Wyeth to head Synlait
Former Westland Milk boss Richard Wyeth is taking over as chief executive of Canterbury milk processor Synlait from May 19.
The Hokitika based dairy company, Westland Milk Products has put in place its flood response plan ahead of a predicted Red storm alert for the West Coast of the South Island.
Met Service says over the next few days the Buller area can expect between 350 to 450mm of rain in the ranges and up to 230mm near the coast and in the case of Westland between 500 to 700mm of rain in the ranges and up to 250mm near the coast.
The CEO of WMP, Richard Wyeth told Rural News that when we get a red civil defence warning they automatically put a response plan in place to get everyone prepared and to carefully monitor the situation. He says this is to ensure that they can react in a more prepared fashion rather than just being reactive.
“A number of roads to farms we collect milk from are basically single entry so if the road gets washed out or closed it can be very difficult to get milk out,” he says.
Richard Wyeth says this also applies to staff, and in particular tanker drivers and in the past they have had to helicopter them from home to their base to pick up a milk tanker and get on the road. He says they have learned from past storm events about the need to be prepared and this is what they are doing now.
“Hopefully this event won’t be that extreme but we are on watch right now,” he says.
Watch this website for updates on this event.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?