New CEO for meat board
Nick Beeby has been appointed as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Southland farmer and director Tony Cleland has been named OSPRI New Zealand’s new chair.
Cleland takes over the role this month from long-standing board member and interim chair Fenton Wilson.
Wilson steps down from the board after 10 years of service, which has seen him most recently hold the role of interim chair after the resignation of Dr Paul Reynolds last year.
OSPRI chief executive Sam McIvor says the organisation has been fortunate to have had the benefit of Mr Wilson’s knowledge and experience, while transitioning to a new board chair.
"I speak for all farmers and the funders of OSPRI when I say we owe a significant debt of gratitude to Fenton.
"He has made a substantial contribution to the development of the work of OSPRI for more than a decade.
"He’s been fiercely committed to the value of TB freedom for New Zealand and brought a unique knowledge set as a farmer but also as a regional council chair."
Cleland is a well-known figure in New Zealand’s primary sector, as he and his wife have farming and wine industry businesses. Amongst his governance experience, Cleland was a board member of FMG Insurance for 16 years and chair for six years.
"We’re really pleased to have someone with the industry knowledge and respect that Tony has, as our new chair," McIvor says.
"He brings grassroots farmer knowledge and significant governance experience, both critical for OSPRI’s success."
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
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