Organic dairy co-op files for liquidation
A co-operative touted as New Zealand's only 100% farmer-owned organic milk producer has gone bust.
KPMG's global head of agribusiness is warning NZ companies exporting to Europe to be aware of what could happen if Britain decided to quit the European Union (EU).
Ian Proudfoot, just home from a visit to Ireland, says there was much discussion there about Britain exiting the EU (Brexit). A vote on this is due on June 25 and Proudfoot says the polls are evenly poised -- the vote could go either way.
Other polls show 60% of British farmers want out of the EU, but 88% of economists polled are strongly in favour of Britain staying in.
Proudfoot says even if Britain votes to stay in the EU, its relationship with the other 27 member countries will never be the same. If Britain decides to go it alone there are implications for NZ.
"The message for me was that companies doing business with Europe should start thinking about the implications of Brexit," Proudfoot told Rural News.
"The European market is highly volatile and the risk of that volatility getting greater hasn't gone away yet. If NZ companies have their trading base in Britain, as most do, that could be a significant challenge for them if the UK was no longer part of a free common market."
Proudfoot says if Britain decides to exit the EU it would probably create an opportunity for NZ. Britain would probably look to its old Commonwealth allies such as Canada, Australia and NZ to get a special trading agreement in place. But he believes if Britain exits, NZ would lose the leverage it has with Europe by virtue of its special relationship with Britain.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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