110,000 visitors!
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
While no official statement has come yet from Fonterra Co-operative Council, Milking It understands that for the first time ever, there are only three candidates for board elections.
And they are sitting directors - chairman Peter McBride, John Nichols and Leonie Guiney - all retiring by rotation and seeking re-election.
With three vacancies and three candidates, an election will still need to take place as rules stipulate that a candidate must get at least 50.01% of the votes to be elected.
But with no one challenging the status quo, it seems farmers shareholders are happy with the direction of their co-op.
This also bodes well for the capital structure revamp, spearheaded by McBride, It will need 75% support from voting farmers at the co-op's AGM next month to pass.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
The 2026 Red Dairy Cow conference will be hosted by New Zealand in March.
While global dairy commodity prices continue to climb in most key exporting countries, the second half of the year is expected to bring increased downside risks.
In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group has dumped its chair Toby Williams.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.