milkers.
"I think we our transport team do an incredible job as long as they've got a route to factory so we are working quite closely with the authorities regarding roading to see if we are able to get around."
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.
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