Battle for milk
OPINION: Fonterra may be on the verge of selling its consumer business in New Zealand, but the co-operative is not keen on giving any ground to its competitors in the country.
Fonterra's board is holding a special meeting this afternoon to decide whether TAF (trading among farmers) will go ahead.
Votes cast at eight meeting venues around the country are now being counted. The meeting ended at 1.35pm.
Fonterra chairman Henry van der Heyden says he has convened a special board meeting this afternoon.
"Once the votes are counted and the results are out, the board will decide whether to proceed with TAF," he told the Hamilton meeting.
Van der Heyden says he will email shareholders on the board decision before holding a media conference.
He has asked for "a clear mandate" from shareholders.
Meanwhile Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Willy Leferink is urging shareholders to respect the board's decision.
"I urge shareholders to show respect to whatever decision the board makes this afternoon," he told farmers from the Ashburton meeting.
He thanks the Fonterra board for holding the second vote on TAF.
Northland Field Days patron Ross Newlove remembers the inaugural field days he attended 40 years ago.
Southland farmer Murray Donald has been appointed as chair of Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation focused on reducing harm, injuries and fatalities in the agricultural sector.
National Lamb Day returns this Sunday, 15 February, with Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc calling on Kiwis to fire up their barbecues and celebrate the people and the product that put New Zealand on the world map.
When it comes to arranging the sound system at Northland Field Days, no one does it better than Colin Finlayson.
A 40th Anniversary event to remember.
The Mountain Warrior Shane Cameron is coming back to his roots as key note speaker at the East Coast Farming Expo Property Brokers Evening Muster in February.

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