Open Country opens butter plant
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
WOMEN WORKING in the dairy industry are being urged to get their nominations in for the 2014 Dairy Woman of the Year award, which closes for entry on November 15, 2013.
Sponsored by Fonterra, the prestigious award includes the chance to attend the year-long Women in Leadership programme valued at $25,000 and delivered by Global Women.
Dairy Women's Network executive chair Michelle Wilson says the Dairy Woman of the Year award celebrates and advances women who are making a real difference in the dairy industry, in their dairying businesses and in their communities.
"So many dairying women are the pillars of their communities. They are extraordinarily passionate farmers, pushing not only their own boundaries but those of the industry, continuously looking for ways we can all benefit. We want to hear about these women.
"If you're a colleague, friend, husband or business partner, find out how to nominate these women for this nationally recognised award before entries close on November 15."
Past winners of the award include DairyNZ director and Taranaki dairy farm owner Barbara Kuriger and BEL Group business manager Justine Kidd from Waipukurau.
The Dairy Woman of the Year will be announced at a gala dinner at the Dairy Women's Network annual conference on March 20, 2014 in Hamilton. Full information and nomination forms can be downloaded at the Dairy Women's Network website: www.dwn.co.nz .
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.

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