A Year of Delivery for Fonterra
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
Fonterra director Colin Armer has resigned.
In a statement released this morning, the corporate farmer gave no reason for his decision. He was reportedly on a shortlist for the Fonterra chairmanship, which becomes vacant when Henry van der Heyden retires in December. However, last week Fonterra announced John Wilson as the chairman-elect.
Armer says for many years he has been a strong supporter of the New Zealand dairy industry and an advocate for Fonterra's important work.
"I will continue to be," he says.
Armer thanked shareholders that have supported him in the past and says he will continue to support the cooperative model in the future.
He says he has nothing but praise for the Fonterra chief executive and the management team. He made no mention of the board.
Armer says he will not be available for further comment.
Recently Armer's company Armer Farms (NI) entered a guilty plea in Tauranga District Court to a charge of unlawful discharge of dairy effluent at a Maketu farm two years ago and was fined $72,000.
Three men have been sentenced in District Courts after Ministry for Primary Industries prosecutions over animal welfare, food safety and cattle tracing offences.
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
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Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.
Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.
When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.