Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
The Hound has been a long-and-strong critic of Fonterra’s shareholder council.
So this old mutt was pleased to hear the council finally baring its teeth in its recent annual report on the performance – or more correctly non-performance – of Fonterra during the past year. Council chair Duncan Coull was brutally frank in his assessment of the mothership, telling farmers that Fonterra’s effort over the last 12 months has been “not good enough and fundamental change is required in thinking and practice to reverse the performance of the business”. Meanwhile, your old mate reckons another former shareholder council chairman – current Fonterra big-cheese John Monaghan – would not have enjoyed his former organisation finally growing a pair and giving the co-op a proper serve for once.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.
Following recent storms in the region, the 69th edition of the Tour of Southland cycling event has been postponed.