Government appoints three new directors to Pāmu board
The Government has appointed three new members to the board of state farmer Landcorp Farming Ltd, trading as Pāmu.
Landcorp Chief executive Steven Carden says its further development of dairy farms in the central North Island is under review.
He says since he became chief executive he’s been aware of the risks dairying poses to Landcorp’s balance sheet.
Landcorp had initially planned to develop 35 dairy farms in the region in partnership with private company Wairakei Pastoral, but has so far done only 13. Contrary to popular belief, Carden says they are not committed solely to developing dairy farms.
“What we are committed to is developing land for pastoral purposes and it doesn’t have to be dairy,” he told Rural News.
“We are looking broadly at other options such as sheep, beef cropping options and dairy support. We are having an expansive look at what we can do and Wairakei Pastoral is amenable to alternative ideas.”
Carden says Landcorp is committed overall to a long term outlook in its operating environment rather than short term riskier gains. He says the company runs a conservative balance sheet with a low debt-equity ratio.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…