Diplomatic Incident
OPINION: Your old mate hears an international incident is threatening to blow up the long-standing Anzac alliance as Kiwis and Aussies argue over who wants new Australian resident and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Prolonged drought in Australia and a downturn in agriculture in the US and Ukraine are affecting the European farm machinery sector.
Exel Industries, the owner of many spray machinery brands, eg Hardi, Tecnoma, Evrard and Agrifac, has closed two factories, at Noyers-Saint-Martin and Saint-Denis-de L’Hotel. Production will be transferred to Beaurainville and Epernay, respectively.
This consolidation into ‘centres of excellence’ will see Beaurainville focus on self-propelled sprayers sold under the Matrot, Evrard and Hardi brands. And Epernay will specialise in self-propelled units for Berthoud and Tecnoma.
The company’s factories at Belleville and Norre Alsley (Denmark) will develop and produce mounted and trailed machines for Berthoud/Tecnoma and the Hardi/Evrard brands, respectively.
The company says the restructure will allow it to focus more on the global brands to make them stronger, clearer and more distinctive.
The Evrard, Matrot and Berthoud brands will offer a range of premium products for large-scale arable farms, while Hardi and Tecnoma will be aimed at the mainstream market.
“This consolidation is not only designed to stimulate innovation and new product development, but to lower production costs and improve quality,” said group chief executive Guerric Ballu.
“The centres of excellence will also allow us to develop new technologies in precision agriculture, electronics, robotics and artificial intelligence.”
Lian Butcher has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
A day after selling its consumer businesses, Fonterra has settled a civil claim, filed by Greenpeace, out of court.
The venue for National Fieldays, the Southern Hemisphere's largest agribusiness show, is getting a major infrastructure upgrade.
Despite the ongoing bad news on the geopolitical front, New Zealand kiwifruit growers may be in for a good payout.
Under pressure wine growers say the appointment of a new chief executive will bring a fresh perspective, renewed focus, and a clear, united vision for the industry.
While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.

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