Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
IT'S IMPORTANT that Fonterra's recall of a batch of cream is not blown out of proportion, says New Zealand Food & Grocery Council CEO Katherine Rich.
"We need to ensure that we keep this in perspective," she says.
"Food recalls, though always disappointing and disruptive for consumers and for the companies involved, are a fact of life every day all around the world.
"Even though New Zealand has one of the best food production systems in the world, our food companies sometimes have to call product back and they are ready for this.
"It's something every company knows it will probably face from time to time, and it's precisely because of our modern and world-leading food production systems that we are able to pick up these issues and act swiftly.
"Food is a living product, so even with the best production and hygiene systems in the world there will always be irregular instances when food companies have to return product to the factory."
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.