Farm Safety Improves Through 'Incremental Gain', Says Birkett
Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.
Cavalier Wool Holdings (CWH) is 'disappointed but not surprised'.
Australian owned carpet maker Godfrey Hirst has made the decision to launch another appeal against CWH's proposal to merge its wool scouring operations with NZ Wool Services International (NZWSI).
"There is currently excess wool scouring capacity in New Zealand, this proposal is about consolidating assets and realising efficiencies in order to keep wool processing in the country longer term," it says in a statement.
"We want to avoid what has happened with off-shoring of scouring in Australia and instead create a single, internationally competitive wool processing entity in New Zealand.
"It is disappointing that despite the Commerce Commission ruling in favour of the merger and Godfrey Hirst recently losing an appeal against this in the High Court they have chosen to continue to draw this out and launch yet another appeal." CWH is owned by Cavalier Corporation, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and local private equity firm Direct Capital.
"Under the merger proposal CWH NZ shareholders will have the majority shareholding with 55% of the merged company and Lempriere (international parent owners of NZWSI) 45%. Lempriere will need Commerce Commission approval to increase its shareholding beyond 45%."
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.
When it comes to annual rebates, it's been a long time between drinks for Ravensdown shareholders.
Special courses for secondary school teachers to help excite kids about agriculture and horticulture are now being run at Massey University.

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