LIC semen probe results to be made public
The result of two probes into the supply of bad sire semen to over 1100 LIC farmer customers will be made public next month.
One of New Zealand’s largest dairy farmers- the Van Leeuwen Group- has been placed into receivership.
Calibre Partners, formerly KordaMentha, has been appointed receivers.
In a letter to suppliers, receivers Brendon Gibson, Neale Jackson and Natalie Burrett, says they are now in control of the assets of businesses of the van Leeuwen Group.
They intend to continue running the business, which comprises 10 dairy platforms and four support blocks with 8000ha under management, milking approximately 10,000 cows. It also includes the world’s largest robotic farm.
Owned by Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen, the business was among a number of other farmers around New Zealand who have suffered from the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak, which hit their farms in July 2017.
They were embroiled in a legal battle with Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) in a dispute about compensation. They have already been paid out $6.3 million by MPI, but sought further compensation for professional consultancy fees, bank charges and assorted other costs.
Early last year VGL refinanced its operations under a $140 million deal with Australian-based funds manager, Merricks Capital.
On Wednesday Calibre Partners wrote to the van Leeuwens giving notice that Merricks had appointed them receivers.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.