'Grand Alliance' growing grass-fed beef exports to China
Alliance Group and Grand Farm have signed a strategic co-operation agreement with a focus on delivering more premium New Zealand grass-fed beef to Chinese consumers.
Murray Taggart has been appointed the new chairman of meat processor, Alliance Group Ltd.
He replaces Owen Poole effective from October 1. Poole announced at shareholder meetings of the company in 2012 that it was his intention to retire this year. He is retiring as chairman and as a director on September 30.
Taggart was a farmer-elected director from 2002 to 2007 and was re-elected to the board in 2010. He is a member of the Group's audit and risk committee. Murray is a director of Ballance Agri Nutrients Ltd. He was a Nuffield Scholar in 1996 and a regional recipient of an FMG Rural Excellence Award in 2006.
Murray farms a 457 hectare sheep and cropping unit under irrigation in the Oxford district of North Canterbury.
Poole was the chief executive of Alliance Group from 1995 to 2005 and was appointed to the board as an independent director in 2008. He has been chairman since his appointment to the board.
The board of Alliance Group comprises nine directors, six elected by farmer shareholders and three independent directors appointed for the commercial skills they bring to the board.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.