New Dairy Holdings CEO Backs Self-Contained Model
Running a tight and self-contained ship is the key to the success of the country's largest dairy farmer, says Blair Robinson, the new man at the helm of Dairy Holdings.
Southern Centre Dairies, near Winton, Southland, and its owner Alfons Zeestraten have been charged by MPI.
The farm suspected of being the likely source of the country’s Mycoplasma bovis outbreak is facing charges related to the importation of farm machinery.
It has been revealed that Southern Centre Dairies, near Winton, Southland, and its owner Alfons Zeestraten have been charged by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Animal tracing from all known infections is believed to point to Southern Centre Dairies as the likely epicentre of the M. bovis outbreak. But the charges do not relate to the disease.
Law firm Chapman Tripp said in a statement signed by partner Garth Galloway that it is acting for Southern Centre Dairies.
“We confirm that charges relating to the importation of farm equipment in January 2018 this year have been laid by the Ministry for Primary Industries against the company and Mr Alfons Zeestraten as a director.
“MPI has confirmed the charges do not relate to the recent outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis discovered in New Zealand in July 2017.
“At this stage no further comment will be made while the matter is before the courts.”
A spokesperson for MPI also confirmed that the charges did not relate to M. bovis. “The matter is before the courts and we won’t be making any further comment.”
Stuff has reported that the charges will be called in the Invercargill District Court in November.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.