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Rangitikei hill country farmer Andrew Stewart has been elected the Western North Island farmer director.
Sitting Beef + Lamb NZ farmer director Scott Gower has been voted out by farmers.
The results of voting for the Western North Island electorate show Rangitikei hill country farmer Andrew Stewart getting 4233 weighted votes to Gower’s 3502 weighted votes – a winning margin of 731.
Stewart joins the B+LNZ board at its annual meeting in Rotorua next week.
B+LNZ board chair Kate Acland congratulated Stewart and thanked Gower for his work as the incumbent director.
“I know Andrew will bring new thinking and fresh ideas, along with a determination to be future-focused and I look forward to working with him on the board,” says Acland.
Turnout for this director election was just short of 13%, which is on par with other comparable organisations, says Acland.
“This was pleasing given it was the first year of moving to online- only voting. I really encourage farmers to get involved and have their say via the voting process whenever they have the opportunity” Acland says.
Gower will be formally farewelled after the annual meeting.
Acland thanked Gower for his six years of service.
“Scott has made a fantastic contribution during his time as director bringing a large-scale, grassroots hill country farming perspective to the board table. As chair of the people & culture committee he played an important role in the refresh of B+LNZ’s strategy and the appointment of our new CEO. I wish him all the very best for his next endeavours.”
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.
Efficiency is the big one because it tracks back into what is done on farm.
A four year trial has reaffirmed that mixing plantain into dairy pastures can help reduce nitrogen losses to freshwater while maintaining milk production and profitability, say researchers.
Fonterra has opened its upgraded Chengdu Application Centre, bringing New Zealand dairy expertise closer to customers in one of China's fastest-growing regions.

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