increase font size
LIC chief executive Wayne McNee leaves his role later this month.
Departing LIC chief executive Wayne McNee is proud of his contribution to the farmer-owned co-operative.
McNee joined LIC after his role as the first Director General of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). He led the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Fisheries and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
"I wanted to move to the private sector after 18 years in the state sector," he says.
"I wanted to work in the dairy industry as in my view it is the engine room of the New Zealand economy. It was then, it is now, and it will be fore many years to come. While other sectors come and go, the dairy industry leads the way."
McNee steps down later this month satisfied with the contribution he has made to LIC and the contribution the co-op makes to the country's dairy industry.
"LIC has transformed over the last 10 years into a modern, progressive cooperative."
He lists the ongoing investment LIC makes into R&D and the benefits that brings the sector: over 6% of revenue goes to R&D, the highest percentage of any established company in the New Zealand food and fibre sectors.
"Being a co-operative helps LIC have a long-term focus, investing in science, which may not pay back for a decade or may never even pay back - like our research into genomics, low methane emitting cows, and heat tolerant cows."
McNee notes that LIC provides 75% of dairy and beef genetics in the sector.
"That genetic gain is so important," he says.
McNee believes the purpose of genomics in animal evaluation is to predict the future. He says it enables elite young bulls to be used for artificial breeding, effectively fast-tracking genetic gain to breed a more sustainable animal.
"Increasing genetic gain through breeding the best quality heifer calves has become an even more valued aspect of dairy farmers' seasonal focus, and genomics is one of the critical technologies to help farmers breed more productive and climate-friendly cows."
McNee puts down LIC's success to its people, who he says are passionate about serving the dairy sector.
"It is and will always remain a very important part of the New Zealand dairy industry," he says.
New Boss Soon
An announcement on the new chief executive for LIC will be made shortly, says chairman Murray King.
He told the recent LIC annual meeting that the board is progressing with its appointment of a successor to McNee and is in the final stages of selection.
"An announcement will be made shortly but the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic have delayed the progress," he says.
King thanked McNee for his service.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
The first calves of a new crossbred dairy-beef offering are now on the ground at a Pamu (Landcorp) farm near Taupo.
A US-based company developing a vaccine to reduce methane emissions in cattle has received another capital injection from New Zealand’s agriculture sector.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
Going one better than a frustratingly close second place finish at last year's event, the country's top axeman, Jack Jordan of Taumaranui, last weekend won the Stihl Timbersports World Championship individual event in.
Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president Brent Chamberlain says a big development for this year is the Wool Zone, first introduced two years ago as a showplace for everything produced from wool, but now greatly enlarged with its own Wool Marquee and more than 30 trade sites.
Salmonellosis is a serious disease in cattle.
Drench resistance is already hitting farm profits; it's not just a future problem.
Applications are open for Horticulture New Zealand's (HortNZ) 2026 scholarship programme, with 20 funding opportunities available.
OPINION: Your old mate hears some of the farmers involved in the Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) group ten years ago…
OPINION: The Hound reckons the recent stoush about the old Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) expanding its brief – with no…
